The Birthday

First off, wow! THANK YOU to everyone who showed their support on Wednesday, and for the birthday wishes! I can honestly say that it was the best birthday I've ever had. Which might be funny to say, because I had my third chemo treatment that day.

But, I was so occupied by the constant notifications popping up on my phone, the whole thing flew by. What an amazing gift it was to see the support of friends, family members, and even people I haven't met. The photos and selfies were all amazing, and it warmed my heart to know that together we made the world leopard print and violet for a day :)

My best friend took me to chemo, which was also a good distraction--for everyone. I think I can safely say that the Kaiser Infusion Center didn't know what hit it. We took cupcakes and had music, and had the whole staff laughing. 

One of the highlights of the treatment was that the IV went in on the first try, which made EVERYTHING easier. And, I have to say, the anti-nausea pills I have are phenomenal. The nurse called them "party favors"! Which is appropriate, because I need them to keep the party going! 

Even though it was on my birthday, I am so grateful that I am able to get treatment to beat this! As of my last treatment, I am 1/4 of the way done. I am really anxious to have my next PET scan to see the progress. My doctor was surprised at how much my lumps on my chest and my armpit had gone down after just the first treatment. She said it normally takes at least two treatments to see any shrinkage. She also said that it is kind of nice to have a visible lump to begin with, because then you can actually see the progress! Neither of the lumps are even visible anymore, which was the case after the second treatment, I just forgot to mention it in my last post! 

Now here's the downer: 

I have had a few brave strands of hair exit the premises. BUT, my doctor said this would happen within the first two weeks of treatment, and this didn't happen until day 23. So, I'll take it! I thought for sure I would be bald by my birthday, but it wasn't the case. I'm so grateful it stuck around as long as it has. 

Here's the plus side:

I get to experiment with fashion! I have gotten a ton of new scarves and hats, which I have "selfie'd" and branded as "Cancer Couture." I am constantly posting my #cancercouture on my Instagram account (@cessiley), so you can check that out for more constant updates and looks. I have connected with a few other Hodgkin's patients, so I may post some scarf tutorials on here at some point. I am also attending a class in a couple weeks that is hosted by Kaiser, called "Look Good, Feel Better." They go over adjusting to hair loss and have wig and scarf tutorials, and also have cosmetologists come in to give makeup tips. I was encouraged to sign up by the nurses, because they give you a $300 designer makeup kit for FREE! Not passing that up! Upon signing up, I had to give the woman on the phone a description of my complexion. I told her, "white...?" and she responded with "Gwyneth Paltrow white or Jennifer Aniston white?" I said, "somewhere in between those two." She put me down for "Kelly Ripa white." ha!

Here is Scarf look #1

The most important thing I have learned so far on this journey is advice I got in a card from my Uncle Ron. He said, "Keep a positive attitude so your body can function at an optimum level. You are a strong an courageous person and you will win this battle."

From experience, I know this is true. The second I started feeling down or like this was unfair, my physical health and strength took a toll. I was way more fatigued and run down, and it was obvious that my body wasn't working up to it's full potential. Attitude makes all the difference while enduring trials. I know without a doubt that everyone's support, thoughts, and birthday wishes had me functioning at an optimum level last week. It was definitely the quickest recovery so far!