It’s been just over three weeks since my last chemo treatment, and let me tell you—I feel close to brand new. Okay, maybe not fresh-off-the-shelf new, but definitely more like “lightly used with minimal wear and tear.” The pessimist in me wants to bounce back immediately, but I’ve come to the (slightly humbling) revelation that five months of chemo wreak havoc on your body, so five months of recovery seems like a fair trade. Realistically, though, it’ll probably take longer. As much as I want to rush this comeback, I’m trying to channel my inner optimist and give myself grace. Slow and steady wins the race, right?
The good news is I am getting stronger. For example, I can now walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I need to call 911 halfway through. Small victories! I’ve also been upping my daily step count by 1,000 each week and, so far, crushing it. My hair, though? Let’s just say I’ve noticed some increased fuzz on my bald head. Baby steps (literally and figuratively). Oh, and big news—I found THREE eyebrow hairs over my left eye. Three! That’s progress, folks.
As for food, I’m tasting it again. Whether or not what I’m tasting is the same as pre-chemo is a mystery, but I’ve been throwing the word “delicious” around just to spice things up. Honestly, I’ve never been much of a foodie, so even if it tastes like a distant cousin to cardboard, I’m just happy to taste something. Speaking of food milestones, I finally had a Whopper! While it was good, I can’t tell if it tasted the same as it did before chemo or if I’ve just missed fast food that much. Either way, I’m counting it as a win.
My stomach has also decided to calm down a bit, keeping that devilish diarrhea at bay for now. (Let’s not jinx it.) And Keytruda? So far, it’s minding its own business, which is exactly what I want from it.
Unfortunately, not everything is peachy. Neuropathy is still hanging around like an uninvited houseguest, and to make matters worse, I’ve developed a fingernail infection. It’s gross—like, yellow-pus kind of gross. I took antibiotics for a week, but they clearly weren’t strong enough because the infection is still here, waving its little yellow flag of defiance. My nails were already ugly thanks to chemo, with dark nail beds and red bands, and now they’ve gone full zombie mode. I’ve been soaking them in water and vinegar (and water and peroxide) a couple of times a day, hoping to save them from falling off entirely. Fingers crossed—literally.
I met with my oncologist this past week, and we had a solid discussion about wrapping up chemo, my upcoming surgery, and clinical trials. I also had my pre-op exam, and everything is set for February 28. Let’s go! I even had another echocardiogram, which came back positive—no changes to my heart since before chemo! That was my biggest fear going into all this since the AC regimen is known for causing heart damage, so I’m breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Here’s the weird part: I don’t have any appointments for the next two weeks. After months of constant doctor visits, tests, blood draws, and treatments, it feels…off. Like, I keep thinking I’m forgetting something. I’ve been getting so much medical attention that it’s strange to have a break. Of course, less poking and prodding is a great thing, but adjusting to “normal” might take some time.
On the horizon, I have another acupuncture treatment coming up, and I am READY. Neuropathy, your days are numbered. I can’t wait to have my hands back in full operation without feeling like I’m rubbing sandpaper every time I touch something.
So, while this week has been fairly uneventful, I’ll take it as a win. After all, boring weeks mean I’m moving toward healing—and maybe even a full head of hair someday. Until then, I’ll keep celebrating every fuzzy strand, every eyebrow hair, and every delicious (or maybe-not-delicious?) bite of food I can taste.
Here’s to progress, no matter how slow or weird it looks!
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