For me, it looks like the year will be ending with a whimper. I feel like this last dose of TC was stronger than previous doses. It is certainly hitting me harder. I think I got lucky the last two cycles and came to expect it to not be too bad. What is making this…

First, an update. After experiencing stress dreams, I left a message for my oncologist to inquire about the next steps and mentioned that I had not yet heard about a radiation oncology appointment. The following day, I had an appointment with the local General Practitioner Oncologist (GPO), which they referred to as a toxicity appointment,…

I used to use writing as a way to help process my emotions. I’m finding that I’m writing more about the mechanics of what I’m going through but not tapping into the emotions. I started writing a story about my recurrence, and how I feel so different than I did when I went through my…

Finished the worst of cycle three. The nausea was under much better control, that I didn’t feel nearly as bad. I did find that I tired easily and I slept for 13-hours on Sunday night. I also had a weird side effect that started on Monday and is just now resolving. I realized on Monday…

Just when I thought I was in the clear, I got hit by a wall. I didn’t start the day tired – or at least I don’t remember starting the day tired. I put together a new ikea shelving unit and it exhausted me. I found that I had to stop and rest. I was…

Mostly I’ve had good energy and been doing a lot of stuff but also taking two hour naps. Monday I got up at 6:15 for a swim. I had a great swim – 750m – then came home and slept for 2 hours. I was also able to do 20 minutes of boxing and some…

I don’t use an alarm unless I have an important meeting. Mostly I let my body decide when I should be up – and a normal time is somewhere around 7:30am. Friday (day 10), I woke up late – around 9:30. Although I slept in, I still had lots of energy and got a lot…

I have a new found sense of energy that surprises me. Initially, I found that I got tired, but if I sat down for 5 minutes, I was recovered and ready to go again. It is day 10 – Friday – and I should be near my nadir (lowest point in blood counts). And yet…

Day 5 is pretty much the most miserable day of the cycle, with day 4 being a close second. I did get out to walk a couple of times, but mostly, I felt hungover all the time. Facebook also reminded me that on November 19, 2014 I had my first cancer surgery. It reminded me…