I AM FINE!!

So here is how it happened. I pulled my left pectoral muscle. My shoulder and chest hurt. And just didn't seem to be getting better.

My doctor sent me in for a chest xray on April 23th. Something - a mass - was visible in my chest.

On April 28th I had a CT scan. The scan confirmed a mass (about the size of a baseball).

On April 30th I went to Barnes-Jewish to have a PET scan to confirm what the mass was, it's exact location, etc. The PET confirmed the same basic knowledge about the mass, but went further to state that the my lymph nodes were also infected. SO, they sent me to have Biopsy.

May 7th I met with the Oncologist.

AND by May 23th I was having the first half of my first Chemo Treatment - this is the treatment that will make my hair fall out. It was funny the doctor said 2 -3 weeks and my hair would be falling out. All I really wanted was to have hair for Kaitlyn's Graduation. (spoiler if you haven't read my other posting)

A week later on May 21st I had my second half of my first Chemo Treatment. Mom went with me. It was really funny - at one point I said "my ears were itching". Mom says, "your face is breaking out!" and called the nurse over. We laughed if it wasn't bad enough I have cancer I am allergic to the chemo. I AM NOT allergic the the chemo - I just had a reaction - the blotches went away after about a half an hour.

So....here i am 40 days from the xray. I have had my first Chemo Treatment. I feel fine.

My only real complaint is that I am forced to drink lots of water every day (FYI-I HATE water). THE WATER NAZI - my loving husband asked me daily (sometimes every 10 minutes) if have had or want a drink of water. HIS RATS - Kate & Joe - will tattle on me if they haven't seen me drink any water.

But, the doctor was right. 2-3 weeks - the DAY OF Kate's Graduation - my hair started to fall out IN HANDFULS!!! I held out two more days before I realized that I just couldn't do it. I couldn't just sit there and brush it out. So after I called mom to tell her I couldn't do it anymore and let her know I was really ready to let it go, I decided to shave my head.

Kris, the kids and I did it as a family. Kate held my hand. Kris started me out and finished me up. Joe got to take off several swipes. Kate my big brave girl. She was so funny. I am about halfway through my bangs and Kate says "Mom you are having a really bad hair day". We were so busy laughing that no one cried.

The hat is one of the hats I picked out of "THE HAT ROOM". The room is at the Illinois Oncology Office (here I go for chemo). Almost all the items in this room are donated and free to anyone having treatment.