This might be glaringly obvious: when stressed, I cope by cracking jokes and finding the positive.  It is what works for me.  Funny stories are great, especially as stress-relievers. During the first hour of Chemo #5, I was doing my normal chemo things: chatting with the girl next to me, reading emails/comments, and working on my recliner to-do list.  It was my...

Last week at chemo, I ended up sitting next to Newbie and Spunky: the three of us were all diagnosed a short time ago and are in Round One of our cancer battles.  Their treatments are bi-weekly, so I didn’t see them today. Today, I sat with new-to-me friends: Bear, Sunny, and Vivid.  They are self-described “Lifers” in the Chemo Room.  They are all...

Today I sat in Chair 13 in the Chemo Room.  My chemo friend Spunky was there; she is twenty-seven and was diagnosed with a rare lymphoma cancer in January after she felt a lump near her collarbone.  She has a two-year-old and a wonderful husband and family.  We get each other; she is only other person under fifty I have met in the Chemo Room....

Ahhh.  Summer. I know there’s the whole equinox thing that happens in mid-June, but, to me, the awesomeness that is summer is defined by the opening and closing of the pool.  On Saturday, I told Maren, “It’s summer!  The pool is open.” She frowned at me, “No, it’s not summer Mom.” Me, spluttering, “What?”...

*Updated: The Nail Protocol is at the bottom of this post. The nail thing is not just a vanity issue.  This new chemo drug is going to make my fingernails and toenails die; it won’t be pretty.  Eventually new ones will grow in.  I am okay with this; chemo is killing the cancer, so chemo can have my hair and my nails and whatever else necessary!  The problem...

I’m thumb-typing on my phone from the chemo room; the wifi is down again. But I have a warm blanket, a friendly gal in Chair 17, and some hot tea so I am happy! I do get to have my chemo today; Dr. Wonderful gave me the all clear. In his words, “I don’t want to give the cancer a break.” Right on! Today I am switching to a new chemotherapy...