Ahhhh. Can you feel it? The heat of summer has slipped away, only to return for a last hurrah. The welcome warmth after a cold spell. Sun. Heat. Humidity. Solar radiation. People smile and say “Summer is finally here!” I nod and sniffle with my hayfever and scratch my wig covered head. Humidity makes me uncomfortable…
Category: Cancer
The Resilience Factor
While once having a deep and philosophical 5-hour telephone conversation with a potential date, we discussed the role of resilience in our lives. He had suffered huge losses. Marriage breakdown with a wife from Japan who wanted to go back, and take their 10-year-old daughter with her. He loved them both enough to say yes….
September Blues
There is something different about a blue sky in September. Perhaps – like polarized sunglasses – the approaching equinox changes the light. The blue deepens. There is less glare from summer heat waves. The sky is cloudless. And empty. And eerie. TIFF – Toronto International Film Festival – was in town, as it always is…
Meet Jerri!
I totally forgot (#chemobrain) to introduce you to Jerri! Jutta and Gerry came to Chemo #15 with me so I that is how I named this wig. Meet Jerri! Jerri tells fortunes! That’s when I got her way back in 2011 for $15. She has been through many belly-dancing events with me. Jerri bellydances. Jerri…
Ring the Bell
Every story has a beginning, middle, and end. There is a plot culminating into a climax … followed by an anti-climax to the end … and then the epilogue. Today – as I completed 16 chemo infusions in 5 months (23 weeks), interrupted by 5 trips to Emergency and 2 hospital stays totalling 10 days…
Late!
I hate being late! © 2017
Go Red! Go Sasha!
So sorry I haven’t been writing. I’ve been out dating! Had lots of first dates, but have spent the last two weeks with one ruggedly handsome 6’2″ firefighter. Date #1 was six hours of talking at Brock St. Brewery then Milestones … Date #2 was eight hours of hiking then more chatting and getting to…
The Countdown is ON!
FIVE!!!!! Today is my fifth last chemo infusion!!!!! I can finally – finally – see the light at the end of this terrifying tunnel. I was absolutely giddy with excitement as I waltzed into the Chemo Lounge … in a long black dress with a side slit all the way up my thigh and my…
Brand Spankin’ New Breasts!
I visited my Reconstruction Surgeon – Dr. V – yesterday. He is young, stylish, engaging and forthright. And he is Dr. X’s next door neighbour in the medical building. Dr. V shook my hand as he welcomed me into his large and beautifully decorated office and Heather beamed her best smile. “I’m Dr. X’s favourite…
My Bite is Worse Than My Bark
Several weeks ago I asked my Oncologist Dr. F to cut my steroid dosage in half. Before receiving chemo, I am pumped up with Pepcid (to inhibit histamine responses in my gut), Benedryl (to prevent allergic reactions) and Dexametheson (a steroid to crush my immune system). The steroids were giving me a bad case of…
Stubborn or Tenacious?
My Oncologist Dr. F read me the riot act today … for not going to Emerg when my fever hit 39.6C/103F on the weekend … a whole degree over the GO TO EMERG IMMEDIATELY level. I told her that I had no one to take care of my son and dogs. She said “You’re useless…
Fox Diaries 