I'm A dancin', Dancin', DANCIN'....I'm A Dancin' Machine

John and I went to a really fun wedding last night where I full-on danced in heels for the first time since my cousin's wedding in February. I thought for sure my legs were going to be a hot mess today but they weren't. They feel fine. It might also be because I am in better shape now than I was before I got diagnosed. I was kiiinda afraid my wig would go flying if my moves got too crazy, but it stayed in tact. Congratulations Tom and JM!!!

I Forgot To Mention....

Well shoot, I forgot to write the one thing that I was most proud of myself for in Big Bear. I did not wear my wig(except when we went out at night, and part of that was because it was cold). For the first time, I let my friends see me with no wig and I went out in public without it and it wasn't as hard as I thought. I am not ready to go full commando just yet, but this was a huge step for me.

I Like Big Bear And I Cannot Lie

I decided to treat myself to a getaway to celebrate the end of my treatments. Me and a few friends headed up to Big Bear this past Sunday for a few days and it couldn't have been more perfect. Good friends, good food, good times. It was the perfect trip because we rented a house right on the lake and we could go at our own speed. If I got tired, I took a nap. If I wanted to sit by the lake and appreciate life, I could. It was peaceful and fun and stress-less. Thank you Stacie, Mike, Joe, Jen, Kevin, Darren and John for helping make this trip so amazing. Love you guys!!

AND I just got my other results back from my bloodwork and it all looks great. Tumor markers are normal!!!!

Headshot

Below is a shot of my hair now. I am not sure how much longer I'll wear the wig. I'm actually really excited to see how it's going to grow back. Will it be straight? Curly? Black? Red? Only time will tell. What I can tell you is that "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" is on the TV in the background.

On The Up And Up

I just had my first check-up with my oncologist since being done with treatments and my bloodwork looked great...didn't feel great, but looked fantastic. My hemoglobin was so good she said I could donate blood if I wanted to, which I do not. I don't see her for another 2 months, which is also when I will need to get some scans done. So, I pretty much have the month of September "off." I have to see my radiologist in a couple weeks, but she's just going to check my skin, nothing invasive. It will be my first full month since November where I don't have to worry about a treatment or a doctor appointment!!

That's Week

Today marks 1 week that I have been done with treatments.

That is all.

First Things First

I had another "first" yesterday. We went to visit our friends Stacie and Mike yesterday near Disneyland. I had my wig and a hat on. We got in the car to come home and I was complaining about how hot I was. John suggested I take my wig off for the ride home. I instantly felt anxious. I have not left the house, since I shaved my head, without a wig. It was so hot though, and my hair pretty much looks like a shaved head so off came the wig, and I drove all the way home without it. It felt so great. It was soooo much cooler. It will be baby steps until I am fully ready to go wigless, but it was a huge step for me to even be without it in the car.

It's A Little Bit Funny

I know this is my third post today, but after you read this gem, you'll thank me. So John and I go to dinner last night with some pals to celebrate. We had a great time and delicious food. We are walking home and wouldn't you know it, I trip and fall flat on my face. All through chemo and radiation I was so careful about scraping or cutting myself.  Then the day I am done, BOOM, I trip and fall. Don't worry, I am fine. Just a couple scrapes. I was so embarrassed though. It was right on Santa Monica Blvd. for all to see. And of course I cried when I got home because I am 4. I told my friend, Stacie, it was the perfect ending to cancer treatments and she called it the grand finale, which I loved.

La Brea Tar Tar Binks

What does one do the day after they are done with cancer treatments, you may ask? One goes to the La Brea Tar Pits. I wanted to do something that was somewhat cheap and that didn't keep me on my feet for hours on end. I have been wanting to go to the La Brea Tar Pits for some time. I used to go all the time as a kid and hadn't been in years. I also got Lola, my cat, there. (It was at a pet fair. She wasn't actually in the tar, wiseguys). And John had never been. It was kinda neat to go as an adult. When you are a kid, you just want to look at the fossils and could care less about reading the information associated with the fossils. We did the whole thing in about an hour, which was perfect. If you have some free time, and are interested in fossils, check it out!

I'm Freeeeeee

For the first time since November 26, I woke up and didn't have to think about a cancer treatment. It's so surreal.  I know this should be such a happy time for me, but I am actually kinda sad. I cried all day yesterday. I got used to a routine and even though it was for something that sucked, I enjoyed it (well, I enjoyed the people). It's crazy the ups and downs you go through when dealing with something traumatizing like cancer.  I am thankful I am cancer free and can now start my life again, I just have to learn to cope with my crazy emotions around it all. Luckily, I am going to see my therapist pal, Melinda, today for some good ol' one on one therapy.

Done and Done

When I was diagnosed back on November 26, I never thought I'd see this day. I am officially D to the O to the N to the E with treatments!!!!!!!

It's very bittersweet. As I mentioned in an earlier post,  I formed a friendship with all of the techs and nurses at the radiation center and I'm sad I won't see them every day. They were all so kind and caring. No one ever criticized me or told me I was doing something wrong. They only told me I was doing great. I will miss Marilyn, Vince, Jennifer, Mike, Dimple, Noel, Lisa, Amy, Greg, Irina, Guillermo and Dr. Tao.  When I was all done with my last zap, Mike came in and screamed "woo-hoo you are done!" Then as I was walking out, Vince had a certificate of achievement for me.  I hugged people goodbye and came home and cried. I can't believe I am done.

Hairy Potter

If it will make you sad or uncomfortable to see my bald head, then read no further. I just wanted to show everyone how fast my hair was growing. It's not at a length that I feel I can go wigless yet, but you can see how much it has grown in 18 days. Every single day it looks thicker. I am hoping within the month, I will feel comfortable enough to not wear the wig. It still looks pretty patchy.

This photo was taken on July 25

This photo was taken on August 12

The Final Countdown, Part 2

I have 2 great newses. Yes, I said newses.

1) I have TWO radiations left and I am done!!!!!

2) My bottom lashes are almost 100% back. If you read my blog religiously (which you all should), you would have read that a couple weeks ago, I was putting Latisse on my brows and lashes and I noticed my bottom lashes were completely gone. Well, they are almost completely back. They grow so fast. And I see new growth on my top lashes and brows.

Yay!!!

Short Dog's In The House

I'm kinda glad short/pixie haircuts have become a trend the past year or so because I'm about to have one up in this piece. Everyone seems to be shaving their head or cutting their hair super short. Miley, Beyonce, Jessie J, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, etc. I wonder who I'll look like most once my hair comes in...my guess is Beyonce. I have no idea how to insert multiple photos in a creative way, so please enjoy them stacked on top of each other.

Boosty Collins

They decided to do all 5 of my "boosts" at radiation early because my skin was irritated. I thought I had 4, but I had 5. My skin is much better. Tomorrow I start back up with my regular radiation routine and I finish next Thursday. 6 more treatments until I am officially done!!!

A Change Will Do You Good

The past 9 months have really changed me. Today, the valet guy at the radiation center smashed the left front end of my car up. Old me would have lost it, but new me was fine with it. It's just a car and no one was hurt and it will be fixed. He felt awful and I felt awful for him. When I came out of the changing room, one of the techs was there waiting for me and put his arm around me. I freaked out. I knew I didn't have any scans or tests done but I felt like he was about to deliver some bad news. Then he asked if I had a black Prius, and my anxiety left me.

TGIF

Happy Friday, y'all!!!

Not only is today John's birthday, but it's Friday and I only have 9 more radiation treatments left!!!!!! If you can believe it, my boost treatments are even quicker and easier than the regular radiation. The set up takes longer than the boost. It's a 20 second zap and I'm out. I'm going to miss my pals at the Center for Radiation. Just like at the chemo center, everyone is so wonderful and nice. I wish everyone could be like these folks. As much as I hate that I have had to go through this, I have met the most amazing people because of it.

Another First

For the first time since probably March, I tweezed my eyebrows!! They are still growing in, so it was like 3 hairs, but still... It's so weird to get hyped up about tweezing and shaving. I am taking pix of my brows, lashes and hair weekly so I can do a whole blog on the evolution of my hair growth. Exciting stuff, folks. Exciting stuff.