So considerate

Modeling wigs for my benefit.

I have the prettiest husband ever.

Land, ho!

Ahoy, mateys, this title isn't so much what the pimp says to his pilotess, but the sign that the journey's end is in sight. Now we wait two months until I am cleared to have the next PET scan, and we wait on taking the port-a-cath out. That's right baby, things are looking up.

Count it down

Second to last day of radiation! Couldn't be happier, doo-doo-doo, nothing's bringing me down these days, not even getting fat bills in the mail, not even contributing excess in my IRA that I need a notary to fix (who knew?), not even eating too many cookies ( :{ ).
I'm a proverbial clam.
Best thing is, the future is bright and imminent. Planning long-delayed honeymoon? Check. New job prospects? Check. Moving on from this? Check check check.

Drink This, Not That

Chocolate is the best, it could actually pass for a shake, if you liked your shakes gummy and metallic-y. Now since I'm reduced to soft foods, Ensure has become a main food group. The plastic bottle is the way to go, otherwise you get a mouthful of chalk-aluminum frappe. Vanilla is growing on me, but I will never dare try butter pecan. Why do my tastes in drink mirror those of an 86 year old lady? I think my affinity for Ensure dates to way back in the day when four teeth were extracted to fit braces with those detestable rubber bands ensnaring the uppers and lowers. Just thinking about it makes me go ouch. But Ensure parties? That's a bit much. Especially when Ensure Plus has 350 cal per 8 oz!
Slim Fast seems more worth it, since it's 190 cal per 11 oz, but it's got bulky fillers to fool you into feeling full, and really that just feels like indigestion.
Boost, even though from respectable Novartis, tastes like oversweet candy blended with powdered milk.
Someone said Glucerna is less sweet, that makes sense, so maybe that'll be next to try.
The absolute worst is Atkins Ready to Drink shake. It's so gross. It tastes like watered down Ensure, now with Extra Metal Powder. It's worse than Muscle Milk, which has been known to cause digestive tract dilemmas.
Now that you've got your nutritional management cocktail in hand, Cheers!

Remember, things are different now

Last Friday was an onco visit. Everything's a-ok, but we had questions. How often will follow ups be? We were relieved to hear that successive PETs will be superlative, a good old cbc every six months will suffice. (Hey, it's lighter on the wallet too.) Plus, as the radi-onco pointed out, from here on out I'll spook at every little bump and lump, I'll probably be nervous enough to be over-cautious. I'm pretty sure I know how to be a compliant patient. Anyway, I'm elated that we can eliminate unnecessary sources of radiation and its consequences. Recurrence in Hodgkin's is less than 10%, with the most risk in the two years following treatment.
That led us to second question: when can I get this stupid port-a-cath out? Initially, doc onc said "two years" with a straight face. But I guess he saw my complexion (maybe I yelled a little) and he changed his answer to "whenever you want." You know, the chance that the tumor will not change in size or activity after radiation treatment is less than 5%. And the likelihood that I would need more chemo in that case is slim. But why rush to take it out? It's ugly. Period. Sure, vain you say, but it's raised, it's scarred, I have to flush it with heparin every four weeks, and I want it out. Some people keep their ports. Morbid. Seriously. It's psychological! Want to get sick? Just keep thinking about what if you get sick.
Can I get back to life (FOOD) as normal? Doc says sure, just don't become neutropenic anymore. Bring on the sushi! Any contraindicatives? Absolutely no hormonal medications, they increase risk of breast cancer, and I don't need that additional risk. Interesting, I would have never thought of that. Radi-onco acknowledges that limited use is fine, but 25 years of it may not be. Who knows what long term studies have yet to show.
Things will be getting back to normal, but not quite. One thing I resolved is to really take greater consideration for myself. Natural foods only, no more processed foods, soda, refined sugars, preservatives. I'm not invincible anymore. I can't just throw junk into my body and expect it to handle it. Things are different now.

Speaking of all natural, my wish was granted when upon receiving this delicious gift. Thanks hon :)