Marilyn’s Musings

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“I’m Goin’ to Disneyland!”

Celebrities, when asked what they're planning to do to celebrate some monumental win, often say, "I'm going to Disneyland!" Well, I'd just been there last Thursday with my niece, Seiko, who was visiting from Japan. So the next best way to celebrate my big "win," was with champagne! What was I celebrating? My doctor's news, on Monday morning, when he told me, "The chemo is working!" [caption id="attachment_666" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Celebrating on a Monday at the office - with REAL…

Bits ‘n Pieces – January 29, 2017

Some random bits and pieces about my progress over the past couple of weeks: 1. Chemo I received the first infusion of my new and improved chemo regimen last Wednesday. I was pleased to see that this medicine is pink! Don't know why that made me happy, but it did. This drug is specifically formulated for patients for whom the platinum-based chemo drugs don't work - which is what has happened in my case. I think it's wonderful that they…

Thursday, January 12, 2017 – Ode to Joy

My husband, Scott, started piano lessons on Tuesday. The piece of music which he's practicing, over and over and over, is "Ode to Joy." It's a fitting title for this blog. You might think it odd for me to write about joy, since I reported last week the unwelcome news that, "the disease has progressed," as my doctor carefully articulated. (I'm noticing that doctors deftly avoid using the word 'cancer' whenever possible.) But today was such a beautiful day. It rained a lot here in…

Thursday, Nov 17 – Hooray for Hemoglobin!

A couple of weeks ago I had begun to notice that I wasn't scampering up the stairs anymore as I'd been doing with relative ease throughout my chemo regimen. Now I climbed slowly and was completely out of breath at the top. "Damn," I thought to myself, "is chemo catching up to me at last?" I've been so proud and pleased (and smug) that negative effects of chemo have not affected me. I can still claim the title of "Wonder Woman."…

Sunday, Nov. 6 – A Hundred+ Days, but who’s counting?

It's been a little more than 100 days since my surgery. Wow! Some random musings: I am an optimist, but even I would not have predicted how good I would be feeling at this point. Eight of 18 weeks of chemotherapy completed, and I feel great. No issues. No nausea, neuropathy, pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep issues or any of the long list of potential effects of chemo. I am grateful - so very grateful. For all the support,…

Thursday, Oct 27 – Happy Birthday to Me!

It's my birthday. A few months ago, my calendar showed that I'd be flying to India today. How things change. How things we take for granted - like health - can sneak up and whack you (me) alongside the head and rock ones' world. India will wait. As will every other country in the world. They'll be there next year when I've tamed this cancer. Yesterday I completed my 8th chemo cocktail. Again, without suffering any negative side effects. I…

Sunday, Oct 16 – One-third through, Woo Hoo!

Wednesday was my 6th chemo treatment, out of 18. Two 3-week cycles complete, out of 6. I've completed one-third of the regimen! When I started chemo, I didn't delve too deep, didn't ask too many questions or do too much research because I didn't want to imprint all the horrid possibilities in my mind. The staff tried to prepare me with some basic information and guidelines. They told me that - with 100% certainty - that I would lose my…

Wed, Sept 21 – Another weepy week

Some people cry a lot. I’m not one of those people. Except for the past week when it seems as if I’ve cried - if not a river - at least a stream. Or maybe a brook. In other words, I’ve cried a lot more than I ever allow myself to cry. You see, I am an optimist. I’m hopeful. Confident. Cheerful. Strong. I don’t give in to negative tendencies. Even when I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, my first…