2nd chemo - today dec 30

Hi everyone,

Haven't had much to say over the last wee while, so today is the day for a new update!!

Last time I wrote had just bought my wig, which I'm wearing now to see what it feels like & its very hot!! No pics yet - I want to look more glam than I look now!

I worked for the dermatologist in the city again Tue, Wed, Thur last week & that was good, but tiring. Nice to get paid :) A few of us are in a borrowing book club which we call '4 South Africans & a Scot'!! we had our end of year dinner on Mon night at Belaroma in Lindfield, Our other Scot, Joy, brought her friend who is visiting from Glasgow, she came for Joy's daughter's wedding - from the pics it was wonderful!! Daniel, my son, had been in the Philippines & came back on Mon night, but as his dad only gave me 1 hr notice I couldn't go, as I couldn't go to see him off as I was in the middle of the 1st chemo session!!

Last Tue night, some of u may know from my facebook post that I went to Bronte Beach to see the full moon rising on the Summer Solstice and it was an eclipse. A group of us sat on the beach, it was wonderful, so glad Lynda & Evie were there too :) Orna led it with Nadav on the guitar, lots of Israeli songs & healing words. It was just beautiful to be there. The 3 things apparently only occur every 400 years & somehow I don't think any of us will be here to see that lol. From there we went to Orna's place for a pot luck dinner, very yummy.

Fri night after shul, had a pot luck dinner there too - really took it easy on Fri, but decided to have a pot luck dinner myself on Sat night, Xmas night as most things r closed. Dashed to the supermarket on Fri after shul, all the supermarkets closed at 10 as it was xmas eve!! (normally close at 12) & bought what I needed - I had decided to make a vegie lasagne & a salad.

Lynda & I lazed by her pool on Sat afternoon, I had prepped the lasagne before I went, we could have gone to the beach, but was nice just sitting beside & being in the pool.

Thanks to everyone who came - there were 16 of us in the end - who brought wine, food, yummy good things to eat, their company, no dancing lol. After they all left I cleaned up & read till I finished the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, great read!!

I slept most of Sunday cos had a party to go on Sun night. Tnx for a great party HS. Met people I didn't know before, so rare for me!! Dancing in the family room, karaoke in the lounge room :) Quite a few people, who I did know, hadn't heard my breast cancer story, & I'm not shy about it - I will make a comment about that later. I told most people but not the ones I had no interest in telling!!!

Mon & Tue were public holidays here cos Xmas & Boxing Days were on a weekend, I know you Brits don't get that lolol. Mon night went with Jacqui to see The Tourist, Marilyn R & her sister & brother in law, Barbara & Colin S went to see The Kings Speech. The Tourist wasn't awful about 6.5/10. Tue had coffee with Cheryl R then met my cousins Jo & Baz & my son Daniel as Macquarie Centre to see Love & Other Drugs hmmmm in my opinion - waste of time. Yesterday, Wed, met cuz Shirley for lunch in Bondi Junction, had sushi, it's one thing that hasn't changed in taste for me. I needed a new nighty & Marilyn R had said she bought some in Target the day before, so I decided to get a new one there too. Shirley really appreciate your gift!! :) Susan B came over in the evening with her son Matthew who is in the process of learning to drive & she brought me some yummy pumpkin soup, thanks so much - oh she brought me some more fresh dates, which I kept forgetting to buy!! I need them over the next few days.

Some days I feel crap others I feel fine, just part of the process. My hair has been falling out in crate loads, but not in clumps, it appears to be quite evenly spread!! Today was the 1st day I was actually aware of the thinning. It really is the one thing that bothers me the most, losing my hair, stuck with it!!

So to the 2nd chemo session, Marilyn R came at 845 to take me to North Shore Hosp.Got there at 915, went to the admissions desk, not realising I didnt need to do that lol - could just have gone straight to Ward 12A, will know for next time. Chemo started around 1030!! & finished around 2. Thanks so much for being with me Marilyn. I was feeling just fine, so we stopped off in Lane Cove for a bite & a run around the supermarket. Just had some of that wonderful soup, tnx Sue & some dates :)

Feeling a bit fragile right now, not so much tired as worn out, did have a short nap when I came home. I think I should attempt to have an early night lol, that's not my forte!!!

One of the good things for me is to talk about how I feel, not sure if I really intended to make this a diary, but it's my journey & have been feeling fine most days since the end of the 1st week after the 1st chemo session. I also think my openness about it all helps people talk to me about it. I don't scare anyone off, except those who would never talk about this sort of thing & can't understand how I can!! It's very personal.

Day 4 is on Mon... not planning to feel how I felt on the last day 4, but prepared for it if it does. Will keep you all in the loop.

Looking forward to comments, emails, etc.

Cheers
Debbie xx