Sometimes life throws a curve ball....
- Thread starter pennyk
- Start date
OK. its been a while since I updated.
The good news is that, both from symptoms and scans, everything is looking great at the moment. I just had scans yesterday which continued to show everything is very stable at the moment. Yippee!!!!
I had preventative brain radiation in November/ December, which was much harder for me than chemo.... i think because it was every day, and I had to drive in peak hour traffic to the hospital each day.... blrggh. But thats all over, and really also was relatively smooth.
The only bad news is that 6 months of taking steroids fairly regularly has caused my weight to balloon.
Oh, and my hair has fallen out again after radiation...... but in another bizarre twist, I am growing a forest of hair on my face. Its very fine and fair, but really looks very strange, and as soon as I have medical clearance, a visit to the beautician for waxing will be in order. So, I'm pretty p*ssed off about the hair.. I lost it everywhere except my legs when I was on chemo and now its growing really slowly everywhere except my face! Bizarre!
in December, I decided I had to really begin planning this year, not just taking it "one day at a time", just in case I needed more treatment.
So, I have business travel booked in for January (Japan/ Germany), March (US, Korea, China and Thailand) and holidays booked in for April (Gold Coast) and AUgust (Malaysia). There'll be more business travel as well..... thats just what I've booked so far!
So, I'm looking forward to a very busy, fulfilling and active 2011.
The good news is that, both from symptoms and scans, everything is looking great at the moment. I just had scans yesterday which continued to show everything is very stable at the moment. Yippee!!!!
I had preventative brain radiation in November/ December, which was much harder for me than chemo.... i think because it was every day, and I had to drive in peak hour traffic to the hospital each day.... blrggh. But thats all over, and really also was relatively smooth.
The only bad news is that 6 months of taking steroids fairly regularly has caused my weight to balloon.
Oh, and my hair has fallen out again after radiation...... but in another bizarre twist, I am growing a forest of hair on my face. Its very fine and fair, but really looks very strange, and as soon as I have medical clearance, a visit to the beautician for waxing will be in order. So, I'm pretty p*ssed off about the hair.. I lost it everywhere except my legs when I was on chemo and now its growing really slowly everywhere except my face! Bizarre!
in December, I decided I had to really begin planning this year, not just taking it "one day at a time", just in case I needed more treatment.
So, I have business travel booked in for January (Japan/ Germany), March (US, Korea, China and Thailand) and holidays booked in for April (Gold Coast) and AUgust (Malaysia). There'll be more business travel as well..... thats just what I've booked so far!
So, I'm looking forward to a very busy, fulfilling and active 2011.
Sounds like a kick **** plan, power to you Penny.
Hey PennyK - I'd say I was sorry for you, but given that you're not sorry for yourself, what's the point?
It's amazing what a positive outlook can do. 8 years ago I was diagnosed with a well known illness that can have major impact on your life. I decided I wasn't going to be sick and did some research about lifestyle measures I could take. 5 months later I was off the medications, the specialist told me it was completely gone (as in undiagnosable), and I have had zero symptoms since.
You've decided to make it through this. And you will. And you'll be far stronger and more empowered because of it. Stay strong.
It's amazing what a positive outlook can do. 8 years ago I was diagnosed with a well known illness that can have major impact on your life. I decided I wasn't going to be sick and did some research about lifestyle measures I could take. 5 months later I was off the medications, the specialist told me it was completely gone (as in undiagnosable), and I have had zero symptoms since.
You've decided to make it through this. And you will. And you'll be far stronger and more empowered because of it. Stay strong.
Good for you Penny. I hope all the trips are terrific and you manage to stay relatively well whilst overseas. Your outlook on life is amazing 
Re: the facial hair. You might want to consider IPL (laser treatment)- less painful than waxing and permanent after a few visits.
Damn drugs seem to have odd side effects at times, don't they? I was on very strong medication years ago with the specialist telling me I'd probably get increased hair growth and a loss of appetite. Instead, my hair started to shed and I was hungrier- go figure!
Best wishes for 2011 for you and your family.
Re: the facial hair. You might want to consider IPL (laser treatment)- less painful than waxing and permanent after a few visits.
Damn drugs seem to have odd side effects at times, don't they? I was on very strong medication years ago with the specialist telling me I'd probably get increased hair growth and a loss of appetite. Instead, my hair started to shed and I was hungrier- go figure!
Best wishes for 2011 for you and your family.
With that mindset and inspiring attitude, I'm sure your 2011 will be wonderful!
Have a fantastic 2011
thought I'd give you an update...
I had clear scans in March, but in May, there were signs of the cancer coming back... bu*ger!
I didnt have any symptoms, but they wanted to start me on chemo again. So, last Friday, I went back to the chemo ward for another blast of poisons.
(but not before I did a quick business trip to Bangkok in between the scan and the chemo!)
After one round, the chemo seems easier than last year, so I'm planning my next business trips already..... Germany in July and September at this stage. I probably wont make it to KL in August, as I'd hoped earlier in the year. We'll see how I go.
I'm continuing with my positive attitude... I'm so relaxed its making me nervous! but what else can you do? I'm taking every day at a time, and grateful every day that I'm well and life is pretty much the same as it always has been. I'm not going to let cancer ruin my life.
I had clear scans in March, but in May, there were signs of the cancer coming back... bu*ger!
I didnt have any symptoms, but they wanted to start me on chemo again. So, last Friday, I went back to the chemo ward for another blast of poisons.
(but not before I did a quick business trip to Bangkok in between the scan and the chemo!)
After one round, the chemo seems easier than last year, so I'm planning my next business trips already..... Germany in July and September at this stage. I probably wont make it to KL in August, as I'd hoped earlier in the year. We'll see how I go.
I'm continuing with my positive attitude... I'm so relaxed its making me nervous! but what else can you do? I'm taking every day at a time, and grateful every day that I'm well and life is pretty much the same as it always has been. I'm not going to let cancer ruin my life.
Sorry to hear this, Penny.
I am glad that you are still able to travel.
You are able to keep most of your travelling plans which is very good.
You have a very positive outlook and are inspirational.
I sincerely wish you the very best while you undergo your treatment and hope that the chemo can eliminate the cancer.
Regards Jason.
Penny K:
Yes, I understand this, my brother feels the same way, he is determined his life will not 'revolve/be about the cancer'...he does pace himself in response to chemotherapy, (the second lot of treatment really flattened his blood), but he takes every opportunity to embrace living, fun, his friends and family. The person he is, despite the challenges, the anguish, both emotional and physical, there is this steely, inner core strength. He is our inspiration.
Yes, I understand this, my brother feels the same way, he is determined his life will not 'revolve/be about the cancer'...he does pace himself in response to chemotherapy, (the second lot of treatment really flattened his blood), but he takes every opportunity to embrace living, fun, his friends and family. The person he is, despite the challenges, the anguish, both emotional and physical, there is this steely, inner core strength. He is our inspiration.
I'm thinking of you Penny. Your positive attitude will be a huge help in your treatment and recovery. Don't some people say that attitude is a very large part of how you respond to some treatments?
And I think that your plan to continue to work and travel is a great idea. Better than sitting around.
Best wishes.
And I think that your plan to continue to work and travel is a great idea. Better than sitting around.
Best wishes.
PennyK I don't know you from a bar of soap; however, I wish you all the best and hope you not only beat it but come out even stronger on the other side.
We have a history of cancer in my family (Aunty beat breast cancer twice) and I just hope we find a cure sooner rather than later.
Sincerely
Dave
We have a history of cancer in my family (Aunty beat breast cancer twice) and I just hope we find a cure sooner rather than later.
Sincerely
Dave
Hi!
Hi Penny,
Just read this older post and was sad to hear about your diagnosis. I too had cancer, a non-hodgkins lymphoma, at the age of 29... At the time I investigated, researched and read many books with one standing out in particular...
Anticancer : A New Way Of Life
Thought you might find this useful as its based on 1000+ verified scientific articles...
Hope your recovery is going well...
Hi Penny,
Just read this older post and was sad to hear about your diagnosis. I too had cancer, a non-hodgkins lymphoma, at the age of 29... At the time I investigated, researched and read many books with one standing out in particular...
Anticancer : A New Way Of Life
Thought you might find this useful as its based on 1000+ verified scientific articles...
Hope your recovery is going well...
I clicked on this link to read about this book. I read the preview and thought I'd buy the book because it sounds good.
I couldn't find the link on Somersoft so I googled his name and learned he died last year. That was such a shock. After reading the first bit of his story, I felt like I wanted to hear more and to find he is dead was a shock.
I still will buy the book.
I didn't realise he passed away last year ...I'm shocked! I believed in this guy... He did beat his terminal prognosis by 20 years though...
...I'm shocked! I believed in this guy... He did beat his terminal prognosis by 20 years though...
