Just got back from the RT writer’s conference, so I’m gonna make this Top Ten reflect that.

- Meeting fans
- Free books
- Cover models (some of them were yummy lookin’. Some? Not so much, IMO)
- Seeing different cities
- Meeting on-line friends
- Seeing old friends
- Socializing in the bar without guilt
- Eating whatever you like … again without guilt
- Did I mention free books?
- Various parties.

I’m posting this segment a day early because I’m about to leave for a week in Houston for a writers conference.

This will be short and sweet, but this advice is something that was never discussed with me when I was going through chemo.

I’d forgotten to mention something the other week … when I talked about hair loss? As I said, you’re going to lose ALL of your hair. The biggest problem I found was when I lost my pubic hair. No one … not even the doctors or nurses told me how much it was gonna ITCH down there. I’m not talking mild itching, I’m talking excruciating, keeping you awake all night itching.

I finally went to a pharmacist who recommended Benadryl. Yes … the antihistamine for allergies. The relief was immediate. So, for anyone who gets this reaction … head for your nearest drug store and grab the Benadryl.

Repeat after me … “YOU ARE A CANCER WINNER”

This will be an easy list. The hard part will keeping it down to only ten

- Sherrilyn Kenyon (love her Darkhunter series)
- Christine Feehan
- Susan Grant
- Keri Arthur
- Mary Janice Davidson
- Laurell K. Hamilton

(You seeing a theme here? These are all paranormal authors)

- Jayne Anne Krentz (okay … not all paranormal)
- Lynn Kurland
- Dara Joy (wish she’d come out with more stories)
- Charlaine Harris

Shaping up to becoming an interesting evening. Its already after 10:00 p.m. and I’m only now sitting down to write. I can see that its gonna be a late night. I have two 7 year olds committing mayhem upstairs, hubby half asleep on the sofa and basically my night is just beginning.

I have a WIP that is giving me fits. To have sex or not to have sex … that is the question. I’m allowing myself to get hung up on one portion of this book. Happens that way sometimes. You get to a point in a book where you can’t think your way out of a paper bag. That’s the trouble with pantsing. I know where the story is going, what my characters are gonna do and how they’re gonna do it. Its just getting over this hurdle …

If I don’t write my way through this portion tonight, I’m gonna skip it and continue. I can always come back and fix this chapter. I’ve wasted way too much time on this as it is.

You ever have that problem?

No picture this time. I’m running late today and have fifteen minutes to throw this blog together. I must work well under pressure.

I mentioned in earlier blogs that I was part of a study for a new drug called Lapadnib. This is a drug that has shown great promise for people like me who doesn’t respond well to Herceptin. The next step … as it were. Well, I was on the study for about six weeks before Lapadnib was approved by the FDA and released for general treatment. Rather than travel the hour or so to Illinois every three weeks, I opted to continue my treatment with my regular oncologist and began the process of getting insurance approval, check out distribution …yadda, yadda, yadda.

So, despite starting this process nearly three weeks ago, I just got the okay yesterday for delivery of Lapadnib (or rather, Tykerb as it is now called). I’ve now gone four days without the drug and should be resuming it tomorrow. Lovely. Hopefully this will do nothing to interrupt my treatment

I can almost say I understand the delay. You’ll note I say “almost” … important note there. It is an extremely expensive drug and there is no way I could afford it without insurance. I’m sure my insurance company hates me because of the expense I’m putting it through. But at this point in my life … tough sh*t. A life threatening condition should not be up for debate. Especially if steps can be taken to treat it.

So, I’m curious to know if there are other Cancer Winners out there who are on this Tykerb and if so, how are you feeling? Any side effects? I’ve had more side effects from the accompanying Xeloda than from the Tykerb, but I’m interested in knowing if anyone is experiencing any by way of side effects.

Repeat after me … “YOU ARE A CANCER WINNER”