Hmm. Just realized I didn’t do a Monday WoW blog. (Bad Liz … very bad). Oh well. I’ll get over it.

Anyway.

I wasn’t gonna bitch about this subject quite this soon again, but man … it’s a hot topic with whomever I speak with. Those bloody orange construction barrels. It’s gotten to the point where I start my swearing a block ahead the instant I see one. ‘Cause you know where there’s one, there are more — and more — and more.

I’m all for using the stimulous money in road repair, but did they have to do it all at once? Couldn’t they have stretched it out a bit so that every freakin’ road heading West of where I live isn’t blocked by construction, which of course results in insane traffic snarl ups.

I know that Wisconsin winters make construction difficult, but c’mon. There has got to be some way to schedule this a little more realistically. Don’t know if this is the same all over town, but the Southside is a mess as is parts of the Milwaukee downtown area. And don’t even get me started on the expressways. The language I would use wouldn’t be pretty.

Just completed the second week of the new regime and its going okay so far. I had the full fourteen days of Cytoxan and last week should have been my last week of Meth. and 5FU. I should have two weeks off and then begin the cycle again. This should only be a dosage of the Meth. and 5FU followed by two weeks of taking the Cytoxan orally.

Sigh … always something new to remember. The good news is that I haven’t been feeling ill. Had a little bit of a dizzy spell the other week, and a somewhat tender stomach here and there, but that was averted with a couple of hard peppermint candies. Works wonders.

Today is a nurse visit to see how I’m going. The other good news is that I’m getting this broken foot checked out. With luck I can forego the walking boot. Can you say cumbersome, inconvenient and hot and sweaty? I knew you could. Summer is not the time to be clumping around in a huge boot. Then again, I really cannot think of another time when it would be good.

Not much news beyond that. I should be getting my new tumor markers next week when I go see Dr. D. I really do hope this works. Being on chemo (continuously) for over a year is truly a drag.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

I’M GETTING OLD!!!! I actually had to start putting my pills into one of those weekly pill separators. Not my prescription medications … these are the vitamins that I take on a daily basis. I’m finding it’s the best way to remember to take them each day. Otherwise I tend to skip a day here, a day there. You don’t get much benefit from popping vitamins if you don’t take ‘em.

So far, although I’m on several prescription meds, I’ve been able to keep track of them and manage to take them at the time specified and on a regular basis. That’s sorta necessary. So, I guess the mind to be in pretty sound shape.

Even though I consider having to use one of those pill separators is a sign of declining youth, I’m still gonna continue coloring my hair (when I get it back), listening to raunchy rock and roll, watching my weigh and probably acting way too young for my age with the sole intent of being an embarassment to my daughter.

I would have thought that following my last major writer’s conference my brain cells would be humming, my imagination piqued, and my finger would be itching to get to the keyboard. Nope didn’t happen. There were a lot of things going on between then and now. There was the long trip home from Florida, the new cancer treatment, a broken foot and my daughter’s birthday party to prepare.

Weeeelllll … I’m recovered from the trip to Florida, the treatment is into its third week and going well, the foot is … well, still broken but not a deterrents since I don’t type with my toes, and as of this past weekend, my daughter’s birthday party has come and gone.

Plus, I’m finding that my energy level is slowly rising. Not as much fatigue with this treatment. So, I will once again attempt to get into the habit of waking at 4:30 a.m. and begin my writing day at that insane hour.

Starting tomorrow. The only reason I didn’t start this morning is because I hadn’t gotten a chance to wrap the little darlin’s birthday gift from mom and dad and I was up early rustling through the crawlspace for wrapping paper and bows and then digging her gift out of the trunk of my car. Not an easy thing to do when you’re trying to be quiet and not wake anyone.

Week one of the new CMF regime and I suppose you can say … so far — so good. The first week of taking the Cytoxan (correct spelling this time) went fine. I mean, how difficult is it to remember to take four tablets a day on an empty stomach?

I’d had one infusion of the Methotrexate and the Fluorouracil. They didn’t have a shortened name for the Methotrexate, but the Fluorouracil is called 5FU. Personally, I love that. Nurse Judy was already laughing and asked if I was going to blog about that reference. Damned straight I am. How can you not make a comment about how you’re gonna get F**ked Up 5 different ways with this.

Also back on the steroids. 60 mg a day. Had to. With my previous treatment, I’d get a bag of steroids before treatment to offset any nausea. Can’t just yank someone off of that without some nasty repercussions. So its oral steroids until they can start weaning me off. However, I’m determined not to turn into a chubby chipmunk this time around. The good news is that the CMF is not doing a heck of a lot for my appetite, so I’m not eating everything in sight.

Other good news is that my energy level may be rising. Not sure, because its been a bitch of a week. Preparing a b-day party for a little girl is taking a toll. I’ll see what next week brings. Today is treatment day and I’ll be getting my infusion of Meth. (LOL) and 5FU. I’m hoping that we’ll then be skipping the next two weeks and then starting the next cycle. I gotta get with the new schedule.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”