DNC = Democratic National Convention Place = Denver
I would have loved to be there to hear the speeches and see the people first hand! My brother is there and just called me to say that he is having a wonderful time. Michelle Obama's speech was fabulous and has set the bar extremely high for the woman that fills the role of First Lady (although it will be her!), this woman could be President in my opinion.
One of the goals of the convention is to try and bring the Obama supporters and the Clinton supporters together to unify as one in support of Barack, however the media is still trying to focus on the divide. Case in point, I was watching MSNBC and one of the stories was about the distance and unfriendliness between Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Specifically, that Bill didn't feel that Barack liked him and that Bill is not going to stay in Denver to hear Barack's speech on Thursday night. This is expected from the Republican Party, I just wish the media will folks will go somewhere and sit down!
Its a blogging frenzy at the DNC! I've been reading a lot of post from bloggers "live blogging" at the event. I would so love to get paid to do that!
Bill Clinton is doing remarks this afternoon and VP Nominee Joe Biden will be speaking this evening. Barack will speak on Thursday!
After a two year retirement, I've decided to start posting back on my own domain. I really enjoy my Vox neighbors so I will continue to ready all your post and cross post from www.hopluv.com to Vox!
For new visitors you can read my old ass archives!
I love Anthony David's voice! It reminds me of someone - I just can't pinpoint it at the moment. He is on India.Arie's label. The album is Acey Duecy and its pretty good!
In other news...
I fell and busted my ass yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!
Trying to incorporate more exercise in my daily routine - since the Oncologist Nurse told me I needed to walk for 30 minutes each day. My neighborhood is one huge circle which takes about 20- 30 minutes to walk. So, my thought was to walk it once a day. Yesterday evening, C came over and asked if I want to walk.
We had a pretty good pace going (for me anyway), about 10 minutes in something caused my ankle to twist (we think it was uneven sidewalk and/or one of those spikey balls that fell from a tree) and before you know it, I was on my back with my arms and legs in the air like a roach just sprayed with Raid! Apparently, as I was going down I tried to break my fall with my hands because my palms were bleeding. My right knee hit the concrete pretty hard too.
The day after, I can chuckle about it, but when it happened I sat up on the ground and cried like a baby - because the shit HURT LIKE HELL! A man in a PT Cruiser slowed down, then backed up and asked C, "Is she OK?" Other than a broken spirit, scratched up palms and a bruised ego, I'm doing OK.
Will I walk again? Well, I thought maybe that was a sign I shouldn't - any excuse will do :) I skipped the walk today, but I plan to resume tomorrow!
What is Chemo Brain?
The phrase "chemo brain" has come to be used by cancer survivors to describe changes in memory, attention, concentration, and abilities to perform various mental tasks that are associated with receiving chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
In medical jargon the effects of chemo brain are referred to as cognitive deficits or declining neuropsychological functioning. In recent years more focus has been placed on this phenomena as a side effect of chemotherapy.
Recent Yahoo Chat
C: I know you went to the store last night, but if you forgot something, let me know and I'll bring it.
or we can just go back to Walmart...or Target
Hopluv: ok, I did forget some stuff
but don't my have thoughts about it together right now
C: oh ok. are you ok
Hopluv: yea I'm ok
I try to remember stuff then I forget and can't remember what I wanted to remember if that makes sense
C: yes it does, and you just made it funny lol
Hopluv: lol
More on chemo brain
Unfortunately, I've noticed this side effect rearing its ugly head as I've experienced some difficulty remember the simplest things and have a lot of things on the tip of tongue but unable to spit it out. I've read it gets better after the treatments stop, but the memory won't be restored to what it was before chemotherapy. Bummer... so now I'm blind as a bat and can't remember shit! Great!
Hot off the press!
I started a group here on Vox.
Hopluv's Breast Cancer Survivor and Support Group
Pass the URL along to anyone you know that might be able to use the site as a resource.
It takes a lot for me to eat these days, I can equate it to a bird pecking seeds when I do eat. There is so much waste when I eat out, which makes me not want myself or anyone else to spend money on a meal for me. This weekend I will be buying some Ensure because I know I'm not getting the daily nutrients my body needs. Since eggs and meat offer a lot of proteins I fixed a simple smoked sausage Frittata for lunch. I wish I had some potatoes and parsley to dice up and put in it, but it turned out OK anyway. I was able to taste it somewhat, however I will let T be the judge of the flavor when she gets in from work.
- TGIF!! I'm so happy for the weekend. I have absolutely nothing planned and that is just fine with me. My work week has been getting increasingly busy as I am picking up more accounts. I had a "lull" if you will for several months after closing a few big accounts. The break was nice, and it was at the start of my treatment so the timing was good to not have a lot to do on the days I didn't feel my best. This week I've only felt so-so, but managed to get through it.
- Benzie should be ready on Monday!!! He is at the dealership (body shop), been there since Aug 6th. Some low life, envious, mean and I believe "racist" person keyed him at the mall back in June. Benzie has spent more time at the dealership than in my garage! I got it in May I think, and for at least 30 days in total it has been in the shop. 1st was the nutt case that backed into my bumper in a Marshall's parking lot, after picking it up from having the bumper replaced the SAME DAY someone keyed it at the mall. Can't have nothing around here! 2 strikes already, if a third thing happens I will say he's jinxed and get rid of it.
- Well, started "working out" this week with a personal trainer. At my last chemotherapy treatment my Oncologist Nurse asked me if I was excersing everyday. Almost lied, then I said "no". She told me that excersing at least 30 minutes a day will give me a 45 - 50% chance of not having my Breast Cancer re occur. She had my Oncologist send a referral over to Cancer Foundation For Life for the "Fit For Life" program. They offer, free of charge at many locations around the area the use of a personal trainer and workout facility. One of the locations is Gilda's Club! So, I went for my session with "Matt". Let me tell you, he WORKED MY ASS OUT! I've committed to 2-3 times a week. Thinking about buying my own treadmill too... With all the weight loss, I need to start firming up anyway and get healthier in the process. C took the picture below with her Crackberry - I'm usually not that black and blurry :)
- Been thinking, I'm going to squeeze in a 2008 vacation! Since Puerto Rico and Greece had to be cancelled because of the "BC" this summer. I should be in a good position (done with chemo and radiation) in December so why not in celebratory fashion pack my bags and hit the wind? I was thinking Buenos Aires, Argentina - until I check the total trip price on Travelocity - um no way Jose' too much. Any ideas for a warm weather vacation in December?
Watching the evening news, my ears always perk up when I heard the words "breast" "cancer" since it has consumed my life for the most part these days.
What I heard was rather disappointing.
Source: www.wfaa.com
For cancer survivors, five years is the magic number, when doctors have long declared them "cured".
But a major new study blows that theory out of the water, finding 10 to
15, even more, is not long enough for a breast cancer survivor. Doctors have long known that in some people, cancer returns. Experts didn't know why, how many people were at risk, or for how long. A new study answers some of those questions for breast cancer patients.
Carole Gust thought she would never miss her yearly mammogram,
especially after being diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago at age
39. "But yes I did a year ago because I moved into a
house being renovated, my son was going off the college. Time goes by
quickly," she said. A new study from MD Anderson in Houston says younger patients, like Gust, should not let down their guard. Research shows 20 percent of women treated for breast cancer before menopause, relapsed within 15 years. The women in the study also had advanced or aggressive cancer.
"I think what this study demonstrates to us is that we have to be
diligent for the rest of our lives, which is not the same as saying we
have to be fearful. But we need to continue to look for small cancers
or subtle evidence of recurrent disease, long after we've finished
radiation therapy or chemotherapy," said Dr. Mark Fulmer, diagnostic
radiologist. Doctors say active hormones in younger women may play a role in whether cancer returns. Carole Gust says prayers to remain disease free have been answered for 13 years. To be sure she has many more healthy years ahead, she won't miss a check-up again. "You have to be diligent," she said. Doctors say this is the first study -- so there's no reason, yet, to change treatment based on age.
But some speculate if 20 percent of younger women with aggressive
cancer relapse, there may be an increase in mastectomies. Just great!
But I need another expensive set of headphones, like I need a hole in my head. I saw these in the Apple store this past weekend and immediately fell in lust. Dr. Dre teamed with Monster Cable to produce these studio quality headphones. Dre supposedly took part in the actual engineering of these things. The base is like whoa!!! Phenomenal! The highs and lows are on point.
One perk is that they come with iSoniTalk which allows you to answer your iPhone while listening to music. The design is awesome, the price not-so-much. They will set you back $349.00 clams. I dunno Dre.....
I have the V-Moda Vibes for "in" ear and a pair of the Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones for "over" the ear which were $350 bucks. The Bose QC3s are great too, and I just got them this year so can't really justify purchasing the Beats.
BUT, if they go down and/or I can find a deal on them somewhere - I WILL HAVE THEM!
Voluntary poisoning at it's finest.
- Since I forgot to snap a picture yesterday in the Infusion Room, did one just now with PhotoBooth. C and I are at Buli's Coffee Shop at the moment having lunch and sucking up the free WiFi.
- The treatment went well yesterday, I got sleepier than normal but couldn't settle down enough to really take a nap. My brother came, my friends J and C of course were there for support keeping me company. It makes the time (5 hours) fly by quickly to laugh and talk with them. Thanks guys!
- My Oncologist is on vacay this week, so I knew I wouldn't be meeting with her yesterday. However, I did meet with her nurse, who I really like. She is a sweetheart. I ran a few issues by her that I was experiencing since the treatment before last. I've noticed a dramatic change in my vision! When using the computer, and trying to read text it is extremely blurry. I have prescribed glasses (the ones in the pic above) for reading, but never wore them much before now because I didn't need them too often. I now have to wear them daily in order to see! After researching it I found that there is a connection between vision problems and chemotherapy. I almost made an appointment to see the Optometrist, but now am glad I waited. The nurse said don't bother about having my eyes checked or changing my lens because it will do no good while I'm in treatment. She also confirmed that the vision problems were being caused by the chemotherapy. The other issue I talked with her about was a recurring "fluttering" around my heart and different places in my body. Its a very strange feeling. Did some research on this too, others undergoing chemotherapy have reported having this issue too and found it was related to Herceptin. Herceptin is one of the drugs in my chemo cocktail. The Oncologist Nurse confirmed the same. She said if it was bothersome she could prescribe something for it. I'm on enough drugs at the moment, so decided against that. As long as I don't have to worry about having a heart attack I can deal with it for now. She said "you look very good!" in fact everyone says that! So, hope they are not pulling my leg and I actually look like shit :)
- The taping for Gilda's Club was today. I almost, almost cancelled because I woke up not feeling so great. I pulled myself together and went ahead anyway, since I had made the commitment. I was a bit nervous, basically not knowing what to expect and the questions I would be asked. C sat in with me off camera, which relaxed me somewhat with her being in the room. The interviewer was a Fox News Medical Reporter, he was cool, made me feel very comfortable talking about my experience with Breast Cancer. He asked questions but it was more conversational than anything. At the end he said I did really well, C said I did too. I will be able to view the finished product on October 15th at a fundraiser luncheon. Club members are not normally invited to these, but I will receive a VIP invitation because of my participation in the project.
- Don't know if you can tell in the picture above but I'm starting to lose my eyebrows - the ends are gone and whats left is thinning out. Ain't that some shit?
- Oh, I asked the nurse about the weight loss - she didn't think it was enough to worry about. I'm almost 20lbs down.
- I remember thinking/saying before chemo started that I challenge chemo to take away my appetite because as much as I love food and eating didn't think it could happen. Well it did, chemo won! Eating is a serious chore for me. Most of the food is bland which makes me not want to eat and I really just don't think about eating. When I am hungry, I can typically only take a few bites and that's it - done! Suxs.
- Sweets tend to be flavorable for me though which is odd. Yesterday, during treatment, a man came around with a box of cupcakes. I picked a chocolate one with green icing and chocolate sprinkles - it was wonderful! I tasted the flavor in the cake part and the icing! I think I could have eaten two :)
- 2 more treatments left - yeah! Then I wait three weeks and start Radiation. Not overjoyed about doing that every freakin day for 6 weeks - whatevs.
