48 hours has taken on a whole new meaning

In approximately 48 hours I will be sitting in the Cancer Centre getting my first chemo treatment. Am I scared? Oh yeah! BC, it's treatment, and all the unknowns are frightening.

In the last month or so I have been in "information overload" mode. Everytime I have an appointment (and there have been many) I leave with a package of information. I've managed to read most of it but realized last night after chatting with MC that I have forgotten (or blocked) lots of information. So there I was sitting at the dinning room table referring back to the 30-page PowerPoint presentation about chemotherapy. Is this what my Friday nights have become?

Some of the rules around chemo make sense .... others are just plain old weird.

• Drinks lots of water - check
• Limit caffeine - in the works
• Limit sugar - I ate ice cream yesterday and may again today .... this one may be challenging
• Limit alcohol - no problem
• Stay out of crowded areas - check
• Exercise - check
• No spicy food - I'm going out for dim sum today ... where I will be eating hot sauce!
• No cleaning the cat litter or picking up dog do .... yahoo ... you're on Mik!!
• Use a condom for 48 hours after chemo ... who in the hell is having sex?

And, the weirdest of all ... for the first 48-hours after chemo, every time you pee you have to close the toilet seat and flush twice! Now, only Mikeala and a couple of my live-ins would know this ... but I don't flush everytime I pee!

So, now that I have 48 hours of semi-freedom left, what am I going to do? Well, first things first, have dim sum with my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and neice ... Mik might join us ... if she's back from MW's in time. Try to hit the slopes or the canal, visit Starbucks with GD, and at some point, clean the house and finish the laundry!

It's not you .... it's me!

How many times have I heard or said that in a relationship? Never did I think that I would be breaking up or taking a breaking from coffee. Do the chemo makers not know that I'm a Starbucks addict? I admit it - I'm a coffee junkie!

The nurse dropped the bomb at the chemo information session yesterday, "we recommend that you limit your coffee intake - if you drink five cups a day, REALLY limit it". Five cups a day? That's for light weights! I have five cups before 8 a.m. Now, I know that sounds like a lot but like I said, I'm a self-admitted addict.

I've been drinking too much coffee since we were first introduced over 20 years ago. I have to admit my love and need for coffee may have gotten worse since Starbucks opened in Ottawa. I do switch it up from time-to-time and have lattes!

I can't even have decaf. Apparently, it's not recommended either. For the love of God!

Cold turkey is not the anwer for me. I definitely need the softer gentler way. I have three days to cut down on coffee and I'm going to take all three days! So, this morning I've only made half a pot .... and really I'm already a head of the game ... I've been up for half an hour and not had a coffee yet.

To blog or not to blog

Yesterday, I decided the best way to keep people up-to-date on my health issues was to send out mass emails to all my loved ones. And then, Joce, a fellow Communicator and wonderful friend, suggested that I blog. I've always enjoyed reading other people's blogs but never considered writing one of my own ... mostly because I felt that I write enough work - of course that's no longer an issue! And, I never thought I had anything to write about .... until now.

So, it's my intention to blog (I can't believe that I'm even writing that!) about my breast cancer and some of my feelings around having it.

Here's a recap of my mass email ...

In order to keep my written communications skills sharp while on sick leave, I've decided to use email (change of plans ... now it's a blog ) as a tool in providing updates regarding my breast cancer (BC). As a Communicator, I know that personal face-to-face communications is the most effective means of communicating your message however, I'm starting to get sick of my own voice.
So here it goes my first update. Be prepared ... there will be acronyms (I do work for the CRA after all!).

As you know, in November 2008, I was diagnosed with BC. Since then I have been going through a number of medical tests and procedures. In December 2008, I had surgery to remove the cancer and test my lymph nodes. I have been recuperating nicely, in between watching movies and dinners with friends, I've even gone skiing and skating. I've also joined a fitness group with other BC ladies. As many of the girls at work know, I love research. So, I've agreed to participate in exercise research study with the Ottawa Hospital. The objective of the study is to determine how much cardio and strength training is beneficial to women with BC going through treatment .... some of the perks include: free parking, the possibility of meeting single doctors, and the very cute guy that works at the gym!

My first chemo appointment is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2009. I could have started Friday, but wanted to wait until my parents got home from Cuba. Yes, I want my mommy! I am scheduled to have chemo every three weeks for 18 weeks. It get a little complicated ... I will be having one type of chemo for the first three weeks, another for the remaining three weeks, a different IV drug every three weeks for 12 months, radiation five days a week for five weeks, and then hormone therapy for five years. Since I will be having IV drugs for what seems like forever, my Dr. has recommended that I get a "port-a-cath" which is a catheter that is inserted in your upper chest wall to make chemotherapy easier. Sound gross, but it eliminates the need to be poked a million times with needles ... I'm a total chicken! All this news has been little overwhelming but I'm trying to deal with things one day at a time. Well, I think that's it for me. Hope all is well with everyone.