"Cancer...Part II..."

“CANCER, PART II…”

Living with cancer for the first couple of weeks is reminiscent of the “tilt-a-whirl” you see at carnivals. Things are spinning constantly. Your home, your work, your life, your family, every aspect of your life is in disarray and in a constant state of turbulence. What’s ironic is I’ve been living with it since February 23 and unable to attack it with medicine. Part I of living with Cancer is over. The mind game will cease. Part II starts tomorrow.

Tomorrow is D-Day. I’m so apprehensive. I truly had a day today that was similar to what I would assume is living life with a severe case of ADD or ADHD. I couldn’t stay put, focus, concentrate or complete tasks. Both my mind and my body had to keep moving and occupied, and I fretted back and forth, here and there, up and down, and every which way but loose!!

What’s ironic is living with cancer prior to the treatments. It’s one thing to have the mind in chaos. Tomorrow, I’m assuming my body will endure chaos with the beginning of a medical regimen from hell. I’ve my first of 7 weeks of radiation treatment. I then proceed to the cancer center for the first of 5 straight days of chemo treatment. My cycle is 7 weeks of radiation, and then 5 days on, 2 off, 1 on, and 2 weeks off chemo. My Doctor is a lung cancer specialist. She flat out told me they’re going after these tumors aggressively. I liked that. To me, life pretty much has always been “all or nothing,” and I’m ready to saddle up and go for the ride. I’m blessed I’ve a cutting edge team, that science has advanced, and hopefully, a miracle will land in my lung.

I had a good friend, Jen drop by today with tons of ideas and products and food to take to the first chemo visit. I appreciated her advice, as she's been down this road before. I’m rational and optimistic about this first round, but also somewhat frightened. I’m grateful I’ve a bevy of friends, family and co-workers that are providing me inspiration right now. I do appreciate everyone.

Today, I really wanted to golf, but knew if I did, I’d get the fever, so I decided to go for a scooter ride instead. I’ve got the cutest little Schwinn 49cc scooter. It was a tad bit breezy, so I put on my birks, some Capri jeans my sis gave me, and one of my 33 KU shirts and was ready to ride like the wind. It took me over an hour to get the silly scooter started, as it has sat dormant in my garage all winter long. Once I finally got it going after flooding it repeatedly, I just took off. I went and visited the Roe’s, my former teaching peers and fellow KU fans. I then drove to my golf course and saw my dear friends Patty and Margie golfing. I took my lil scooter on the 16th cart path and had a quick visit. I showed them my new radiation tattoos, and told them I’m ready to get the show on the road so I can get back out there on the golf course with them.

I’ve talked about my raging KU fandom. I’ve approximately 33-35 KU shirts, sweatshirts, turtlenecks, hoodies, tee shirts and golf pullovers. I’ve decided I’m going to wear one each day of treatment during radiation. I’ve two new mantras in my life:

My sis gave me this one: “LIVE WELL, LOVE MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN”

My other mantra is: “KU PULLED OFF A MIRACLE LAST YEAR IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP, AND SO CAN THEIR NUMBER ONE FAN!”

Imagine….a different KU shirt for approximately 35 days. Yep, that’s my quirkiness right there in the crimson and blue.
Love and Prayers,
Julie