Thursday night

I know I haven't posted all week ,but it has been really busy.my second week on the Zelboraf and it has been a little rougher than I anticipated.Got through the whole week at work but I've been living on Tylenol for the joint pain and Benadryl for the itches, its a small price to pay to keep things in check.But all that being said and done its been a productive week and feeling more like my old self  though a little worse or wear,and I'm looking forward to a restful Shabbat

Sunday Mornin'

Here I am day  6 of my ZELBORAF (gene blocking therapy) and the side effects re in full swing not that I'm complaining because oral therapy trumps inpatient  Interleuken II any time.But I think I'm going to try and readjust my diet back to Gluten free because of all the myalgia and joint pain  (especially my knees so steps are no fun) also have the itchies again and my hair continues to thin,I figure it can't hurt.,so no biggie  that's what benadryl and tylenol  is for.it seems  have become super sensitive the allergies I grew out of in adulthood have come back  in full force  so far strawberries and anti inflammatories  like  motrin.
  I had a wonderful shabbat wit my cousins in Flatbush,it was just totally chilled.came home and just relaxed the rest of my evening.No real plans for today but since the waether is not great a chiled day at home is on my agenda especially since it will be a very busy week at the VA.

The end of my first full work week

Here it is Thursday afternoon and my  work week is winding down.it feel really good to finish the work week without feeling totally exhausted (just the ussual tired).After the good news on Monday I have  had nothing  but time to think about what this really means.This is reallly good news and I will take every little piece of positive news and try to pay it forward.But deep in my heart I know I still have a long road ahead   filled with uncertanity and fear of what the future may bring and  just wanting to be back to my old self .
 I have now restarted my BRAF blocking therapy which I may be on for years  ,with its own side effects and restrictions but the restrictions are a smal price to pay ( no sun exposure at all and no wine or alcohol).And I can even live side effects of mylagias and  numbness of my fingertips, repeat scans every few months to r/o more shrinkage or g-d forbid  progression of my cancer.So  I truly  appreciate all the positive thoughts,support  and especially the love of all my friends  and family.

Monday Veterans Day

 So Sorry that I really didn't have tiem to blog yesyetrday but it was a crazy busy day but in a really good way.
my day satrted with my follow up CT  scan,then went to see the early show of Last Vegas with my sister had a few really good belly laughs & then  out to lunch with my son Motti and a really good vegetarian Indian restuarnt in Jersy city(has rabbinacal supervision).But then thank g-d it only got better I went to  see my oncologist Dr pecora and the news was good my Ct scan  has improved the right lung nodule has shruneken Yeaaaa!,so no more  inpatient treatment for now.And I strt again on my BRAF blocking oral therapy.labwork also great and to top th eday off had a great dinnerout ie;p mini reunion with some of my oldest friends form day & high school in the city .the love was all around.looking forward to a good week at work.

Veterans Day weekend

The weekend started out with a lovely day Friday finally got up the courage to go to Home Depot and buy a couple of new shades for my front window ,one of the old ones was lateral torn down the middle,but I get frustrated so easily and they didn't install as easily as they should have ,and needed some assistance that would not be available until Sunday morning so I gave up and temporarily hung a tablecloth over the window.
  With Shabbat so early .just did a bunch of errands but thank g-d feeling so much more like myself.Went to the Fogels  for Shabbat dinner we had a great time even played some apples to apples after dinner .Went to my sister and brother in law for lunch we had a great time food was great,company even better especially getting to bond and play with my great nephew Azriel.
  I know I'm feeling stronger on our way home from my sister we took the long way home and did an extra circuit around 3rd ward park and just felt refreshed and relaxed by the time we got back to my house.
  Motzei Shabbat was fun,we drove into the city and grabbed a bite to eat then we went to the uptight citizens brigade and watched some improv,great fun.Sunday morning we finally got the shades up in the living room,at least I feel like I accomplished something.dropped Richard off at. Newark airport got home laundry up.but it's been a great weekend and a day off tomorrow is he icing on the cake .
  CT scan in the morning and hopefully great results to follow late tomorrow afternoon with my oncologist and a  mini  reunion with a bunch of my old classmates in the city tomorrow night.

Erev Shabbat

I know I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday,but things are on the upswing .I had a really good day at work my energy level is almost back to normal I'd say about 80% but what an improvement.gotbhome a little later the normal made dinner chicken and green beans with jalfrrazi sauce over ice yummmm.Went to bed early  woke up this morning with a clear head and almost not itchiness  got a lot done around the house and looking forward to a great Shabbat with family and friends and especially my special guy from California.It also doesn't hurt that Monday is Veterans Day and. A day off though I have my follow up CT scan on Monday morning and an oncologist appointment in the afternoon which wil determine the next step in my treatment but we are thinking positive thoughts and preying the best.

To chop or not to chop

Every dy a little stronger the itchiness has subsided a little bit had to change to aveeno body wash my skin has become sore sensitive and super dry.Clinic went very smoothly today.the caveat was I had an appointment with my hairdresser,and had to decide if I needed to cop my hair off,it's been thinning tremendously ,and I was worried its all going to fall out but  after a great consultation with Dina my hairdresser for 16 years we decide that just a good cut would do for now,so I'm feeling a little better about that at least but I had resigned myself to if I needed to chop it all off ,it's just hair and would grow back .So I'll just wait and see what happens .
I am feeling stronger and more like myself every day.

on the road back

her eit is Tuesday and I realized that when I got to work today I forgot to blog yesterday.Had a good day at work yesterday and even went for a check up after work and after I got home I didnt feel like a rana  marathon.As I've said before I have to stop beating myself up and realize that  some of te side effecta are cumulativ and afte each cycle of chemo it will take  just that much longer to recuperayte and get back to my baseline.S0o her it is Tuesday and my energy level is improving daily.though I still have the itchy's.So here it is alitlle more than a week post chemo and I'm starting to feel like my old self YEAAAAA!

Sunday

It was really wonderful having my daughter in law Matla come after Shabbat and a nice Melava Malka with some of her friends but I pooped out by about elen thirty.I did remember to set my clock back but Unfortunatly I didn't get any more sleep ,and I was  still up bright and early this morning.
At least some of my itchiness have subsided,though my hands are still stiff and achy.I went with Matla to Costco it felt like I did 10 miles on my treadmill.so rested and then went to the groundbreaking ceremony for  the Young Israel but had to leave before it was over ,just didn't have the stamina to stay until the end.I have to come to he realization that its going o take a little more time to get o my baseline.And to regain my strength .

Saturday night

Here it is Saturday night and my first shabbat. Home after my treatment last week.Once again realizing that I have to give myself a break I did make it to shul today but was done once I got home.and that as much as
I made it back to work this past Wed. I' still feeling he cumulative effects of he treatment .no stamina or strength  and the myalgias and neuropathy is kicking my butt.but I'll get past this  ,and give myself and my body a chance to heal and recuperate.looking forward to seeing my daughter in law  Matla tonight and spending he day with her tomorrow.

TGIF

Here it is Friday morning and so glad I didn't have to get up to go to work.I have to remember to take a step back and realize though the treatment regimen is the same the effects can be cumulative .Still very achy & itchy , with very little stamina or strength ,but glad I have today and Shabbat to rest and regain my strength.The scary thing was this morning in the shower as I washed my hair and noticed huge clumps just circled around the drain, but its is coming out in clumps,  there is still  alot there I've resigned myself if that's the case Ill get a cute pixie cut and start from the beginning plus I still have all my scarves and hats from before my divorce,hahaha.wishing all my friends and family a Shabbat shalom and a restful weekend.