<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>selawton's Journal RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/rss</link><description>selawton's Journal RSS Feed</description><item><title><![CDATA[A long-overdue update]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7840</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7840</guid><description><![CDATA[I haven't been online in quite a while. Radiation has been kicking my butt, althugh it is almost over now. Only 3 more sessions and I am done! Yay!

I have quite a case of radiation dermatitis at the moment, and am taking Percocet for the discomfort.

My holidays were excellent. My son turned 3 on December 30th, and we had a wonderful party for him. He started school last week, in fact. Only 2 days a week, and only 4 hours a day, but it is hard for me to put him on the bus and be away from him!

I saw my onc last week as well, and am on the 3-month visit schedule now... As soon as I get the all-clear from the radiation onc, I am scheduling the removal of my chemotherapy port. And when that is done, I am getting my tattoo! Woot!

]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chemo is over!]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7731</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7731</guid><description><![CDATA[Hooray! I saw my oncologist yesterday, and I am officially done with chemo! I can now schedule the removal of my port - woohoo!

Radiation starts next. I am marked with X's on three spots so that the techs know where to tattoo me this Thursday. I think we'll crank into the rad schedule next week. I need to talk to the doc about radiation and surgery - my oncologist said it should be okay, since the port is on the right side and the rads will be on the left side. I still want to make sure it'll be okay.

Chemo was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. I am so glad it is over!]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Round 6 began today...]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7670</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7670</guid><description><![CDATA[My last round - YAY!!!

A good friend who walked in my honor in a BC walk this past weekend posted this in her blog. I liked it enough to post it here...



I Run for Life - Melissa Etheridge

It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete

[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend I run for life

It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To waken when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

[Chorus]

And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hooray!]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7621</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7621</guid><description><![CDATA[After assessing what meds I had on hand to treat the headache last Friday (which made it one solid week I was in pain), I took a rather potent but safe "bomb" of meds and went up to bed. It was either deal with it on my own, or go to the ER on a Friday night and hope that they would admit me at some point in the night. The neurologist's office was less than helpful, and the med that they called in was out of stock at both my pharmacies until today. So, I dealt with it on my own...

The headache broke that night, and it has not come back at all - not even a twinge.

Thanks to everyone who sent their love and energy this way. I believe it made a difference!]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Guess what's still here?]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7612</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7612</guid><description><![CDATA[Headache is still full-on intense. It's nearly been 7 entire days since it started. Migraines, without treatment, generally resolve in 3 days.  I have been treated, though. I even got IV MORPHINE yesterday, for goodness sake. It knocked me out for 2-1/2 hours, then the headache was right back, full-on spikey stabbity pain.

So, I get to have a CAT scan done tonight, then I see a neurologist tomorrow afternoon. At this point, hospitalization is a very definite outcome, and quite honestly, one I would welcome right about now. At least I could get better drugs... ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[gaaaaaah]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7607</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7607</guid><description><![CDATA[Headache since Thursday. Migraine in nature, but it is not responding to my migraine drugs. In fact, right now it's not responding to anything except raising or lowering my head, which makes it exponentially worse. It feels like someone has rammed two swords into my temples. I called the doc's on-call service Saturday, and all they could suggest was for me to go to the ER, which would have cost us $100 up front - which of course we do not have. So, I have endured this for 5 days now, and will damn well be discussing this with Dr. Tamim this afternoon when I go in for my labs. She's gotta do something. Lortab does nothing for it any longer, and neither does Midrin. 

Send energy, please, that I can get through the day without going insane.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[4th rond of chemo starts Monday]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7594</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/selawton/journals/7594</guid><description><![CDATA[I am halfway through my chemo now. I am bald all over (yes, there too...), and exhausted all the time. They tell me it won't get any worse than it was this last time, but that's really no consolation to me since this last round was a living hell. ]]></description></item></channel></rss>