I have been doing the chemo thing for four months now. Two more treatments to go. The whole cancer experience has gotten really, really old. I glance at myself in the mirror and see Lance Armstrong. Well, I do look like the pic in his book where he is bald with no eyebrows and yes indeedy we look like brother and sister: headstrong, chemically infused, hairless bike geeks.
As a form of amusement I found a henna artist to do something creative with my head. Her name is Darcy, check her out at:www.hennalounge.com.
But back to Lance: he would HAVE to be proud of me these days. I have been faithfully going to the gym since my fitness program started seven weeks ago and three times a week I ride the exercise bike for 35 minutes and lift weights for about 45 minutes. The other days I have a 20 minute abs routine. The pool at my condo just opened! Since this tub of water is where the better part of my association fees go, I will swim here until I become too big of a fish in our little pond. Then who knows, maybe I will swim to Hawaii.
This is probably as good a time as any to inform all of you of one of the greatest cancer treatment injustices: 80% of people who go through chemo gain at least ten pounds.
Can you believe it?
I know that it doesn't make sense, but I kind of get it now. It is mostly about the fact that when you feel too sick to eat for a few days or longer, you feel the need to eat a lot when you can. And you feel justified to eat anything that appeals to you. Also, most people do not or cannot move much because they are so tired. I think the only reason that I have been able to exercise is that I had a good workout program before cancer and I was going to go nuts if I didn't start exercising when I did in March.
Anyway, I have lost a pound or two since starting chemo but that is it and probably will end up breaking even. So not fair!
In related news, I don't have much energy for much else beyond my exercise program. Thankfully I am completely taken with some of my latest video selections. I am downright nuts over "Deadwood" the HBO show. Cheryl's Dad (aka Uncle Cecil) has been faithfully sending me the new Sopranos episodes and he doesn't know this yet, but will get tapped for the third season of Deadwood. I am also sucked into several reality shows and as most of them are in finals mode, it is a good time to be bedridden.
So, that is today's report. Drop an email and let me know how YOU are!