Radiation Rave, Chemo Roulette & the Juric Fast Pass
August 11 Preview
Let’s just start with the obvious: Round 3 of chemo hits
August 11. While T-DM1 isn’t the full-body demolition crew that TCHP was, it
still managed to drag me into the fatigue club while casually rearranging my
organs.
My skin’s officially starting to toast, my labs read like
I’m 90 and just ran a marathon, and my EKG had everyone scratching their heads.
But it’s “not acute,” just inflammation and the classic: “We’ll keep an eye
on it.”
Translation: let us know when things start falling off.
✅ Breathless? Yep.
✅
Feels like Milo is sitting on my chest? Also yes.
✅
Tired? Please.
✅
Brain won’t stop? Naturally.
So we ride.
Radiation & Chemo Watch: Internal Combustion Lite
Radiation is daily, and I haven’t burst into flames—so we’re
counting that as a win. My chest wall is glowing (inside and out), and I’ve
officially hit halfway: 15 out of 30 sessions done.
Meanwhile, my bloodwork is giving full chaotic energy. One
test basically said, “There’s inflammation somewhere—good luck.” The EKG
added some flair, so Dr. Juric fast-passed me to a CTA scan (because of course
he did).
Results:
- Heart?
Still there.
- Organs?
Technically functioning.
- Plan?
Keep inflammation from turning into something more exciting.
Blame the Drug, Not the Beam
Despite my gut (and Google) screaming radiation!,
today’s verdict is that it’s actually not the beam. The CTA didn’t show
pericardial irritation or localized inflammation where I’m being zapped.
Instead, both lungs are showing hazy inflammation—aka, floating toxicity from
T-DM1.
In short:
- Radiation
= local
- T-DM1
= passive-aggressive nomad, setting fires wherever it wants
Chemo Calendar Fun Fact: Days 5 & 6 = Bleeder Days
That’s when I become the human version of a bruised peach.
- Shave
your legs? Casual bloodbath.
- Peel
off a Band-Aid? Welcome to contusion city.
- Scratch
your back? Might as well page the EMTs.
Delicate flower? No. Just delicate platelets.
Body Check: Hair Where?!
My arms and nostrils are leading a hair regrowth revolution.
Some things never fell out—like forearm and hand
hair. But now they’re back with double density, as if making up for lost time.
Meanwhile, my nostrils have turned into tiny forests. The peach fuzz on my
cheeks is thriving, and my head hair is creeping back at a painfully slow pace,
like a chia pet with commitment issues.
That said—progress.
And for those wondering who Jake looks like…
It’s official.
Who wore it best?
Tie.
But if you’re asking where his
“I’m not here for your nonsense”
face comes
from—look no further.
August Drink Calendar: The Real Reason You’re Here
Let’s not forget the real celebration: the August Drink of
the Day calendar. One fabulous drink for each of you—alcoholic or mocktail,
depending on your vibe. Full calendar below.
My drink? Still Leo Logic: strong, complex,
occasionally fiery, and always honest. Shocking, I know.
In Other News… Pray for Us.
On August 15th, after radiation and after I train my three
duets (because why not squeeze in everything), Sam, Jake, and I will
pile into the car and head west—30 plus hours together in a metal box as we bring
Jake back to school in Colorado.
So here’s where you come in:
To my heart, my soul, my backstage pass crew—help me survive this. I need your
best road trip songs, car games, burning questions, icebreakers, distractions,
and possibly a few spells. Anything to get us through 30 hours without
emotional casualties or an emergency stop to leave someone at a rest area.
Drop your recs. Save our sanity. Bonus points if it doesn’t require cell service in Nebraska or Kansas (we haven’t decided yet)
.png)
For a song, it’s gotta be “I’m gonna be (500 miles)” although for you, more like 2000 miles. A game, “10,000 bottles of milk on the wall, 1000 bottles of milk! Take one down, pass it around, 9,999 bottles of milk on the wall! 9,999 bottles of milk on the wall…” (you get the gist)
ReplyDeleteDon & I play a radio game & it's fun. Each player chooses 3 artists. To make it fun, we choose a mix of current and obscure artists. Once your list is settled, hit the "seek" button on your radio. Whoever checks off their 3 artists first wins. We also loaded a license plate game app onto our phones when we drove Ryan to TN. That was fun. You can also do a scavenger hunt type of game where you come up with a list of items to find while driving (a red pick up truck with a black top, a convertible with a dog in passenger seat, a car older than the oldest passenger in your vehicle, a purple sunset etc). Happy trails & sending hugs!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS!!!
DeleteRoadtrips with my girls when they were little- we played the license plate game, I Spy. Haven’t been many road trips for Scott and I lately, but on my shorter ones I’ve been listening to Mel Robbin’s. Pretty sure I’ve solved all of the problems and mysteries of the world by now!
ReplyDeleteHA!! Tell me the answers please!
DeleteHaven't done a looonnnng roadtrip recently, but we did play a good amount of the "license plate" game in the past. How about a book on tape..I looked one up that sounded cool: "The Elephant Whisperer" or for a fictional mystery: "Everyone on this Train is a suspect"...I'm intrigued!! xo
ReplyDeleteLoading some now!
DeleteThat comparison of you and Jake is epic! I did the MA to New Orleans trip many times but usually solo so I had to sing to myself the whole way ;). There's always the alphabet game (spot the letters of the alphabet in any sign, including license plates when there's no signage to be found!), 20 questions, SongQuiz (I think it's through Apple?) and books on tape. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteI'm putting you and Linds on speed dial to help with Song Quiz
DeleteGood songs: Take on me [A-ha]. And Rasputin by Boney M, it grows on you!
ReplyDeleteAs long as its not that pony song
DeleteWhen we were getting ready to move last year, I was in the basement by myself prying the lid off paint cans so I could dry them before taking them to the dump. These cans were older than me, and there we many, many cans so it took a few days. I started to get sick of my playlists, so I found "101 Lost Hits of the 80s" on Spotify. It was so fun because most of the songs I hadn't heard since high school. When you haven't heard a song in 35 years and you still know all the words?! It' kinda wild. You'll enjoy it, but Sam and Jake might think we're loony. 😍🎵🕺
ReplyDeleteSo true! Love it
DeleteSteve and I (at times) like to pass people and say “oh Hi John Denver (example)” - kind of a doppleganger game. It sounds stupid but VERY funny.
ReplyDelete😍🥰
Delete