One Silver Lining to Chemo??

Curly hair!
I always had straight hair growing up, so of course I envied the girls who had curls. Now that my hair is growing back - I GOT CURLS!!! Now I just have to figure out how to style curly hair since I've never done that before.

Of course the best thing about chemo is that it's killing those sneaky little cancer cells wherever they may try to hide!!!

missrenee said:

Cindy's right--killing those nasty cancer cells is the best
However, believe it or not--there are other "good things" about chemo. Here are mine:

1. Met some wonderful people having treatments at the same time--it became almost like going to the beauty shop (well, almost)!

2. Made me totally appreciate the days that I really felt good during treatment (and there were many).

3. All my friends and family thought I was so brave (called me their "hero") even though I was just putting one foot in front of the other and had no choice.

4. Chemo felt very pro-active--I was using a very potent weapon to fight this monster.

5. After 6 rounds of TAC, I'm really not afraid of very much anymore.

6. I have the greatest family and friends in the universe.

Good luck in your treatments--there are truly blessings to be had on this journey and I hope yours are abundant!

Hugs, Renee

Well miss Renee you said it
Well miss Renee you said it so beautifully! I don't think I could ever top that.
Thanks, I loved reading it.
Hugs,
Wanda

missrenee said:

Cindy's right--killing those nasty cancer cells is the best
However, believe it or not--there are other "good things" about chemo. Here are mine:

1. Met some wonderful people having treatments at the same time--it became almost like going to the beauty shop (well, almost)!

2. Made me totally appreciate the days that I really felt good during treatment (and there were many).

3. All my friends and family thought I was so brave (called me their "hero") even though I was just putting one foot in front of the other and had no choice.

4. Chemo felt very pro-active--I was using a very potent weapon to fight this monster.

5. After 6 rounds of TAC, I'm really not afraid of very much anymore.

6. I have the greatest family and friends in the universe.

Good luck in your treatments--there are truly blessings to be had on this journey and I hope yours are abundant!

Hugs, Renee

.. Okay .. let me think, "Afer Chemo" plus
1) Saved tons of $$$ on coloring my hair, not to mention the money I saved on hair cuts

2) Found out first handed ... what the term "empathy" really means

3) Life is precious

4) I learn to find the 'joy' in every day, Good and Bad

5) You can count your 'true' friends on 1 hand

6) I can 'now' accomplish anything I set my mind on (with the exception of sewing)

7) My husband is a angel - someone I often took for granted

8) Most importantly .. 'if it doesn't get done today, there's always tomorrow or the next day' .. believe me - I am OCD about a clean home ..

9) Lastly, enjoy the simple things in life - a good book,my dog's, gardening - walking on a cool morning .. I now cherish and appreciate all things .. I no longer find it necessary to purchase the newest 'Louis Vuitton' handbag. I find happiness with what I have in my life - which includes .. Husband, Kids, Friends, stuff .. and Football. Above all I give thanks to my Heavenly Father, every day and night!

Strength and Happiness,


Vicki Sam

mwallace1325 said:

Sorry to repeat
but MissRenee said it all. You truly feel loved by family and friends. You meet the most wonderful people from the medical team to the other patients. If you've dyed you hair for years and years and have always wondered if and how you could ever stop, chemo shows you how.
You'll get thru this cause we all did and we'll help.

Take care,

marge

Out of chemo for one year...so here goes
1. The small stuff stays small and the big stuff isn't as big as it once was.

2. Chemo killed my scent glands so I don't have to use deodorant.

3. As someone said you know who your friends are.

4. I love looking at the sky and not taking it for granted how beautiful it is.

5. Even a "bad hair day" is a good hair day because well, I have hair!

6. This may sound selfish but I think of me first a lot more now then I did and I'm happier for it.

7. I now have a great excuse (and not really an excuse) to forget things.

8. As someone else said...on darn the thought went out of my head! LOL! (see #7)

9. Oh yeah, it killed all the micro cancer cells so it can't come back!!!

Hope this helps.
Sher

i can think of several right off the top of my head
not having to shave my legs all summer!

since my hair was not growing, my nails did! i have the most beautiful nails i have ever had!!

becoming aware of what a strong person i am!!!

finding this website and getting to know all you lovely people!!!!

After Chemo
After Chemo I am thankful daily I managed to make it through Chemo and would never wish the fear of Cancer or Chemo on even my worse enemy.

pinkflutterby said:

lots of nice nicepeople to
lots of nice nicepeople to chat with/time of work with no grief from boss/coworkers

Mind over body
The best thing about chemo was deciding that I hate to upchuck, and after two treatments, had talked my body into resisting the urge. I can talk myself out of throwing up! A skill everyone should aspire to! LOL!

Wait...the REALLY BEST thing is realizing that I made it thru chemo, everything else physical is really small potatoes. I figure if I could do that, I can stand anything.

The worst part, for me, is now training my mind to not have chemo brain. I was going to college all during treatment, and the last semester was really tough...chemo brain faded in and out. Then I finished school (but still need some CLEP tests to complete the degree) and got a real job. At the job, I find I really have to concentrate or mistakes get made. Big time mistakes, like I could cause a traffic stop to turn into an arrest warrant. So, the "mind control" goes on, and it is getting much better. Today, I'm studying for the British Lit CLEP test...and I'm gonna make flash cards! Whatever it takes to get the job done...I can do it. I kicked cancer's azz, so really, what else is there to worry about? (keep telling yourself that, especially on bad days!)

smalldoggroomer said:

Hi Stace, One thing - cant
Hi Stace, One thing - cant do it there are so many
I have met some wonderful people
I have learned how precious life is
How much my husband loves me
How much my sister loves me
How hard i will fight to stay in this world with my family.
Everything means more to me now. I want to help others.
I want to make a difference in this world.
I have always been very happy in my life and didn't think I could be more happy, I am.
I love life and every one here,
Is this to mushy? I love mushy!!!!!!!!!!!

no other options
Since I have no other options for fighting this cancer, chemo is my "Godsend". It has given me 37 weeks that I would not have had without it and I hope it continues to work for a long time. As hard as it sometimes is, when you're facing the real alternative, it's not so bad.

Please be patient as you will soon be done with it. Best wishes.

Marsha

Stace_aka_Pollyanna said:

Thank you thank you thank you!!!
You ladies are "the bomb" (too 80's?? ha) I've been writing every one of your replies on index cards to take with me into tx. Figured it couldn't hurt to be reminded of why we go through the valleys... for the peaks peaks peaks!

Blessings and hugs,
Stace

I'm all over this one
Even when I felt like cr*p, I definitely found things to appreciate about chemo:

1. It was my built-in excuse to not do things I didn't want to do. A boring meeting at church I didn't want to go to? "So sorry, can't come -- I'm on chemo." A co-worker's wedding? "So sorry, can't come -- I'm on chemo." I found the words "cancer" and "chemo" got me out of a lot of things I didn't want to do!

2. I had more time and money (and space on my bathroom counter!) once many of my "grooming rituals" went out the window. Didn't even look at my tweezers for months. No hair conditioner, no blowdrying, no styling products.

3. It was an excuse to shop for cute hats, and liptints and lipglosses that made me feel more feminine. So yeah -- I guess all that money I was saving on hair care products was actually being spent elsewhere....

:-) Traci