Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Scan Time again

April 7. It will have been nine weeks since the last scan. I'm nervous, but also not. It would be a gigantic disappointment not to have good results at this point, but one, I think the results will be fine, and two, even if we need to do something else...well, that's what we have to do!

love you all, mp

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Time flies when I'm not Posting!

Sorry for the lengthy silence -- again! I really promise to keep up on updates from now on!

Basically, the short story is -- I feel great, my next scans are still over a month away, and my hair is growing back, although very unevenly and a very strange mousebrown/silver color.

The other cool thing is that I was accepted (all expenses paid!) to a Lung Cancer Advocacy Summit in Dallas in April. I'm pretty excited -- the topics range from things like how to work with lobbyists, to writing grants, to pitching the media (they have no idea that I used to have to pitch the Beach Boys to cranky entertainment reporters), to fundraising.

So that's it. I'll be back next week, hopefully with something more interesting to say!

xxoo, mp

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Oops, Time for an Update

You see how I get?? So cavalier that I forget to let you know how my scans went?!?

I have a confession....it's facebook that is keeping me distracted from my blog. All those darn "25 Interesting Things About Me" tasks (I have done it twice already, and lost them both times when I tried to tag people -- I am not doing it again!), the tagged photos, the virtual potted plants, the uber-witty updates from people who are friends of my friend's friends....all much more FUN than a cancer blog, don't you think?

But here I am, back again.

My scans were great. Everything is same size (which means stable, which we like) PLUS there's a subtle trend of "softening" going on...which is a small but good sign that the Alimta is not only working, it's working WELL.

Yippee!

Monday, January 26, 2009

N-N-N-Nioxin!

Forget Mr. T

They accidentally shipped Tom Shaggy from Scooby Doo, which I think is actually better. Lucie talks in Shaggy/Scooby voice, and tells me that I am going to LOSE. Nothing like support from my nearest and dearest.

But, darn it, this hair is going to GROW. I saw Bex this weekend --HER hair is a. it's natural color and texture, and b. growing in uniformly, and c. SHE HAS MORE THAN ME!!!!

So I have committed my self to the Nioxin or Nioxx or whatever the $40 shampoo and $40 scalp treatment is called. Spendy, but not as much as wigs (the first one is free through insurance, but after that you have to pay). And I am oh so tired of the cancer hats and scarves.

Scan tomorrow -- and then we'll know if I get to go every three months for scans -- fingers crossed!

Lots of people fighting this cancer beast right now -- either actively, or are learning what it means to live through and past it.

Let's all think some good thoughts for them. Thanks.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

A chance to help

From the Change.gov website, for President-Elect Obama, they have a "briefing book." It is described below...

"Share your ideas on any issue facing the new administration, then rate or comment on other ideas. The best rated ideas will rise to the top -- and be gathered into a Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama after he is sworn in."

My friend Stephanie couldn't find anything in the briefings about lung cancer (you can search for it), so she wrote a piece, along with excerpts from the LCA letter for the President-Elect. Now we need YOU to go to this site and vote for it. Copy and paste this note and email all your friends to vote for it. They have to be the best rated to make it in the book that he receives.

Keep in mind, people can also vote it down, so we need to get plenty of affirmative votes. You may also vote down those that may be lower priorities for you, giving you "double" power to help this one surface...Can you help?

citizensbriefingbook.change.gov

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Race Is On



My friend Tom Todaro thinks I can take on Mr. T. At least in terms of hair growth.

Tom, being the helpful friend he is, has managed to track this down, and as soon as I get it -- the race is ON, Mr. T!!!! I'll post progress pics and we can decide who gets the big gold medallion. And it will be me. "I got no time for this jibba jabba!"

Monday, January 12, 2009

Brr!

My apologies to everyone I know who doesn't have a lot of hair, yet still will brave the ski slopes.

Freakin' COLD, even with a special DaKine beanie and my helmet.

BRRRRRRRRR. And yesterday was a relatively warm day on the slopes.