All Pinked Out

Senor and I  are approaching what we think is the cancer treatment finish line. It cannot come soon enough!  My final dose of chemo should be Oct. 29th if my heart is willing and able. We started on August 26, 2014 so we are into year two of treatment.I am not going to tell you that the time flew by.  MUGA scans are indicating that my heart infraction level has gone from 70 (the heart of an athlete) to 50 on some occasions, and you cannot have chemo if you are under 55. As a result my new, and first time ever, cardiologist, has me taking some pills which lower my already perfect blood pressure to protect my heart until the final dose of herceptin is given. After chemo is concluded I am able to discontinue the heart medications. I understand that I will never see 70 again, but the readings should improve after chemo. (Actually, I will be seeing 70 in another way before I know it) The medicine makes me cold, tired and dizzy. All of the medications and cancer treatment is also making me something else, and I warn you, it is not pretty. But I am still attempting to go to aquafit three times a week and the pleasant weather has supported me with outdoor classes. We have just started wearing winter hats and quick dry tee shirts in the pool this week. Fall is here.

Now, on to a happier topic. Well, sort of…Colouring. Macleans magazine has reported that  people (mostly middle-aged to older women) are “Colouring Till It Hurts”. This movement to create inner peace is also bringing tendonitis, back problems, and worse to what I am beginning to perceive as  slightly deranged people. I do hope that it is not any of you. Some people do warm up exercises, take a painkiller,perform stretching of forearms and rotation of wrists before settling in to over four continuous hours of the activity! OK folks, please be reasonable. I can just imagine people filling in forms for their employer because they are unable to work due to a colouring injury. It is good that most of us are retired. Be careful! Play safe! Don’t overdo it! Go back to drinking if you need to.

Thanksgiving is coming so I will close with something positive to be thankful for. Only Oprah gets to blabber on and on about gratitude. I like good old-fashioned thankful.

This year I give thanks for my good old pair of sweatpants. They were there for me in so many ways.