Gee I thought losing my hair would be bad but it hasn’t worried me as much as I thought. However, now that my eyebrows and eyelashes are disappearing I frighten myself in the mirror each morning. I’m not sure if I have a fear of aliens or if it’s the ‘classic chemo patient’ look that shocks me.

To top it off I can’t seem to do anything to fix it. You would think that being an artist I would be able to draw my own eyebrows on but according to my beauty consultant (daughter) I’m hopeless. Somedays one eyebrow looks surprised and the other one looks angry. Other days I look like Frida Kahlo’s doppelganger.  Maybe I’ll start wearing a balaclava or a disguise from the $2 shop.

 A week off chemo

I had last week off chemo so the MOTH and I went to the Peninsula for the week. We had a lovely time together and also a lovely time apart. Unlike most married couples we actually spend a lot of time together so time apart gives us something to talk about over the BBQ dinner. I completed multiple art works while the MOTH managed 45 million holes of golf. The golf course was attached to the timeshare resort so that was handy… and free!

As well as that, we had my two sons and their wife/girlfriend for one day, Sophie for another and 4 of my lovely friends came down for a day and we went shopping, ate lunch and then soaked in the hot springs. The other days were spent in wineries, cheese factories, restaurants and running (with the MOTH) from Safety Beach to the Dromana pier and back along the beach (twice).

At least producing all this artwork has given me an income now that I’m not working and it’s soooo relaxing! Most times I sell the work before it’s finished thanks to Facebook and Instagram. If it doesn’t sell it doesn’t matter diddly squat. I just love creating it. I have 2 exhibitions coming up so there’s art everywhere at the Wood Hood!

The fault in our stars

I know some of you will be surprised but I read ‘The fault in our stars’ while I was away and when I was half way through it I went to see the movie with the MOTH at Rosebud. I recommend that you read the book if you haven’t, regardless of whether you have seen the movie. It adds more layers to the story and fills gaps that the movie leaves.

I am always a sook at that type of movie (so is the MOTH… shhhhh), but I had a strange desire to watch it. The focus is on a condition which was known to be terminal and the patient was only 17 years old, so I didn’t identify with many of her feelings.  Aside from the many thought provoking aspects of the book/movie it attempts to remove the stereotype attached to chronic illness and Hazel struggles not to be brutally honest about her feelings to those around her. The need to protect others from her harsh reality is something I identified with.

Anyhow, I won’t say we didn’t shed a tear but I cried much worse when I watched ‘My sisters keeper’, ‘Beaches’ and a few others. Perhaps the fear of cancer is worse when you haven’t experienced it? OR maybe I’ve just turned to ice and nothing moves me. Ice Queen?

Back to the turban factory

 

I’m back this week for my fourth cycle of chemo having had a couple of days with less energy last week. I wondered if my blood counts had (finally) dropped but I seem to be fine again this week so I’m roaring to go back to the turban factory for more drugs… erm… not.

My running distance has dropped off a bit because I’m getting breathless. This is to be expected as I push through the cycles but the nurse thinks it’s to do with the cold air in my lungs. I’ll go back to the treadmill this week and see if being in warm air helps. Running 4k along the beach in the winter was pretty brisk! Brrrr.

No other symptoms other than eyebrows dropping like autumn leaves, wonky sinuses and looking like an alien. I’m good… but then I explained what ‘good’ meant in a previous post:)