Note to Self

Girl, you've been forgetting
Just how special you really are
And I try to remind you
Sometimes I can't find you
But the truth is in your heart
 
So write a note to yourself
 
Girl, don't beat yourself up
Your best is good enough
So pick the pen up
 
And write a note to yourself,
a note to yourself
And don't be cruel,
cause things do happen
And you know it's not your fault
Don't cover your wounds with the salt
 
Girl, let me tell you what I see
You've got to believe me
You're a thing of beauty
 
Girl, put it in an envelope
Put it in the post
It'll come back to your door  
And read the note to yourself,
Note to yourself
And don't be cruel,
cause things do happen
And you know it's not your fault
Don't cover your wounds with the salt

And write a note to yourself
And read the note to yourself.

-Jake Bugg

I'm Not a Saint. You're Not a Saint.

Recently someone said to me, "I'm not a saint. You're not a saint." It was in the vein of... hey I know you are going through a lot here and in the near future you could be significantly compromised so let me know, don't make me guess where you are at. It's okay to say I can't do something. I'm not a saint - neither are you.

This individual is one of those smart, good humored, high achieving, keeping it real types. I appreciated the candor and it stuck in my mind for days causing me to consider this statement as a concept. 

I'm not a saint. I do not possess an exceptional degree of holiness, sanctity, and virtue. I consider myself a good team player, truly forgiving, and I will often go the extra mile but don't misinterpret that as a push over or someone that will always turn the other cheek. I'm not that good. 

Having cancer again has put an edge on me. It has made me less patient, more critical, and mentally fatigued.  

So please forgive because, I'm not a saint - neither are you.

Chemo Brain

How is it that I have had cancer three times and I have never heard of post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment (a.k.a. chemo brain)?

According to wikipedia approximately 20–30% of people who undergo chemotherapy experience some level of post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment. The phenomenon first came to light because of the large number of breast cancer survivors who complained of changes in memory, fluency, and other cognitive abilities that impeded their ability to function as they had pre-chemotherapy.

Recent studies have confirmed that post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment (PCCI) is a real, measurable side effect of chemotherapy that appears in some patients. While any cancer patient may experience temporary cognitive impairment while undergoing chemotherapy, patients with PCCI continue to experience these symptoms long after chemotherapy has been completed. 

The Mayo Clinic lists the following signs and symptoms of chemo brain:

• Being unusually disorganized
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty finding the right word
• Difficulty learning new skills
• Difficulty multitasking
• Fatigue
• Feeling of mental fogginess
• Short attention span
• Short-term memory problems
• Taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks
• Trouble with verbal memory, such as remembering a conversation
• Trouble with visual memory, such as recalling an image or list of words

I Just added kindle edition of Your Brain After Chemo to the survival kit!
 

I Heart DIY

I am starting Chemotherapy in less than a month. 

I love a good DIY project and am currently custom making a survival kit. 

Shit just got real.

Kat