Photos: Andries and the boys went to the Science museum to give mommy the day off; the hair is growing-growing-growing; boys taking a 'play-break' with some popcorn; Ivan the artist, the boys playing in the snow.
I am so happy that February is well under way. January has been a long and depressing month for me. I think it is because everyone went home, Christmas trees and lights have been put away, the days are still cold, short and dark and there was snow. Now the snow is usually magical, especially if you're from Africa. But the truth is it is magical when it falls and for a few hours after, then it becomes slush and icy and slippery and a little dangerous.
I am feeling OK, struggling a bit with lower back pain and the cuts from the operation also hurts every now and then. The back pain is from having to lift our little 13kg-mer into his car seat, in and out of shopping trolleys and every now and then we just have to change his nappy.... Other muscles are working harder and in different ways to make up for the loss of 100% commitment from the left arm. But we'll get there. Every day the pain and aces are better than the previous day.
My oncologist have now decided to definitely put me on the drug Tamoxifen. This is to prevent breast cancer from returning to the healthy breast. If I cope well with the side effects I'll be using this for at least the next two years (usually the prescription is for five years). She is very satisfied with the "progress and getting better" after the chemo. She is not very fond as to send patients for bunches of scans every month or three. She is afraid of the amount of radiation that the patient is exposed to. She prefers routine blood-work and examinations. I feel lucky that she has good contacts in SA (she was there just last week) for I will need a new doctor once we return to SA.
I am feeling OK, struggling a bit with lower back pain and the cuts from the operation also hurts every now and then. The back pain is from having to lift our little 13kg-mer into his car seat, in and out of shopping trolleys and every now and then we just have to change his nappy.... Other muscles are working harder and in different ways to make up for the loss of 100% commitment from the left arm. But we'll get there. Every day the pain and aces are better than the previous day.
My oncologist have now decided to definitely put me on the drug Tamoxifen. This is to prevent breast cancer from returning to the healthy breast. If I cope well with the side effects I'll be using this for at least the next two years (usually the prescription is for five years). She is very satisfied with the "progress and getting better" after the chemo. She is not very fond as to send patients for bunches of scans every month or three. She is afraid of the amount of radiation that the patient is exposed to. She prefers routine blood-work and examinations. I feel lucky that she has good contacts in SA (she was there just last week) for I will need a new doctor once we return to SA.
My hair is starting to grow much more, I almost need a trim at the back and around the ears. And slowly but surely I can feel that I am getting further away from the last chemo session and the aftermath of the operation. The other day I was working through photos from our time here in London, also looking at the chemo and cancer ones. It still feels so surreal, so far away, almost as if it never happened. The only traces of that time my short hair and the cuts on my body.
Andries went on a well-deserved skiing holiday with good friends. He really had his work cut out for him the last eight months - at the office and at home. I'll let you know if I survived the "at-home-alone-with-kids-in-tow".....
We are looking forward to our SA visit very much. It is so nice to start preparing for this time. I am looking forward to the sunshine the most! Not to mention the braaivleis and boerewors dinners that are awaiting us.
As mentioned in the previous blog entry, we are having a "thank-you" picnic in Roodepoort on the 7th of March. If you've been following the blog, we would love to see you there. Please send me an e-mail at lourika.kotzee@gmail.com for you invitation.
I've just finished Lance Armstrong's book 'It's not about the bike - My journey back to life'. It touched me deeply, and I predict that it would any cancer patient. This book has been so good to me on an emotional level. Lance is extremely positive, wonderfully encouraging and the best of all, straightforward. Although we don't share the same religious views, we do share the cancer journey and the 'getting-your-life-back' part. We are all going to face death one day, one way or another. In Lance's words: "But I think we are supposed to face it (death) straightforwardly, armed with nothing but courage. And courage being the quality of spirit that enables one to encounter danger with firmness and without fear". I hope you will be able to face all of life's challenges head-on, firm and without fear.
