29 October 2017

I could sleep all day! I am still happy to be in Frankfurt and I do not mind that Anne’s kids join me then sofa in the morning, but I am soooo tired! Markus is looking after my kids at home and he is doing a really good job! Thank you!

I am really sad though, as my eyelashes and eyebrows continue to fall out… The hair is something I did worry about less, but eyelashes and eyebrows really shape a face and I am worried what it will look and feel like. Another problem is that the whole body dries out with chemo… the skin, the eyes, the sinuses, the throat, everything… every time I ride the bike, my eyes are burning, but yet again, chemo nurse has a solution and tells me to wear glasses when I ride the bike. I keep forgetting, but shall do that next time! In the meantime I drink tons of water, which also helps to drain the poison out of your body a bit faster without decreasing the effects 😉

I am thinking that a yoga retreat in India or Indonesia might just be the right thing to look forward to after chemo. I shall ask Prof. Dr. Breitenbach, if that will be ok. I will probably blend in quite well without hair 🙏

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28 October 2017

I can still do it! Two days past chemo and I am going to Frankfurt to join some friends from near and far, I have not seen for ever…. Great catching up and I make sure to rest on my friend Anne’s sofa before going to Wagner’s in the evening. What a wonderful evening!

Somehow I seem to recover faster from chemo this time, but I think it is the love of my friends, which really helps – something to look forward to!

Not all of the friends from back then could join us that evening, but we are all connected via What’s App and virtually they are all there…

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Michelle & Anne

27 October 2017

Infusion and injection day at the chemo center. It is the last one of the post chemo shots I get, as it is no longer needed with the next cycle… whoohhooo!

I am spending more than two hours there though, as there are two public holidays coming up next week and everyone needs their stuff beforehand.

Well, the next cylce of chemos will be weekly now – only one poison and five drugs – should take a good three hours to run through. Need to now put a special nail polish on „Sililevo“ to save the nails and will get cooling gloves during the chemo to lessen the numb feeling in my fingers. It starts 9th November and I am hoping to be fit enough 11th to celebrate Karneval!!?!??

The last chemo date will be 25th of January, if all goes well and I am planning to go on a trip in the snow and trip in the sun…. Should I be fit enough! But I need something to look forward to to get me going.

Nurse Fassbender say that I have done really well so far and asks about my feelings, if I am thin-skinned now and I tell her that it is not the physical aspect, which is so hard, but the emotional bit – yes, thin-skinned absolutely, light tempered, restless, extremely emotional and sensitive …. I often don’t recognise myself and today is one of these days again! Wanted to meet Lars today, but had to cancel…See, if some fresh air will help 😉

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26 October 2017

My last ‚big’ EC chemo and Katja‘s last chemo! She has – in a Germanic manner – reserved a seat for me… I am so happy to see her!

We chat away and today I am already slightly sick during chemo… Katja says that only thinking of this place makes her sick!

Chemo nurse Fassbender says that we should live life and I am determined to do so ❤️

I am so tired and fall asleep straight away, when I get home. Mia is back from Kindergarten, so I now lay on the sofa and she snuggles up to me and ‚sings‘ the lullaby „Schlaf Kindlein Schlaf„  ❤️ I love her so much ❤️

Leo is staying at Jule’s today:

Jule: „Today was the first time that I saw your Mom with a bald head!“

Leo: „Yes, with without hair!“

Jule: „It looks totally awesome!“

Leo: „Yes, totally awesome!“

❤️❤️❤️

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25 October 2017

What a lovely autumn day – I meet the running moms, have lots of coffee in the sun and hang with Hannah. In the afternoon Manish is in Cologne and we have share a great trip down memory lane with tapas and wine 🙂

I hope I will be fit enough on Saturday to see him and the guys in Frankfurt….after another look at it, the insurance company has decided to pay for Katja’s operation!!

Sometimes I get numb fingertips from chemo – this is to the extend that I could not open my bike lock the other day – it is also good to wear nail polish, as the nails get brittle and there can be air underneath your nails… I certainly hope that this won’t be happening again, but I am up-to-date with the blog, so whatever happens happens.

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my pre-chemo presents are rolling in ….Thank you!

24 October 2017

It is again two days prior to chemo and I am trying to pack in as much as I can! Today it is yoga massage and lymph drainage, which I really enjoy!

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The Fireman Sam Show is in town!
I want to be up-to-date with my blog before the next chemo….

23 October 2017

It is the big day, where Prof. Dr. Breidenbach checks the tumor!

She says that Katja told her already that I am doing really well and honestly, I feel the best I have ever felt since starting chemo. I tell her that I the only side I underestimate is the emotional side, but that it is probably normal to question one’s entire life …“everyone is different“!

„how many ECs did you have now?“ three – „Wow, you look really well considering that!“

She goes on to check the tumor with the ultrasound and says that it shrank from 2 cms to 6mm and is extremely pleased. „This is not at all the breast I got to know!“ what a thing to say?! There is still a bit of sore liquid at the sentinels, but all is fine! „Your wounds are even healing during chemo – this is amazing!“

I am very happy and we sit down again! „We shall continue the chemo course as planned!“ What a pity, I thought she might shorten it a bit, but maybe next time…

She states that we might actually keep the breast, that there is an option, but that I will have a say in this. I tell her that I will face the subject operation after the chemo is over, but it is good to know that there suddenly is an option again.

During the breast cancer day, a subject was that a lot of women want the breast removed and even remove the other breast in order to have less worries. It is in most of the cases complete pointless to do that. I tell her as well, that they removed the breast of a friend’s mother and afterwards the pathologist said that the tumor was benign….I shall consider all the options – after chemo! For now I am happy happy happy with the results!

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I see my colleagues at HRG and they actually found out, where I go for yoga massage , all chipped in and give me a voucher – I am really touched!

22 October 2017

It is raining and dreadful and I am glad Lea and I are going to the sauna that afternoon.

This is a whole new experience, as people stare a little bit. Due to the time of the year I hardly run around without a head, but here I do and Lea is having a baby in four weeks time, so we are a funny couple. The advantage is though that I no longer need to shave my legs now – there are advantages 😉

I do not look forward to the eyebrows and eyelashes to go, but I notices the first light spot in my left eyebrow…. thank God there is makeup!!!

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