jenny's belly

Real Cancer, Real Lives #2

It's been a tough week for your host of Real Cancer, Real Lives #2. I didn't have any cancer symptoms in July- they found my stomach cancer by accident. Now I've had most of my stomach and part of my esophagus (the only part you really need, actually) removed and this week I began chemotherapy.
The first day was fine, which I describe in my post So What's It Like? I haven't been able to eat much due to extreme nausea and because the medine I'm taking won't always stay down in my stomach. If it does stay it makes me very, very tired.
My chemo has been a five-day push with yesterday my last day for awhile. I wasn't doing very well on friday, however, and was actually crying yesterday. It's not pretty stuff, people. And while my chemo is fast, I've asked for meds to make the nausea go away and found I'm also very dehydrated since I can't eat or drink. That stuff takes time. Hours.
Anyway, I'm on the mend now which I hope to feel in a few days. I'm getting prepared for next month's chemo with 24-hour pump and daily radiation. Follow my posts right here at http://jennys-belly.blogspot.com.

Blogs By Cancer Patients

Minerva has written a specacular open letter to her cancer which patients, caregivers and friends alike should read. The post is called To My Cancer and I encourage you to visit for some inspiration!

Lori has gotten her levels up high enough so she can re-start chemo but she'd really rather not. Please check out her post No Rest for the Wicked to read about the frustration and complete exhaustion.

CancerBaby has learned a lot in her struggle with cancer, including how to order her doctors and nurses around to get what she needs. Her post I'll Take Some Morphine and a Side of Ativan describes her week-long visit in the hospital for yet another painful obstruction due to ovarian cancer.

Blogs By Caregivers

Gregory created a loving tribute for his wife Ann, which follows her very long struggle with ovarian cancer. She battled the disease on-again and off-again from 1972 through 2000. It is written very matter-of-factly with much to think about from both patient and caregiver perspective as well as the medical community.

Medical Blogs

Cary has located some excellent news which indicates that low fat diets decrease the risk of recurrence for breast cancer patients. His post Beating Breast Cancer: Increasing the Odds incidates that walking a little bit more and a little faster may help your odds of beating the disease.

Dan at nospeedbumps.com has given us all something to think about with his post Texas Judge Orders Chemo for Girl with Cancer. Dan is surprised at the 13 year old girl's parents decision not to seek treatment for her primarily because his own daughter was treated for Hodgkins and is doing well.

Real Cancer, Real Lives Needs You!

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in Real Cancer, Real Lives, please do so via the Carnival Submit Form. When submitting your blog entry, be sure that Real Cancer, Real Lives is selected in the menu space provided. If you are interested in hosting the carnival, you can check available dates at the Real Cancer, Real Lives main page...just drop an email to Cary at Cancer NewsWatch to let him know which date you'd like.

I hope you enjoyed this second edition of Real Cancer, Real Lives! Next week's edition will be held at Procrasti-Nate.com on October 23rd, so don't forget to drop in!

Previous Editions of Real Cancer, Real Lives

Real Cancer, Real Lives #1 can be found at Cancer News Watch

Real Cancer, Real Lives #2 can be found at Jenny's Belly

posted by Jen at 9:10 AM