I know you were all anxiously waiting to find out. And I have to tell you, hand on heart, it’s a plus side of chemo..no waxing required.
So of course that leads me to want to write a list about chemo plus sides. To say I am sick (pun intended) of feeling, thinking and writing about the negative side effects would be an understatement. 4.42am, 4th trip to the toilet – enough said.
You will of course have to contribute to the list – but here goes – the alternative chemo side effects list:
- 1. No waxing – did I mention that – legs, underarms or anywhere else
- Weight loss – I think cancer and chemo may win joint prize on this. But I’m fucked up enough to be happy about it. And for the record, I am not an emaciated, bald sick looking person – just happily a bit thinner
- Opportunity to explore headwear…slightly stretching this…but hey. My current look apparently resembles one of the 7 drawfs.
- Forthcoming opportunity for local staff/collegues/Dr ISIS to believe I may have converted to Islam due to my head coverings. Valuing diversity, embracing multi culturalism and so forth
- SERIOUS sympathy card. Cancer and chemo. Beat that.
- Excuse to wear pale pink nail polish. Never, ever thought this would happen. Currently sporting it as apparently nails get fucked with chemo so a whole new world of gel/shellac/very shiny hard stuff manicures opening up to me. In pale pink.
- Excuse to buy lovely things. All relative of course, waterproof Uggs high on the list currently. Super sensitive skin, craving anything soft..look like some slightly crazed bag lady going around shops/markets swooning over soft hats/scarves/clothes..you get the picture
- The day of chemo. I actually get to stop for that day. And weirdly get pampered – it is beyond tragic, but I actually like the place. Last time I got a foot massage – not from some random person, but from a therapist that does this sort of thing. Wonder what Amman chemo will be like?
- Chemo brain. A ‘traditional’ negative one, but with a positive spin. Letting go a little bit, being flaky, slightly bewildered a lot of the time can actually be fun. Really. There is not a hope in hell I can be on top of everything when I am like this, so surrendering to it leads to a lot of laughs and for a control freak like me it’s certainly different.
There must be more…but my brain is fading..tbc
Walk with me 
I have one for you (of course) – You’re much faster now as you are that much more aerodynamic, having less/no hair (Marathon, anyone?!). Being in southern California, the big craze here is for women (and probably some men) to have their eyebrows weaved. This is quite a startling look to begin with that practically suits NO-ONE, but with your current lack, it could have…well…quite a striking effect. And, yes, I agree, the sympathy vote can work tremendously well. When my boss was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and came up in welts and sores all over his body, he and I used to giggle about him getting his way at board meetings as a result of him looking so obviously ill. There was talk of him upping his game by using a walker if the vote was a particularly big one… Seriously, though, it’s pretty wonderful that you are writing about the “positives.” And that there are actually some. Which there are. All you have listed above, plus freedom to be more “you,” plus the love of family and friends, plus just by being exactly who you are (giving courage to some of us who don’t always have that in us). The list is endless. BTW Haircut is gong ahead on November 4th. I haven’t backed out, nor will I. XXXX
LikeLiked by 1 person
I first read the part about your boss as ‘I used to giggle’ which was faintly disturbing – imagining you laughing at your boss’ welts and sores! Thank you my friend for the list additions – big smile from here 🙂 xx. And yippee re November 4th – bloody amazing – will post a bald pic soon. By the way – your head gets COLD when bald – warning!
LikeLike