Well, the lemon tree I'm growing is actually good, not so sour kind: Meyer lemons.
Except the fact, that both plants I brought home from Richmond Nursery, I also bought kumquat, were sick, and I'm practically fighting all summer with spider mites. Interesting how aunts took care of other pests on kumquat.
Anyway, in real life the lemons you get can be really sour.
Why is the neulasta so horribly expensive?!
Thanks God we have the coverage if we fulfill insurance company conditions, but my friend, working in the same office, not big one, we are going through this together. She still doesn't know. They are saying maybe 80% and even 20% is a lot!
Yesterday she asked me if we could go to try wigs together. I don't know. I'll have my first chemo next week. I'd like to book something the same day, as this is the same hospital and she still doesn't know her schedule.
Instead I proposed we should have a coffee. I had my PICC done yesterday, she has an appointment to install her port, few more days we will be both completely bold, then big decolletage, minimum clothes, as it's still summer et voila!
At least there is someone to laugh with. We have enough everyday fear and pity.
Yes, cancer is not something to jump about, but we still have the chance. It's not the plane crush. And even then there could be Hudson River ;-)
Very easy recipe for papaya smoothie
I overheard Dr. Oz that papaya is #1 in cancer diet, and I strongly believe it's tastier than any green juice.
3 cups cubed papaya
1 cup orange juice (yes, the best if home made)
2-3 large ice cubes
Bzzzzzzzzzz (that was the blender)
If you need use some honey to taste.
I'm not sure you can't find recipe like this on internet. Like I had no idea beef and kale soup exists and you don't have to invent it again. Let's say those recipes here are for me. I invented them, tested and now I want them not to be lost with my not functioning memory help.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Monday, 15 August 2011
All about reading
I was surprised around two-three years ago, I can read novels in English and enjoy it without dictionary. I can even argue with narrator ;-)
I felt I lost some time. All those books I'll be able to read...
The good thing about reading: really improved English writing, the bad: I use to read everything from cover to cover including flyers you can find in your mailbox :lol: and throwing out the magazine or a book i treat like a sacrilege. Maybe not good sign for potential old age, but there still is a chance, as I like libraries.
Lately I've read in metronews "Psst! Seniors, need a ride?" about Wheels for the Wise.
Interesting and controversial idea with no rational reasons, I would say, inspired by business owner grandmother.
"She (the owner) is hoping to provide services to more people who[...] don't necessarily fit with the city's Para Transpo Program."
Do really people with dementia, usually seniors have no one to take care for them? That's sad.
I understand my 5 or 10 years old can't drive me, but why not 20 or 27?
How about people with cancer? They usually don't qualify for Para Traspo services. How about Wise Wheels? Lets see... chemo? 2-3 hours? That would be $135. Is that really inexpensive solution?
For me it's just regular business. Something like having personal caregiver or attendant just for few hours per month. Wouldn't expect much often with the price.
After watching another business advertising video I'm also questioning myself if this is just another business for expanding her entrepreneurial wings in Ottawa Ms. Mitchell.
I felt I lost some time. All those books I'll be able to read...
The good thing about reading: really improved English writing, the bad: I use to read everything from cover to cover including flyers you can find in your mailbox :lol: and throwing out the magazine or a book i treat like a sacrilege. Maybe not good sign for potential old age, but there still is a chance, as I like libraries.
Lately I've read in metronews "Psst! Seniors, need a ride?" about Wheels for the Wise.
Interesting and controversial idea with no rational reasons, I would say, inspired by business owner grandmother.
"She (the owner) is hoping to provide services to more people who[...] don't necessarily fit with the city's Para Transpo Program."
Do really people with dementia, usually seniors have no one to take care for them? That's sad.
I understand my 5 or 10 years old can't drive me, but why not 20 or 27?
How about people with cancer? They usually don't qualify for Para Traspo services. How about Wise Wheels? Lets see... chemo? 2-3 hours? That would be $135. Is that really inexpensive solution?
For me it's just regular business. Something like having personal caregiver or attendant just for few hours per month. Wouldn't expect much often with the price.
After watching another business advertising video I'm also questioning myself if this is just another business for expanding her entrepreneurial wings in Ottawa Ms. Mitchell.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
R is for rainbow
Beautiful!
We've seen beautiful, giant, full, double rainbow! Two complete semicircles. I was only able to take a picture of leftovers, but someone captured more
I was thinking about writing posts in alphabetical order. There would be:
About breast cancer
Breast cancer
Cancer
Dignity or Denial
Elephant? (there is often the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about)
Financial aspect
Getting better....
I'm pretty sure one round wouldn't be enough.
It's funny like the ideas of titles and jokes are disappearing when you have nothing to write them down.
The advice for today: blogging you should always have something to capture your thoughts. They may never come back.
We've seen beautiful, giant, full, double rainbow! Two complete semicircles. I was only able to take a picture of leftovers, but someone captured more
I was thinking about writing posts in alphabetical order. There would be:
About breast cancer
Breast cancer
Cancer
Dignity or Denial
Elephant? (there is often the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about)
Financial aspect
Getting better....
I'm pretty sure one round wouldn't be enough.
It's funny like the ideas of titles and jokes are disappearing when you have nothing to write them down.
The advice for today: blogging you should always have something to capture your thoughts. They may never come back.
Good news!
I can say the blog became "le secret de polichinelle". News is spreading surprisingly fast.
Hopefully IT is not so fast. It didn't spread to my lungs! (that was the good news ;-)) The rest I will know next Monday.
Every time I go to the hospital for tests I'm pushing the nurses to tell me something. Not a smallest chance! You have to be patient to see your doctor. Monday then.
Today was bone scan.
From the very morning, as they need radioactive material to get into your bones. At least two hours of waiting. Not necessarily in the hospital though.
We went home, I had my breakfast and was frantically looking for my linen pants I was wearing last summer. Well, to bad. I was pretty sure those were buttoned, but, no. There was a zipper, and you can’t have metal for the scan.
I told my husband I'll keep my navy blue silk blouse on, and just change jeans for some hospital pajama bottoms. I was sure they will match, as most of them are blue with patterns. Almost right. All of them were plain blue.
The technician is really caring about your comfort. You have to lie possibly comfortable, as it takes between 30-45 minutes, and better don’t move. She positioned the pillow, according to my instructions, putted another pillow under my knees, and tidily wrapped me in kind of wide belt fastened with velcro. It was like wrapping with towel after the bath, the only tiny difference with your arms inside. What an idea! :lol: Where do they take them from?
The are two detectors which go around, and very close taking pictures.
Even you are worn they are close, it still may be shocking when the detector over you goes down, and down, and down... touching the hair and possibly even eyelashes. I was thinking about slipping off and escaping the danger, but they also put some thick elastic on you feet. When I imagined myself fighting with the machine, and the 'belt' and elastic it was really hard not to laugh and the most important is to stay still.
After all the technician will take few more minutes to check with the doctor the quality of the scan. If you were behaving well ;-) you are free to go.
Hopefully IT is not so fast. It didn't spread to my lungs! (that was the good news ;-)) The rest I will know next Monday.
Every time I go to the hospital for tests I'm pushing the nurses to tell me something. Not a smallest chance! You have to be patient to see your doctor. Monday then.
Today was bone scan.
From the very morning, as they need radioactive material to get into your bones. At least two hours of waiting. Not necessarily in the hospital though.
We went home, I had my breakfast and was frantically looking for my linen pants I was wearing last summer. Well, to bad. I was pretty sure those were buttoned, but, no. There was a zipper, and you can’t have metal for the scan.
I told my husband I'll keep my navy blue silk blouse on, and just change jeans for some hospital pajama bottoms. I was sure they will match, as most of them are blue with patterns. Almost right. All of them were plain blue.
The technician is really caring about your comfort. You have to lie possibly comfortable, as it takes between 30-45 minutes, and better don’t move. She positioned the pillow, according to my instructions, putted another pillow under my knees, and tidily wrapped me in kind of wide belt fastened with velcro. It was like wrapping with towel after the bath, the only tiny difference with your arms inside. What an idea! :lol: Where do they take them from?
The are two detectors which go around, and very close taking pictures.
Even you are worn they are close, it still may be shocking when the detector over you goes down, and down, and down... touching the hair and possibly even eyelashes. I was thinking about slipping off and escaping the danger, but they also put some thick elastic on you feet. When I imagined myself fighting with the machine, and the 'belt' and elastic it was really hard not to laugh and the most important is to stay still.
After all the technician will take few more minutes to check with the doctor the quality of the scan. If you were behaving well ;-) you are free to go.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Free giveaway
Blogging takes time, but I know how to sign my pictures :-) And I can switch between English and Polish if I need. I'm becoming an expert! Also with breast cancer testings.
Last week I've seen the surgeon. Good thing is: I trust her! I can imagine it can be very important.
Talking took a lot of time. Nurses, my doctor and social worker... all around 3 hours!
They care more and more as we go through this. Every patient gets nice organizer.
There is space for all your medical practitioners' information, appointments, questions, drugs you are already on... you name it. And then some stories from survivors and information about cancer. Don't go to far with reading. The farther the worse scenario. brrr...
They will also give books for parents, and a lot of practical information for patient, everything in writing.
It's in everyone interest, as you may expect forgetting about everything including your date of birth :lol:
Date of birth... I suspect they could operate on somebody's kidney instead of his knee or something like that. During one visit you will confirm that information several times. But that's just another proof they care.
Then, they will book all of the appointments for scans leaving you for two days plus weekend, and you are able to forget about everything! It's still so unreal you can again feel healthy! Not too long though.
We try to enjoy this time and weather eating, talking, drinking and laughing. Kids love this 'normal' schedule, regular rutine. Next week maybe Greek Festival!
Time for heart scan.
Comparing to biopsy with local anesthesia not really working it's spa like experience!
With the second shot she asked me - Which arm do you want?- (really I hope to have both)- The same or the other?
- Are you able to use the same?
- Sure, not a problem - that was quite surprising after labour experience with older one.
- Then maybe the same? I may need IV the day after tomorrow.
It wasn't a problem. It was better than regular blood test! Next half hour you just lie comfortably, and the machine is so quiet be careful not to fall asleep.
You may have metallic like taste under your tongue, as a side effect, although it's rare. They say one patient per month, and the patient of the month of August was me :lol:
Last week I've seen the surgeon. Good thing is: I trust her! I can imagine it can be very important.
Talking took a lot of time. Nurses, my doctor and social worker... all around 3 hours!
They care more and more as we go through this. Every patient gets nice organizer.
There is space for all your medical practitioners' information, appointments, questions, drugs you are already on... you name it. And then some stories from survivors and information about cancer. Don't go to far with reading. The farther the worse scenario. brrr...
They will also give books for parents, and a lot of practical information for patient, everything in writing.
It's in everyone interest, as you may expect forgetting about everything including your date of birth :lol:
Date of birth... I suspect they could operate on somebody's kidney instead of his knee or something like that. During one visit you will confirm that information several times. But that's just another proof they care.
Then, they will book all of the appointments for scans leaving you for two days plus weekend, and you are able to forget about everything! It's still so unreal you can again feel healthy! Not too long though.
We try to enjoy this time and weather eating, talking, drinking and laughing. Kids love this 'normal' schedule, regular rutine. Next week maybe Greek Festival!
Time for heart scan.
Comparing to biopsy with local anesthesia not really working it's spa like experience!
With the second shot she asked me - Which arm do you want?- (really I hope to have both)- The same or the other?
- Are you able to use the same?
- Sure, not a problem - that was quite surprising after labour experience with older one.
- Then maybe the same? I may need IV the day after tomorrow.
It wasn't a problem. It was better than regular blood test! Next half hour you just lie comfortably, and the machine is so quiet be careful not to fall asleep.
You may have metallic like taste under your tongue, as a side effect, although it's rare. They say one patient per month, and the patient of the month of August was me :lol:
Monday, 8 August 2011
Wonderful husband
I would say wonderful husband, boyfriend, girlfriend is mandatory for situation like this.
Shopping for buns at Costco, my husband remembered that walnuts should be part of healthy diet to avoid breast cancer. So he bought some!
Too bad, we were talking in Polish about the benefits of the nuts. They are saying handful of walnuts every day decreases the risk of breast cancer up to 60%!
He brought home big bag of pecans! I'm still laughing.
He also bought glass electric kettle, we were arguing about in past.
Is it so bad? ;-) He pays attention to what I'm talking about and remembers...
The kettle is great. It even has light inside! So when the water is bubbling you can see red reflections.
He brought home big bag of pecans! I'm still laughing.
He also bought glass electric kettle, we were arguing about in past.
Is it so bad? ;-) He pays attention to what I'm talking about and remembers...
The kettle is great. It even has light inside! So when the water is bubbling you can see red reflections.
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