Wake up in gratitude.

Great advice from Joel Osteen: "How you wake up in the morning sets the tone for the whole day. Find something to be thankful for. Remind yourself that you are equipped to do what you need to do."

You may be going through tremendous challenges, and you get tempted to think "I'll never get through this. Things are never going to get better than they are today." That is when it is most important to remind yourself of the things for which you are most thankful. You need to reject the temptation to be overcome by negative thoughts and trust things will change in your favor.

There really is a silver lining to every cloud. It is just extremely hard to find it sometimes. Wake up in gratitude and you will have a head start.

Alleviate the metallic taste.

A metallic taste is sometimes a side effect brought on from your chemotherapy treatments. You may find relief by using plastic ware instead of your usual fork or spoons. Chewing gum or sucking on lifesavers may help.

I was introduced to a wonderful little mint that helped me tremendously. Not only did it help eliminate the metallic taste it also soothed my digestion. They are called "Angel Mints". It is a name that describes them accurately.

When I first heard of them I was apprehensive. It was said that they had the ability to calm digestive problems, relieve nausea, eliminate a metallic taste and even help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Recently they have even been recommended to help ease anxiety.

I am not a doctor, nor do I have any vested interest in the company that makes and sells these wonderful melt-in-your-mouth mints. I simply want to share that they exist and they helped me and others who have enjoyed them. They are truly delicious as well as helping to alleviate and remedy a variety of problems.

They are available at the Florida Candy Factory, Inc. located in Clearwater, Florida and can be ordered from their site. http://www.angelmint.com/home.html Some Walgreens are currently selling them. Even some hospital gift shops have them for sale. The Candy Factory is family owned and is proud of their product. I found these mints to be refreshing, tasty and helped me combat my digestive challenges, nausea and metal tasting mouth. Maybe they would help you too.

Being an armchair quarterback isn't the exclusive domain of football fans.

arm·chair quar·ter·back (plural arm·chair quar·ter·backs)

MSN's Definition:

1. viewer who criticizes conduct of games: somebody who is certain that he or she can make better calls than the coaches or players while watching a competitive sport on television

2. giver of unwanted advice: somebody who offers unwanted advice about how to do something or tries to supervise an activity without being asked

No matter what the circumstance there are always people ready to share their opinion, to criticise and give unwanted advice. It is okay to listen if you want. You can give their suggestions consideration. However you don't need to take it.

All too often advice is based on only having "some" of the facts. Sometimes it is based on information that is old. Although research hasn't yet determined what causes various cancers or how to cure them, the advancements in medical research is phenomenal and occurring everyday. You need to make decisions based on what makes you feel most confident. Whether you follow a doctor's guidance or choose a holistic approach or combination, the choice is yours.

You will make yourself stressed (not a healthy thing) if you try to please others. Don't let yourself be guilted in to trying something you prefer not to do. People may have the best of intentions but they are only making assessments based on their own experience or research.

Hindsight is said to be 20 x 20. That is because they are viewing things that have already happened. It is easy to play the "woulda, shoulda" game from that perspective. In treating your cancer you need to be looking forward. The past may hold useful information however it is what your options are today that need to be considered so you have a healthy, happy tomorrow.

Sometimes it would be nice if we could be covered with a Teflon coating. It would make it easier for us to make decisions. All the advice that was adding confusion and filling our minds with "what ifs" would slide off.

You need to ask questions of your doctor. This will give you the best starting place to create the "game plan" best suited for you. In the beginning you may not even know which questions to ask. On the left are LINKS to various cancer sites. Many have a list of questions to get you started.

Have confidence in your decisions. It is your life. It is okay if you want to be your own armchair quarterback. It is great to learn from experience what works best and what doesn't. Afterall when we know more we do better.

Every person is unique. Every situation is unique. It is your life. You don't have to make decisions based on a general consensus. You are the majority. You rule!

Risk of infection.

The risk of infection during your cancer treatment is very high. You want to avoid crowds, use disinfectant and talk to your doctor and nurses about ways to reduce the risk of infection. Infections can delay your treatment. You need to do everything you can to stay healthy and strong. You need to be actively involved in getting yourself healthy. Some things will be out of your control. Your immune system is weakened. It is important that you eliminate unnecessary risks that may make you subject to catching a cold, getting a cut or scratch, or infection of any kind.

If you should develop an infection, let your doctor know right away. You don't want to self diagnose your symptoms or take or apply medications without consulting your doctor. You need to make sure they don't conflict with your cancer treatment. Be cautious, don't assume you know what to do.

Be vigilant and careful. Make yourself a priority.

The secret ingredient - hope. Who would guess that a song called "You Had A Bad Day" would be hopeful...LOL

I love this song because at one time or another I have heard my grandchildren singing it in a car. I love to go on a drive when I am feeling low. It magically turns my day around. Too many times to count I have heard this song playing during times when I was feeling low or in an anxious situation such as a doctor's office. Each time I smiled. I remembered Hope and Noah singing it in Tennessee or Jake singing it when I was visiting him in West Virginia as we awaited the arrival of his brother, Jonah to be born.

Music can fill us with hope and stir up memories. I hope you enjoy this. What songs bring you happiness and make you smile?

Dare to be happy

"Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh spend lots and lots of time with them." Unknown

"Recall as often as you wish. Happy memories never wear out." Libby Fudim

Don't just live the length of your life - fill it up.

The wisdom of Larry the Cable Guy!

The other evening I was channel surfing and stopped for a moment on the comedy station. Larry the Cable Guy was describing the handicapped stalls in public restrooms as the Cadillac of bathroom stalls. I started laughing in total agreement but for a reason that was different than his.

First and foremost let me make it clear I never park in a handicap spot. I would never use a handicap stall without first checking the vicinity to make sure there isn't a lady that might be coming in right behind me that would need it. In fact, I have only recently discovered the true value of this stall.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I wear a wig. Hair loss was a side effect of my chemo. I live in Florida. It is hot here and we specialize in humidity. Consequently, my head gets hot. The heat from my body seems to go straight up and gets locked under my wig. My head sweats.

The handicapped stall in most public restrooms is larger and has its own sink and mirror. I can go in there and privately remove my wig, wipe off my head and reposition my wig back on my head. Fantastic! Now that makes it the Cadillac of bathroom stalls for me.

Chemo Side Effects

Every person's side effects from chemo are different. I experienced some unexpected really great days and some that I am truly grateful are in my rearview mirror. Sometimes my body reacted in ways that the doctor and nurses expected. Sometimes it surprised them with unpredicted allergic reactions. Your body is different. Your experience will be different. Instead of describing my personal side effects in detail, below are some general things I learned. Hopefully, you will find them helpful, maybe reassuring.

The one thing you can take comfort in, is that the side effects from chemo are NOT like they have so often been portrayed in movies. Thankfully, there are drugs and medical guidance that will help you avoid endless amounts of time with your head tilted over the toilet. Chances are you will experience nausea but it may not be as miserable as you may anticipate. Over time you will learn what tastes and smells exacerbate the situation so you can avoid them.

You may experience pain. Mine arrived a couple of days following my chemo. Originally, I thought I would tough it out and not take anything. I was wrong. I should have followed my nurses and doctors advice from the beginning instead of trying to be macho woman. By letting the pain accelerate and worsen it became extremely difficult for the pain pills to do their work. You need to follow you doctor's advice. In my case they told me to take a pill when the pain was a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. Once I started doing that, I not only was able to manage my pain I needed less medication.

Expect a dip in your energy. Your body is working hard combating disease and it gets tired. You will feel fatigued. The last thing I felt like doing on the days when fatigue and pain were my companion, was exercise. As it turned out, I discovered that even 10 minutes on the treadmill actually gave me more energy and helped to lessen the pain. Thankfully, a friend loaned me his treadmill. Surprisingly it made a wonderful difference in both my mental and physical well being during the months of my chemo treatments. You don't have to walk on a treadmill. It is getting up and moving that makes the difference. It is hard to make yourself exercise when you don't feel good. We find excuses even when we are feeling tip-top. I hope you will try to do a little something on those low days. It will make a positive difference.

Just when you think you can predict what is going to happen, it will be different. It is easy to think that you know what to expect after you have experienced a couple of treatments and their side effects. Beware some effects may be accumulative and worsen with additional chemo. Some may disappear. You need to take each day as it comes and be candid with your doctor and nurses. They aren't members of Psychic Friends Network. They can't read your mind. You need to speak up and share what is happening and you need to listen and pay attention to their guidance.

There is much that is still unknown about cancer. There is much about it that we can't control.

One thing that each of us can control is our attitude. Maintaining a positive attitude, especially when facing life's challenges, can be difficult. I'm not suggesting you be a Polly Anna, happy go lucky person in the face of cancer. However remaining hopeful and believing in possibilities has proven to make a positive difference.

Never underestimate the power of your self-talk. Make sure you are as encouraging to yourself as you are to your friends and family.

Surround yourself with positive energy from family and friends. No drama, no "you poor thing" you need happy, hopeful vibes in your life.

You will no doubt learn much as you experience your own journey through your chemo treatments. I hope all goes well for you.

Wishing you a fantastic day with time for mischief and fun.

We endure various treatments hoping to eliminate cancer and give us the opportunity to live longer, to have more days. It is important to enjoy each day we have. There is no need to wait until "after" to include joy and fun in your life.

Some of the things I have learned so far.

You are better informed on what to do if you catch on fire: stop, drop and roll then what to do if you are having chemo.

It's highly unlikely you will ever catch on fire. Yet we are taught how to deal with this and other worst case scenarios so we won't freeze up when disaster strikes. We hope that it will be equally unlikely that you will ever have to experience chemo.

When it comes to health issues we tend to learn about our bodies on a need to know basis. We expect our hearts to pump blood, our lungs to give us breath, our eyes to see, our mouths to talk, our bodies to move, etc., etc. We take our body's functioning for granted until something out of the ordinary happens to us or someone we know. It is then that we investigate and learn.

I have learned much during my chemo treatments. Some things seemed to be common sense. Duh! I should have known that. Some things totally surprised me. I am still bewildered by others.

Here are some of the things I've learned so far. I still have much to learn. Perhaps none will apply to your circumstance. Maybe some will. Check with your doctor. The American Cancer Society is an excellent resource.

While taking chemo it is best to stay away from salad bars and buffets. Your immune system is weakened. You can't be sure if the greens have been thoroughly washed. Someone who has visited the buffet may have been sick.

Avoid smoke. Don't smoke.

Stay out of the direct sunlight and heat as your skin is super sensitive. Wear SPF 30or 50 under your clothes. Long sleeves and long pants only give approximate SPF 3 coverage.

Be careful what you eat. Your digestion may be screwed up.

Be prepared for increased fatigue. Exercise may help with both energy and reducing pain.

Listen to your doctors and nurses when they advise you how to handle your pain.

Avoid chlorine water.

Avoid crowds, remember your immune system is weakened.

Don't drink green tea or take vitamins. Chemo kills the fast growing cells, both the good ones and cancer. The green tea and supplements counteract the effectiveness of the chemo.

Drink lots of fluids. G2 is excellent and comes in assorted flavors.

Avoid alcohol even in things like mouthwash etc.

Keep your skin warm so your veins will be more cooperative to accept the chemo.

Follow directions for caring for your port.

Avoid going to get a professional manicure or pedicure. If you go, be sure to take your own tools so you can avoid the risk of infection.

Expect that the medication and pain pills may clog your system and make you irregular, constipated or diarrhea. Miralax is a gentle help for constipation.

Eat plenty of protein and try to maintain a healthy weight no sudden losses or gains.

Keep a positive attitude.

Let others help you when you need it.

Talk to your doctor before going to the dentist.

Be prepared for your internal thermostat to be whacky. Hot then cold for no explainable reason.

Your taste of things may be metallic or just awful. Experiment. Maybe plastic silver ware will help.

Avoid caffeine.

You will be more sensitive to smells.

Use a soft toothbrush.

Avoid aspirin and blood thinners.

Don't get professional massages during this time. It could create blood clots. Also avoid crossing your legs.

Be careful around animals. Don't clean litter boxes, pick up dog waste, clean bird cages or fish tanks.

Wash raw foods thoroughly before eating.

If your hair is going to fall out consider getting a wig before it does. Not all chemo has this side effect. Check with your doctor.

Frozen peas and ice on sore joints help relieve pain.

Popsicles and sherbet help with sore throats.

Be candid with your doctor and nurses. Ask questions and let them know how you are doing. Let your doctor know immediately if you notice any tingling or numbness.

My First Chemo Treatment

I'd asked questions, researched online but I still wasn't sure what to expect. Thankfully my nurses, Beth and Jackie were awesome. They had told me that my treatment would last about 7 to 8 hours. They told me to bring a snack and a drink.
They had taken time during my initial visit to give me an overview of what to expect.

Still when the day came, I was very nervous. My blood pressure went sky high. Beth suggested yoga breathing and after 10 minutes my pressure started to go back down. I was fortunate that all my chemo treatments were given in a room adjacent to my doctor's office and examination rooms. Only ladies were receiving chemo. I wasn't witnessing children and others getting their treatments. That would have been even more emotional for me.

I was able to receive the chemo via my veins. I had hoped that would be the case. I didn't want to have a port if possible. Thankfully, there are a variety of options to receive the chemo. The day I started treatment, some ladies had ports, some were getting it in their stomach area. Happily they were able to thread the IV needle into the vein on my right wrist.

As instructed, I'd drunk lots of fluids during the days prior to my treatment. That combined with the IV fluid that was being put into my body made it necessary to go to the bathroom. The nurses showed me how to carefully roll the rack with the IV bags into the restroom. Graceful I wasn't. Thankfully I never fell.

Most of the other ladies in the room receiving chemo fell asleep. Beth and Jackie thought for sure I would fall asleep too. Benedryl was being pumped into my system to help ward off any allergic reactions. I never fell asleep. I was too curious and anxious. I didn't want to miss anything that was happening.

On day one of my chemo, I met 2 ladies who were getting their final treatments. It made me feel hopeful.

Some of the ladies came daily for chemo. Some came several times a week and others had treatments that were shorter than mine. It was a reminder that there are different chemo "cocktails" and treatment schedules based on various cancers, stages and individuals. Another reason that although it is okay to share you are cautioned not to compare circumstances.

In the late afternoon, as the 2 ladies were "graduating chemo," I heard another lady speak up and say, "Enjoy it while you can. Chances are you will be back here in 3 months. This is my third round."

My heart sank. Around 4PM I was done with my first treatment. All the other patients had left. Jackie took time to tell me what to expect over the next several days and weeks. She said I should call them if I had any questions or if I felt any tingling or numbness.

As I stood and was about to leave, my eyes flooded with tears. Jackie sat me back down. She read my mind. "You think chemo means you are going to die," she said. She was right. That was exactly what I was thinking.

I had only known 2 people who had gone through chemo in the last few years. Both of them had died. I was equally concerned by what the other woman had said to the 2 ladies that had "graduated". As much as I want to live longer, I care about my quality of life. Her words had frightened me.

Jackie took time to talk with me. She explained that the woman in question had a totally different cancer and it was at a different stage. She reassured me. She and Beth emphasized that the positive attitude I'd shown so far was what I needed to maintain. They said there would be down times when I felt worn out, in pain and depressed. That was to be expected.

They said staying positive, following doctors directions and calling them if anything unusual or unexpected happened was important. I left feeling good. I believed I needed to remain hopeful so I could make a positive contribution as we move forward to save my own life.

You need to realize that not only will you be facing physical challenges as you move forward with your treatments but emotional challenges as well.

Sometimes you don't even realize it but what you need is simply courage. Believe in possibilities.