July 2020 Update

I just wanted to leave an update so you all know I'm doing fine.  The summers that I went through the treatments were hard, and always in the back of my mind when I go outside.  I've been lucky and made it a few years without needing another round of topical chemo.  I go for a check up once or twice a year, and I am overcome by anxiety before each appointment, but they've gone pretty well. I did have to have one tiny little spot cut off my abdomen a couple of years ago that left me with a three inch scar, but I'm fifty now, and I'm glad that they got it early. 

I don't go in the sun much if I can help it, but I don't totally avoid it either.  I wear my SPF and try to stay covered up, and avoid sun burns, but I still fish, go boating and to the beach, just not at noon or to get a tan. The beach is beautiful around 6 PM, still a bit sunny and its pretty as the clouds turn bright pink before the sunsets.  There will undoubtedly be more treatments in my future, but its important not to dwell on them, and to focus on the positive things in life.  Stay strong, it totally sucks, but you will get through this! 

Round 4 - Day 3 - Carac .5% Cream - Last Day of Mom's Visit and My Cracking Lips

Today went well.  I spent the day mostly hanging out at home and running errands with my Mom today, then went out to dinner and to let the kids play at the beach this evening.  I look normal so far. The red spots on my face are a couple of moles that are healing from removal, nothing to do with my treatment, and luckily they cover up for the most part with makeup.

I believe that perhaps I could have started this Carac treatment a few days earlier than I did and I'd be healed up and on with my summer a bit earlier.  So far not really any change.  I am treating my lips and get the taste in my mouth a bit.  My lips are starting to crack a bit, but mostly just pretty chapped from the AKs.  It's really hot down here in Florida now, tonight was fine, but going out in the heat today did feel a bit irritating, so dead the sweat I was just starting to break.  I was really worried about my lips this year.  They have been constantly chapped and peeling.  The doctor thought that it was a combination of the AKs and a little addiction I've had to lip balms.  I've been like a crack addict with EOS mint lip balm and Carmex and anything minty and tingly, even Burt's Bees.  I changed to Lansinoh, the lanolin product for breast feeding mothers and that helped.  My doctor told me to just stop with the lip balm.  A student gave me a Vaseline lip balm that felt good, and he said it's ok for me to use that one, just plain Vaseline.

I've been getting a bit of stomach sickness, but not too bad.  Not even sure if its the medication or something I ate or something.  I know in a few days when my lips get rough I will not be able to eat salt until they heal. I remember how bad that hurt, and remember it's not worth it.

It's been really wonderful having my Mom here.  Before this visit, it had been two years since I have seen her.  It went by too fast, and two years is too long!  I live in Florida and she lives in Washington State, and with 3 boys, my teaching career, and the month I have to take out every year to do this treatment, it's been difficult to get up there.  I'm already sad, the years are flying by, and I see she is aging.  I miss her.

Round 4 - Day 2 - Made it Through My Son's Graduation!

Today was my last day of school before my oldest son's graduation tonight.  I had a lot to get done before I could leave for the summer, so I was really busy getting everything squared away so that I could make it out in time to get to his graduation.  I was too busy to notice my face.

 I didn't wear makeup today, but I did tonight.  It didn't seem to irritate me, but I washed my face before applying it.  I did not wash my face this morning since I read that Carac cream is time released.  A friend of mine has treated patches on her face a few times with it, and told me that she washes it off in the morning.  Her doctor told her she could.  Mine didn't tell me one way or the other, so I will spend time tomorrow looking that up.  Tomorrow is the last day my mom will be here.  She's never been with me through a treatment, which would be awesome, but I'll manage.  Still hopeful that maybe with this different medication it won't be so bad.  Today my face feels fine, with just the lightest hint of pink starting to come out.

Day 2, after my first pre bedtime dose of Carac .5% cream