Round Two: Day 10 - Whoop There it Is!

 

Day 10 - July 17, 2014

 

 



Today I was busy, jamming to get free Kenny Chesney tickets at the Floribama next month, and I was so absorbed in my very important task that I didn't really notice how bad my face hurts, or how sick I felt.  Distractions are a good thing!  I hope I am all healed in time to actually attend his concert on the beach on the Florida/Bama state line......in  mid August.  I'm staying optimistic. I'll be the one in a big hat, shades and a long sleeve cover up of some sort, assuming I get tickets that is.

 

I'm applying the medication just under my brow and it obviously runs down a bit.  I'm glad I'm treating that part under my brow this time.  Might as well get rid of all this stuff while I'm at it.  My lips are very tender.  Only 6 more applications to go! Whoo Hoo!!

Round Two: Day 9 Give the Kid a Cigarette Already

Day 9, July 16 2014

 

So..... it's July in Pensacola, Florida  the Redneck Rivera, and my Facebook is lighting up with the beautiful beach pictures of my friends and their kids at the beach.  Yep, that was me once.  I worked hard to have one of the darkest tans out there. I actually felt competitive about it.  I was a dumbass. Now I see mothers taking their daughters to the beach to work on their tans. Really!? 

I used to go to the tanning bed with my own mother when I was young.  We didn't know then what we do now.  Science has come a long way in 20 years.  If you are dumb enough to teach your kids to get a tan to look good, why stop there?  Give the kid a cigarette already!  Light those puppies up! That's pretty stupid huh?  You wouldn't give your kids a cigarette, but how is one different than the other?  They both cause cancer.  I'm not talking about the people at the beach who enjoy being outdoors and slather their children in a strong SPF, and take other measures to take care of themselves and their children's skin.  I'm talking to those who purposely set out to tan themselves and their kids, or set the example that tans are desirable for their kids.  There is peer pressure from society, no doubt.  How many summer songs mention cold drinks and tans?  We've got to be smarter than that, especially when it comes to the examples we are setting for our children.  If you are "working" on your tan,  or valuing your tan, what are you teaching your teenagers?  What is the difference between that and glamorizing smoking in front of your children?  Enough preaching, it's MY blog and I just had to get that out.

 

Today I've felt very nauseous, fatigued, and my face stings like a...... well, lets just say really bad.  Yesterday, after my shower, I gently held the soft towel up to my face and it felt like hundreds of small bee stings. The bandana on my head is to keep my hair from touching my skin, I can't stand for anything to touch my face.  Kisses and hugs are off limits! I also don't want anyone I care about to be exposed to the poison on my face.  If I had known then what I know now.........

I will have to repeat this process over many times to stay alive.  I think about how many times I burned my butt in a tanning bed, and I'm very aware there could be cancerous spots on my body that I miss.  Fluorouracil treatment is horrible and painful,  but it gets better, and I know that this round.  I have no doubt I can do this.  It beats the hell out of having things cut off with razors and needles and all that.  This is not even an option on my face, given that it is spread evenly over my entire face. I have read the blogs of people who have to treat their bodies with fluorouracil and figure that is in my future as well someday.  I can't imagine having my clothes rub on my skin. The people going through that have my utmost respect and admiration. 

 

EOS lip balm still soothes me.

Ice coffee makes me happy. 

I need to buy straws because anything I eat or drink gets into the cracks in my lips, boo salt.

Round Two: Day 8 Cold

 

Round Two: Day 8 - 7/15/2014

 



I'm starting to feel uncomfortable.  This morning I set up the dining room for my 6 year old's birthday party (family only) tonight, ran to Walmart and did a few chores.  I ran into a friend in Walmart who saw my face and asked if it hurt. 

 

I'm in Florida remember, notice my sweatshirt.  I'm freezing again.  My face hurts, stings hurts, and I feel very nauseas today as well.  I cringe if a child, pet or hugging person gets too close to my face. I'm cracking around my lips, and  starting to get small red spots.  Red dots randomly decorate my cheeks, eye browns and jawline like bulbs on a Christmas tree.  I wore a hat outdoors today, and tried to run quickly from inside the car to inside a business.  I don't think I can go out much longer, if the sun hits me it hurts, and makes me pretty red. 

 

So far I'm still not as bad as last time.  It did take a little determination to apply the fluorouracil cream this AM.  It's like putting salt in a wound.  I must thank the other bloggers out there for sharing your own stories.  It's helpful to read other's experiences, because we all hit different hurdles and find different methods to get over them.  

Round Two: Not As Bad As The First Time

Day 6, July 13, 2014

This morning I was pleasantly surprised that I'm not looking or feeling too bad yet.  I felt a little nauseous still, and my skin feels sensitive but not painful yet, much like how a sunburn feels. Eating seems to help the nausea, and iced coffee tastes great.  About an hour or so after applying my morning dose of fluorouracil I got the chills really bad again.  I put on a heavy sweatshirt and socks and watched TV for an hour and it seemed to subside.  I'm pretty comfortable at the moment.  I have not had the headache for a couple of days now and I am grateful for that.  The most soothing thing is my EOS lip balm.  I am not currently applying any products to my face other than the fluorouracil twice daily.  It makes my skin look oily all day, but I can't really complain about that, its not suppose to be a spa treatment.  Every day that I'm not in pain and can sleep is a blessing, one less day than I had to endure the first round, so I'm a happy camper. 

Round Two: Then and Now

Day 5 - July 12, 2014

I was extremely glad I went to the concert last night.  Who doesn't love reggae, and it did succeed in getting my mind off my face and not feeling well.  Staying busy with other things is really important. Luckily the lights at the venue were red so I blended right in.  The AC was cranked and the cool air felt soothing on my face.  I didn't wear any makeup, except for eye liner and mascara.  This AM I noticed that there is a huge difference in my skin from day 5 of this 2nd round vs day 5 of my initial treatment three years ago. 

I'm putting plenty of medication on and even getting into my eyebrows and the edges of my lips this time because I could feel the rough skin, which is the manifestation of the precancerous cells, in those areas.  I realize it is probably really going to suck, but treatment with fluorouracil is really going to suck anyway, so I might as well get it now rather than have to deal with needles and stuff later.  Why am I not looking as bad as last time?  My doctor told me during my appointment that he didn't expect this round to be as severe as last time.  When I reread my blog from three years ago, I noticed that he had mentioned doing a lighter dose in the future, but that he actually prescribed the same therapy this time as last time. I also noticed something else, when I looked back at my blog this morning my day 5 photo from this treatment looks nowhere near as red or inflamed.  My day 4 photos look more similar.  In my blog entry from day 5, 2011 I mentioned that I had put on make up for a photo shoot at a wedding on the 4th night, then on day 5 I was considerably more red.  I'm relieved that I chose not to wear makeup last night.  Its not for certain, but it does seem that perhaps the makeup made things much worse.  I'll pass on testing that theory.

I'm starting to develop an aversion to spicy food and hot food (temperature wise) in general.  In the first few days of my treatment I made sure to get those in, so I should be good for the next few weeks.  Normally I drink coffee every morning and love spicy food.  The past two mornings I chose to skip my coffee, I just can't stand the idea of anything hot near my face or lips. 

My headache has been gone today, which is a huge relief. Today I still felt a little nauseous, but its nothing I can't handle.  Getting out of the house now as much as possible, before it gets bad has been a priority.  Today I had a great lunch out with tons of sweet tea, which tasted so wonderful, cool and soothing.  Later I went to a movie, in which the theater had the AC cranked and it was nice and dark.  I got the chills really bad between the two and felt totally exhausted.  After a nap buried under many blankets and I felt much better.  I've been getting spells where I feel very cold every afternoon.  No one else is feeling cold though, it seems to come a couple of hours after applying the fluorouracil. 

Yesterday I bought one of those EOS lip balms , it feels WONDERFUL!!

Round Two: Nearly Three Years Later

Before my 1st application of Florouracil 5% cream for my 2nd Round of topical chemotherapy on my entire face 7/7/14. It's been nearly 3 years since my first round. I've been instructed by my doctor to apply a small amount twice daily.

Day 1 -1st morning after one treatment the night before 7/8/14.  Not much happening yet, just a tad bit of pink in my cheeks.  I reread my Blog to refresh my memory and get ready for the next month.

Day 2 - 7/9/14 feeling a little sensitive like a light sunburn, just a little more pink.  Today I got a headache that wouldn't go away for anything and felt a little sick at my stomach.

Day 3  - 7/10/14 Some light red spots are starting to stand out.  My skin burns if I go outside, it's July here in Florida and in the 90s.  The headache is back with a vengeance.  I took ibuprofen and Tylenol which didn't help.  My skin is just a tad bit red still, I'm pulling my hair out of my face because it feels irritating on my face.

Day 4 - 7/11/14 I'm getting some red spots on my cheeks and a few spots around my lips.  Today water made me feel sick, but in the evening the headache and nausea seemed to subside a bit.  I don't look too bad yet, I'm going to brave it while I can and head downtown to a reggae concert tonight for a bit.  Hopefully they have the AC cranked and maybe in the dark no one will notice how red I am. 

Well.... it's January 30th so here I go!

I had a really hard time getting myself motivated to make the appointment for today, but I'm goin in!  Part of it for me is that I HATE needles, and I know if my dermatologist sees any weird spots it means needles.  I think I'd rather go another round of the topical chemo than take a shot.  I'm a wuss.

My life has been totally busy, my husband has had kidney failure and needs a transplant, I'm teaching full time, taking care of our house, three boys etc.  I can think of a million excuses to avoid this appointment today, but the fact is that it's important.  Very important.  I'd much rather keep up with this stuff than find out it's gotten out of hand and I could die.  My youngest is only 4, he needs me around for awhile, especially now with my husband's illness.  So... hi ho hi ho it's off to my dermatologist I go.  I'll update you all soon of course.  Cross your fingers, toes, legs, arms etc for me!!!