Moon Shots

Sep 24, 2012 Dawn Melanoma No Comments

Sometimes it is hard to keep up with all of the information out there on cancer, so when a friend of mine was at MD Anderson talking about Moon Shots on Twitter, I was excited to see it. From the website:

MOON SHOTS

The Moon Shots Program initially targets eight cancers, selected based on rigorous criteria: the current state of scientific knowledge across the continuum from cancer prevention to survivorship; the strength and breadth of the assembled teams; and the potential for measurable success in reducing cancer deaths.

The selected cancers are:

Triple-negative breast and ovarian, which are linked at the molecular level

Leukemia (AML/MDS)

Leukemia (CLL)

Lung

Melanoma

Prostate

Each moon shot team will receive funding and other resources needed for ambitious and innovative research ideas, prioritized for patient impact, ranging from basic research and biomarker-driven clinical trials to behavioral interventions and public policy initiatives.

Full implementation of the Moon Shots Program begins in February 2013.

Melanoma. One of the eight cancers they are focusing on. Makes my heart happy.

The time IS now. #endcancer

To read more, visit their website.

The Skin I’m In

Sep 16, 2012 Dawn Melanoma 1 Comment annoyances, chicken skin, side effects, the Z, Zelboraf

I hate the skin I’m in right now.
Literally, my skin is horrid. One of the side effects of the Z is what’s commonly referred to as “chicken skin” – skin that is bumpy and sometimes itchy. It looks like wee goose bumps all over…but they aren’t. I have it everywhere.

The worst part is that I have it on my face. No part of my body is smooth. I’ve always had pretty decent skin, but this is worse than teenage (or mid-thirties) acne. I hate slathering lotion on because it doesn’t make my skin feel any smoother. My face feels dry and bumpy. Although, I don’t have to worry as much about shaving my legs because you can’t really see the hair beyond the bumps, so bonus!

I have some cream to try for my face and hopefully it will work, because between the face and the hair loss, I’m having a hard time looking at myself in the mirror lately. At least my overly hairy arms look normal haired these days! And my Brooke Shields eyebrows? Well, I don’t think we can use that comparison anymore.

The hair loss isn’t as bad as the bumpy face though. Right now.

Ah, side effects are fun. You better be working, Z!!

Oh, the Z

Sep 4, 2012 Dawn Melanoma 1 Comment side effects, Zelboraf

I’m tired of complaining.

But.

The fatigue.

The headaches.

The inability to eat.

The nausea.

The intestinal issues.

Did I mention the headaches and nausea?

Of course, the hair loss, chicken skin, and slight joint pains are annoying, but the other stuff is what is keeping me down.

I don’t want to reduce the dose (nor has my doctor mentioned it) because I am confident it is working, but damn.

Flu vs. Side Effects

Aug 27, 2012 Dawn Melanoma 1 Comment flu or not, side-effects galore, stuck in bed, the Z, this sucks but it'll be worth it right?

I’ve been down and out since late Wednesday last week. Fevers, chills, night sweats, intestinal issues, nausea and headaches. 3 months ago I would have assumed flu and taken to bed with ginger ale (Canada Dry, of course) and moaned and groaned until I felt better.

Now I assume nothing. Or rather, I’m more apt to assume side effects from my currents meds, since they are varied and I am a side effect queen.

Flu-like symptoms, I was told, were a potential side effect of the Z, so I wasn’t concerned, just annoyed that into week 3 at full dose, my side-effects would suddenly switch gears on me. It’s not unusual, though, since my joint pain moved day to day. For example, last Thursday, my joint pain suddenly went from RIGHTHERERIGHTNOWOMIGOD to Wait-am-I-having-joint-pain-today?

But when I called in to the office today, the nurse was certain that it’s a virus of some sort and not side effects.

Why does it matter? I have to assume that my body is working hard and that this reaction will fix itself somehow, or it will get over the virus eventually, right? And who has a part-time flu? Because Saturday, for hours, I felt fine; yesterday I had good hours as well.

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Keep on with the Z, keep on with the fluids, keep on with the Advil – same old, same old, right?

strands

Aug 23, 2012 Dawn Melanoma 1 Comment cancer crap, hair loss, lessons learned, side effects, Zelboraf

I’m a toucher. I touch my face, my lips, but once I get home from being in public (work, etc), I am mostly a hair toucher. I run my hands through my hair a LOT. It’s a habit. It started when I was younger – I wore so much product in my hair that at the end of the day, I would pick out the gel and hairspray – uncruchify it, if you will.

Now, though, my skin is weird and my hair is falling out. I have to moisturize constantly otherwise I feel like my body has been filled with sand from the inside. My face, however, doesn’t seem to change with exfoliation and moisture and it bugs me. So I touch. And probably make it worse.

I’ve always had a lot of hair. Not thick, just a lot of straight, brown hair. I went short years ago and have never looked back. It’s a running joke with my hairdresser – I make a game out of coming up with new ways to say “Hell No!” when she asks if I want to grow it out.

Now, when I run my hands through my hair, my hair comes out. It’s worse in the shower, of course, but still, dry or wet, my hair is thinning. I pull my hand away and look in awe at all of the strands that are left in my fingers. I guess I’m thankful it’s not falling out in clumps. And yet, it’s upset me more than I thought it would.

I suppose I could throw a baseball hat on – I am a jeans and t-shirt and hat kind of girl. I’m trying to decide if I should cut it shorter, leave it alone, or maybe buy some of those cute little caps that look oh so comfy, but scream “chemo patient” to me.

Yet one more thing in the world of fighting cancer that you can’t really prepare for. The little things that suddenly get larger than life.

Full week in

Aug 18, 2012 Dawn Melanoma No Comments appointments, side effects, Z, Zelboraf

I had my 6 mo check with the dermatologist the other day. It was perfectly fine. They admired my Zelboraf induced ‘chicken skin’ and were pleased to find that I had no new moles or other skin issues. They want to see me again in 3 months instead of the usual 6 because of the Z.

I’m coming up on the full week mark of the full dose. Still dealing with the joint pain and pain on bottom of feet. It varies from place to place and from day to day. Some days horrible, some days just painful. Nothing touches the joint pain as far as general remedies: icy hot, salon pas, homeopathic, advil, motrin, tylenol, etc. I take a norco every once in a while at night just to get some sleep, but it doesn’t do much for the pain anymore.

I’m losing my hair. Although it was skimmed over in the potential side effects, it has been mentioned by other patients and I’ve definitely noticed it. I see it in my hands when I run my hands through my hair or when I’m washing it; I see it on my pillow when I wake in the morning. It’s not clumps, but it’s my hair and it’s not attached to me anymore. My previously thick (my hairdresser always has to to thin it out because I have so much!) is now thin. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but it is, kind of.

Sometimes this cancer thing is just tiring.

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[Defying Melanoma]

kicking cancer's ass one day at a time