Looking Good, Feeling Better

Last week, Mom met with her oncologist.  The doc said she looked great and healthy and should be pleased with the way things have gone so far.  Then, gave her a big hug.  It's great to have affirmation. In this stage, there are lots of appointments to manage.  In addition to going to radiation every day (Monday-Friday at 10a.m. until July 2), Mom is going to physical therapy twice a week to work on the cording in her arm and general range of motion.  Monthly, she will check in with her oncologist and surgeon as well as going to the infusion center for Zometa, a drug to help strengthen her bones.  Mom has done 3 of the radiation treatments and there are no ill effects yet.  There are some effects from the hormone therapy, but "nothing awful" (Dad's words.  I'm curious to know more but afraid to ask.)

Over the weekend, Mom went on her first excursion out of Richmond since her diagnosis and visited Jess in DC.  Proof that when this woman puts her mind on a goal, she makes it happen!  Mom and Dad also had a fun afternoon in Richmond on Sunday including attending Richmond's first Food Truck Derby.


Tonight, Mom and I went to a program at the hospital called Look Good, Feel Better. It was a two hour workshop on make-up designed for women going through cancer treatments. It was a fun way to pamper Mom a bit. And, she walked away with about $200 worth of free make-up donated by most of the major cosmetics companies! In addition to discovering that Mom lost most of her eyebrows and eye lashes without any of us noticing (we think it's because they were so light in the first place), we learned how to make a turban out of a t-shirt.  This will be much cooler for the summer heat!  She's got some peach fuzz hair growing in, but it will probably be a while still before her hair grows back fully.

It was also really special for Mom to be in a room surrounded by women who had also been detoured by cancer. One was much older, one was much younger. All of the women had their own stories. But, they also had one big thing in common.

Here are some snapshots of the evening:

Mom's goody bag of products

Before her "makeover"

All the products from her goody bag

All done! Check out that smile!