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​CANCER CHRONICLES

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To Rip or Not to Rip...

8/10/2017

10 Comments

 
Sometimes ripping the bandaid straight off is the easiest and less painful way to go in hard situations. However, In all the chemo stories and cancer journeys I have read, they all say that going from long hair straight to GI Jane style can have a pretty big impact on you mentally and emotionally so everyone recommends just chopping your hair short in the couple weeks leading up to baldness. So, today we went and chopped my long hair...goodbye Pocahontas status hair. I've always had long hair so going short isn't really something I wanted, but will make getting ready for appointments much easier and feel less dramatic when I wake up and start to see hair on my pillow that's short vs a foot long! I am told I will lose my hair 2-3 weeks after starting chemo Monday. I will then get it completely shaved.....this may or may not be done at the hat party just depending on timing....TBD Then your hair doesn't start growing back till about 6 weeks after you are done with chemo which will be Febuaryish for me...so I'm pretty much not going to have hair for well over a year.

Things I'm looking forward to:
~NOT HAVING TO SHAVE...ANYTHING (guys, this is indescribably the "perk" of chemo...don't be too jealous)
~no having to get my eyebrows waxed or pluck them
~not buying shampoo/conditioner/razors/hair ties/brushes etc.
~it being totally socially appropriate (at least in my head....which lets face it, that's the only thing that matters) to show up to chemo in a comfy onesie pajama outfit since getting cold is inevitable and who can really be depressed if you're in a onesie pajama?!
~Netflix binging my life away (ok, maybe I shouldn't say my life away in my particular situation...but to my little fluid filled hearts content!)
~watching Ellen everyday!!! (I mean, I should totally be on her show with all this craziness.....totally putting that on my goal and bucket list!)
~after chemo starts: my face and neck swelling going down, being able to breath again, not being as tired, not cough 24-7, hot flashes, night sweats only nightmares of made of (unfortunately, I was told this will be one of the last things to go away....maybe even months after chemo is done...bummer)
~exchanging my teaching/3-4 additional job stress for health and financial stress....but not working for the first time in my life will definitely be an adjustment even if not by choice
~Being home with Brodie everyday....who needs a guy when your best friend and fur child doesn't leave your side?! : )
THANKS TO MY SISTER FOR TAKING ME TO GET MY HAIR CHOPPED! WE CUT OVER A FOOT OFF : / BUT IT'LL ONLY LAST FOR 2-3 WEEKS ANYWAY SO IT DOESN'T MATTER...
10 Comments
Erika
8/12/2017 07:15:52 pm

The haircut looks fabulous! You've got the kind of face that can do any style and such pretty eyes, that you're going to rock the Kojack better than the average bear. :)

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Ashley
8/12/2017 07:20:28 pm

The cut is super cute!!!!

Reply
Michele
8/12/2017 07:59:21 pm

You look fabulous, darling! And oh so much easier to déjà with! Thanks fir the updates!

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Keri
8/12/2017 08:46:10 pm

I am a teacher and found you on Instagram (probably searching some teacher hashtag). Just wanted to let you know that I am following your journey and praying for you every step of the way!!

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Brenda
8/12/2017 08:47:01 pm

Love the cut and Brodie is so cute!

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Kathy B.
8/12/2017 10:26:26 pm

You look beautiful! Praying for you - strength, faith, hope....

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Janet W
8/12/2017 10:56:44 pm

You will be beautiful with or without hair! Love the new do!

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Donna P.
8/12/2017 11:51:19 pm

You rock the " Pocahontas status hair" and love your sense of humor and positivity! Your Brodie is adorable! Kaiden & I prayed for you before bed tonight!! He sends his love!💙

Reply
Art Costello link
8/13/2017 09:28:04 am

Your beauty goes much deeper my friend!!

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Leslie McLean
8/14/2017 07:12:37 am

You're so strong and Beautiful! The bag looks most excellent! I hope that all those goodies bring you comfort and help pass the time! We are all rooting for you! Kick cancers ass!!!!!! Love ya L

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    "You either get bitter or you get better. It's that simple. You either take what's been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you."
    ​~Josh Shipp

             

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    When Cancer Comes a Knockin'

    Timeline

    On August 2, 2017, Brianna was diagnosed with Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Beginning Monday, August 14, 2017, Brianna will begin chemotherapy treatments. She will be commuting to Austin for 18 weeks to receive treatments. This site is set up as a donation page to help Brianna and her family cover medical costs and living expenses, as well as a one stop shop to get updates on how chemo is going and even buy a shirt or two in support!

    UPDATE:
    After getting her final PET scan to confirm the aggressive chemo did it's job, we got the news that it hadn't and that the tumor was still active when it shouldn't of been. Brianna is now undergoing radiation for 5 weeks, everyday in Austin. 


    UPDATE March 2018:
    Brianna begin having the same cancer symptoms as she did this past summer during spring break, except more painful this time. She was sent to get a CT scan which showed her cancer had returned. She then met with her oncologist who planned the next steps which include to do more chemo (a differnt regimen this time) followed by a stem cell transplant. 
    She thought she was done....she was done.....and now she is having to start the cancer journey all over again...including losing her hair that had just start growing back.


    UPDATE
    END OF MARCH - JUNE 25th
    ​(at the moment....things have yet to even begin apparently.)

    If I didn't feel like I was really dying or truly out of options to live....I do now. Remember  I was basically on our plan F and everything was just getting worse instead of better. I really thought I was done these last couple weeks and being in the hospital for another little week vacay. I finally updated by blog since so many people were asking, so you can read the detailed updates.

    October 2018 Update:
    Insurance has finally approved all of the CAR-T procedure and I will be getting my T-Cells retrieved from my body next week. (Oct 10th if all goes as planned)


    MARCH 2019
    The first post CAR-T pet scan showed the main mass has shrunk in size, even though still active. Hopefully, the CAR-T will continue to work its magic over the next few months before the next scan.


    To donate to Brianna's GoFundMe page, please make sure the donation is made on the GoFundMe Page found here:
    ​
     https://www.gofundme.com/teambonnet
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