Wrapping Style in Winter 冬のターバンスタイル
I did not realize how hair keeps my head so warm. After all those years with long hair I had, I feel cold in head this winter with newly growing very short hair. This wrapping style became my favorite for this season. It is warm, gives fullness and playful asymmetry design. I also like this pin (find it, it is at my forehead) I put in the front on the wrap, too. A part of it hangs down from the turban and it sways. It adds a little charm to the style. Because of the volume, my style does not speak out that I face hairless with cancer.
Read More
Day20: Teaching Tuesday
Day 20 after 5th chemotherapy. I started to drink a lot of liquid. Tomorrow is my 6th chemotherapy, that is going to be my last one. I have a mixed feeling of partially looking forward to it as knowing that this is the last one, but partially thinking that I will have to do all over this cycle again as usual, which is not a pleasant experience at all.
Read More
Day20: Teaching Tuesday
I gave a midterm to my Tuesday class today. One student stayed after the class to talk to me. She disclosed to me that she had gone through chemo treatments for two years when she was younger. She shared me some of activities or things that she tried. One thing was clear to me that I should be open to anything to try. I am thankful that she shared her experience with me. I am not the only one. She is brave, thoughtful and bright lady now. Thank you.
Read More
A boutique for breast cancer patients (Day8)
I did not expect to see this, but this is a boutique for breast cancer patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC.
Read More
Day 12: Teaching day
The class was exciting with a lot of students who give thoughts to the lecture. Discussing with them was fun to do. Nausea is mild but persisting through out the day.
Read More
Day 10: After 2nd Chemo
Day 10 is the half way in one cycle. Day 10 was the first day that I stayed without anti-nausea medication during the day. I will take one at night. The half of the 3 weeks-in-between cycle, my days are mostly spent lying down in a bed or couches and taking medications constantly. I only have the second half to be gradually being active. Time is very short to be able to move around, and it becomes very precious time to me. （日本語は英語の後に。Japanese is after English.）
Read More
Day 7: A short trip to NYC
A week ago, I had my first chemotherapy. Today, I felt even better than yesterday. It was best among the last 5 days. I wake up with a slight feeling of nausea, but very mild. It was like morning sickness. (My posture has been pretty good. When I am nauseated, I noticed I walked in bad posture, but I could not help it.) After a breakfast, friend's homemade banana muffin and scrambled eggs, I went back to watch a movie; "Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel." A story about a woman who used to be an editor in chief of Harper Bazaar, Vogue and head of The Costume Institute of Metropolitan Museum. That made me think of different head piece solutions I have to think for near future. I wanted to go to the NYC. My husband wanted to come with me to make sure I would be OK. I really appreciated about it, I myself was not confident either. We made a short trip, 2 hours stay in the city. Oh, I was happy. I felt nauseous but when I was looking into different hats, I was not thinking about nausea. A brief moment of nausea-free without medication! Bravo, fashion. I had some inspiration, and I will make some, too, when I can. Soon to be seen here, I hope! (Or not hope... I am talking about after my hair falls off.) [physically] My weight hit the lowest record ever I remember since I am at this height. A mild nausea, consistent but tolerable. I could eat more today. No appetite. Burping. Not much fatigue. My face still has pimples for the last 3 days. My period still goes on. A nurse called me and told me that it could be irregular during chemotherapy. She did not sound concerned about it. Every night, nausea gets worse. [emotionally] Very steady. It may be still too early to say, but the first week of the chemotherapy is rough and tough. If that is the case, 5 more weeks of that to overcome. I have 6 cycles every 3 weeks, that makes it about 4+ months. It is not like 5 months of rough and tough time, more like 5 weeks in total. That way, emotionally it is easier to cope with this. In the train heading back home, I exercised an "escape" that my physiotherapist had told me how to calm me down.
Read More
