Symmetry, Colors, and The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Symmetry
Cathy is pleased to be symmetrical after a few months of asymmetry and bunched up shirts.  Her surgery follow up appointment went well.  She got rid of her drain, had some sutures removed, and got answers to a few questions.  We're continuing to pray for good healing, comfort, and a favorable result this time around.

Colors
Some interesting colors have appeared on Cathy's chest.  Her predominant skin tone is a jaundiced yellow, which doesn't worry us too much.  Yellow could either be old bruising or the persistence of betadine that is too stubborn to wash away.  Below her right breast there is a bit of redness that seems to be growing and darkening, but it's happening so slowly that it's difficult to tell if it's really happening.  It isn't warmer to the touch than the rest of her chest, nor does she have a fever.  Those are two good signs.  Hopefully, that means it's just bruising and the healing process.  She also has a little bluish, green dot that we hope is not anything significant.  Cathy is going to call Dr. Butterfield tomorrow to see if she can get it checked out.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Like Clark Griswold's bogus Jelly of the Month holiday bonus in Christmas Vacation, chemo is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year through.  Psoriasis and joint pain are still an issue for Cathy.  Perhaps with a little more sun exposure and vitamin D absorption it will improve.  I think that I wrote about some blurriness in her right eye, as well.  Cathy went for an eye exam a few weeks ago.  The optometrist was amazed at how dry her eyes were - especially her right eye.  The optometrist described her right eye as "flaky".  Wow.  Apparently dry eye is another wonderful side effect of chemo that we probably read about, but didn't anticipate.  After a few weeks of eye drops, I'm happy to report that Cathy has returned to her regular eagle eyed self.  While we expect that many of the chemo side effects will subside after some time, we'll have to work to make those cognitive functions strong again.  Chemo has made Cathy's memory almost as bad as mine.  If hers gets worse we could be a dangerous combination of forgetfulness.

As much as I complain about the side effects of chemotherapy, I am grateful for the main effect - cancer is gone.