A Melanoma Patient’s Guide to Mexico

At the airport.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Mexico and successfully achieved my goal of getting absolutely not one bit more of color than I came with.  The day before we left it was a snow blizzard in Maryland.  We got to enjoy a bit of the winter white and then it was off to the airport to make our way down south and to the warmth of Mexico.  We were supposed to leave at 10:30am and ended up flying sometime around 2:00pm.  Not too bad all things considered. 

A shoe addict on vacation - no shoes at all.

It was the first time that I have flown since having my ancillary lymph node dissection.  I followed precautions and put on my compression sleeve and gauntlet about an hour and a half before the flight.  When I arrived in Mexico I noticed that my fingers looked very swollen.  I was worried that the flying had caused me to get some swelling.  However, the entire flight and after it I felt like the gauntlet piece was very uncomfortable.  After about 45 minutes after landing I decided to take off just the gauntlet.  After about 10 minutes I noticed that the swelling in my fingers was gone.  When we arrived at the hotel 2 hours later I took off the compression sleeve and did not notice any swelling in my arm or hand. 

Really protecting my skin from the sun!

Reading on the beach.

Our trip was so nice and relaxing.  I had just finished my sixth cycle of treatment and needed a nice relaxing time with my husband to just breath, have some adventure, and enjoy life.   

Getting ready to sun himself.

 The first couple of days we were there we really just ate, read, sat on the beach, and went for walks together.  We enjoyed this time very much.  We especially enjoyed the second day when the sun came out nice and bright and all the iguanas came out of hiding to sun themselves.

Under the umbrella and in my coverup.

 Unlike the iguanas, I am not allowed to bask in the sun unfettered and unprotected.  I took extra precautions to protect myself from the sun.  I coated myself with Fallen’s COTZ sunblock.  This is a very nice product.  I only use it on my face because I can’t use regular or even standard sensitive skin sunblock on my face.  This is the only thing that doesn’t irritate my eyes.  I end up using very little so it is worth the price.  For the rest of me I used a 70 spf waterproof sunblock.  I also re-applied my sunblock not only according to the directions on the bottle, but also every time I swam and then dried off.    I also wore a hat and sat under umbrellas at the pool or beach and also wore a coverup.

The pyramid at Chichen-Itza

On the day we went to Chichen-Itza I decided that I did not need my compression sleeve and gauntlet.  We did a whole lot of walking!  I loaded up on the sunblock like our days on the beach and also wore a hat.  During some of the tour guide’s talks the group was standing directly in the sun.  I chose to forgo part of these learning experiences and stand in the shade on my own.  It was incredibly fascinating and I was able to hear enough during the talks in the shady parts of the area that I did not feel my experience was in any way incomplete. 

Getting a dolphin kiss.

 On Christmas Eve day we went to swim with the dolphins.  I did wear my compression sleeve, but not my gauntlet because of it bothering my hand so much when I was flying.  Now, salt and oil breaks down the special weave of fibers that the compression garments are made of.  What I did was ask the place where I get my compression garments from what to do while swimming in salt water.  I wore my old compression sleeve and immediately cleaned it when I got back from swimming with the dolphins. 

Christmas Eve dinner - right before the hives.

That night at dinner I ate some thing that I was allergic to.  I broke out in hives all  over both arms, neck, and legs.  I chose not to see a medic because my airways were not in any way restricted and I was having no trouble breathing.  I had brought Benadryl with me and chose to take that as recommended.   The hives lasted long after our vacation had ended.  They were pretty much gone about a week after they popped up.  

Starbucks!!

Our last two days were spent in lazy enjoyment.  Ben played golf, we went shopping in Playa Del Carmen,  (where I found a Starbucks!), and I got a hot stone massage and pedi-cure at the hotel spa.  Now, one of the precautions one should take to prevent lymphedema is to avoid massages on that area.  I simply told the spa that I could not be massaged on my right arm, shoulder, and the surrounding area of my arm.  It was not a problem and I got to enjoy the perfect relaxing day.

We found the churros!

 I suppose now it is back to reality and New Year’s resolutions.  I don’t usually make any, but I think I am going to this year…even if they will start a month late. 

Last picture we took together in Mexico.

Snow, Snow, Snow before I go to Mexico

Ben and I in the snow...for about 5 minutes!

So, I am finishing up packing and alternately checking Air Tran’s website for our flight status tomorrow.  Still on-time every time we check.  I really don’t like cold weather, but even I have to admire such a beautiful white winter wonderland.  When I first heard that we were expecting this kind of weather I panicked!  I immediately called Apple vacations and when I found out that the worst-case scenario was us leaving on Monday morning I breathed easy and embarked on packing.

I am looking forward to being in Mexico, but I am so glad that right before I am leaving to enjoy nice sunny weather, zip-lining over the jungle, and swimming with the dolphins I am getting an opportunity to enjoy the only part of winter I like…snow!

Uncovering my little bug.

The snow ate it!

It was a nice day and felt reminiscent to my childhood.  What a lovely way to spend the day.  The started with my brother cooking everyone breakfast – scrambled eggs, sausage links for Ben and Fer, and veggie sausage patties for me.  A nice hot Chai Tea Latte and I felt ready to stay inside and enjoy my day.  I leisurely packed my suitcase, watched the snow come down, read, and watched TV with my husband.

A roll of cookies, round of Boursin cheese, and some Starbucks Java Chip ice cream later…I am feeling fat, lazy, and happy.  The best part of the day…being completely unfashionable and not changing out of my pajamas.

Proof that I went outside in the snow.

Ben knocking snow off of our tree.

Our street looks so pretty in the snow.

Long Time No Post

Hey all,

Sorry that it has been so long since my last post.  I have been super busy some days, not feeling so well other days, and just finished Cycle 6!  I am a quarter through the Clinical Trial! 

Also, I had a girl’s night dinner at my house so you know I was busy scrubbing and frantically shoving mass quantities of junk into closets.  I am super excited and getting ready for my upcoming trip to Mexico.  My good brother is watching the house and taking care of the cat children.  Supposedly the resort has free internet so I plan some serious updates from Mexico…at the very least a photo story describing our days. 

Have a wonderful holiday season and here’s to blogging to you soon from Mexico.

Feliz Navidad!

Mid-Atlantic Cancer Support Fashion Show

After the show with Ben - my hubby.

First Look - Rust Coat

This past Saturday I was able to participate as a model in the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Support Fashion Show at Lord and Taylor in the Annapolis Mall.  Along with myself, many of the other models were cancer survivors of varying types of cancer including breast cancer, male breast cancer, prostate cancer, and my own melanoma.  I was asked to be in the show and hesitated for all of two seconds before I agreed to be in it.  I hesitated because I did not want to be out of my comfort zone.

I want this dress!!

I ended up agreeing to be in the show for a few reasons.  1)  It is for a really good cause 2) They agreed to keep me in dresses or skirts so that I would feel comfortable and 3)  How many opportunities is a 5′2″ girl going to have to do runway?  I am really glad I participated in the show.

I not only got to have a lot of fun, but it helped raise money for a good cause.  www.macancersupport.org

The one thing people say the most to me when they meet me and find out that I was diagnosed with Melanoma at 25 is that they think I have such a wonderful attitude about everything.  I found when I met the rest of the survivors/models that the thing that makes us survivors is that vibrant, feisty, great attitude.  Everyone I talked to and got to know a little was so positive and encouraging of everyone else.  What an awesome group!!

So excited to see Grandma she joined her on the catwalk!

Playing around with our M.C. - Mrs. Maryland

Lord and Taylor did a wonderful job providing us with clothes, makeup, and accessories.  They thanked us with bags full of nice little goodies, and made the day exciting and fun for everyone.   Lord and Taylor provided gorgeous clothes for me to wear, but I already had the perfect shoes to go with them!

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures from the day you can view them at http://macsfashionshow.shutterfly.com

Thanks to all my family and friend who came out to the show to watch me and cheer me on as I strutted my stuff on the runway.  I am glad that you support me and encourage me to be a survivor.

My mom especially liked the goodie bags.

Photo Story: Working From Home

Working from home would undoubtedly be better if I did not own cats and a husband.  While I am attempting to get things done I have three furry distractions.  Here is a day in photos of me trying to work from home:

1)  Kitty number one tries its hardest to get my attention via Jedi mind tricks.  Max stares me down all day long only occasionally changing location so that I remember he is still staring.

Max starts with the evil stare from his cat bed across the room.

Next is the what the heck are you doing stare from the window.

By my lunch break it is the you will not ignore me!!

2)  Little kitty tries to distract me by hacking into my computer or just laying across my arms in direct objection to me paying attention to anything other than her.

Hacking my facebook

She doesn't even let me use my computer after work...

Laying in my lap an exceptional attempt at distraction.

3)  My other furry distraction is my dear hubby and he just does his part in making working at home difficult by taking up as much space as possible.  I can’t say I really mind him as a distraction.  

My third furry distraction.

Photo Story: Giving Yourself A Haircut

My brother decided to give himself a haircut.  His regular barber got fired and because he doesn’t have much money so he decided to try and do it himself.  What resulted was the most hilarious mistake ever.  He cut is hair into a mullet by accident and then finally managed to shave it down to a relatively even fuzzy cut.  The following is the photo story depicting all the best moments.

Celebrating his mullet.

The Fer Mullet in all its glory!

Watching to see how this was all going to end.

All his poor hair!!

Fuzzy Head!

There was a lot of laughter, a little fear, and a whole lot of mullet inspired hilarity!

Eye Glasses and A Cat

Just picked up my new frames!

Most of my doctor’s appointments during this time are while not unpleasant, are appointments I would rather not have to go to.  Usually they involve poking, prodding, discussion of side effects, or drawing my blood.  They involve waiting for the doctor come in while down the hall you can hear the patients receiving chemo chatting, trying to keep their minds off of what they are doing.  Some appointments I sit and discuss all the details of side effects: nausea, water retention, rigors, dry flakey skin, and leg pains.  Others I am being measured for my compression sleeve and gauntlet in order to prevent developing lymphedema – something that I could develop from having my lymph nodes removed.

Apparently they are panther print.

However, I recently had a doctor’s appointment that in comparison was not only a breeze, but downright fun!  I had an eye appointment.  Other than needing an even stronger prescription my eyes are in excellent health.  The appointment was quick and painless, I got to pick out new frames, and best of all I got to talk boots with the girls from my eye doctors.  It was a nice feeling to be able to relax, laugh, and have fun during an appointment.

On the day I went to go pick up my new frames I also had to meet my brother down at the veterinarian’s office.  For once I was not the one with problems.  My awesome brother agreed to drive my cat back and forth to the vet because Max has major anxiety when in the car.  My brother reported that there was not one hyperventilation, loosing control and going to the bathroom on himself, or loosing fur.

Head Wound Max

Max's buddy.

Poor Max couldn’t breath without snorting like a small piglet.  He had scratched a head wound above his eye, and would sneeze so hard his body would jerk.  Turns out he has cat allergies and needed a cortisone shot, antibiotics, and ear drops.  My good brother is giving him all his medicine with no drama at all.

So at the end of the day, I actually had a fun doctor’s appointment and my poor sick cat got all the treatment he needed with the help of a good brother.  I am so excited about my new frames!

Panther Print - Grrrrr baby!

Cartwheel at 26 = Mistake

Ben and I in the cart...we weren't moving at the time.

Sunday I enjoyed a beautiful day and went golfing in between church with my father and husband.  They took a really, really, really long time for every shot.  It had been so long since I last played golf that I was pretty bad and really did not care if I did well or not.  So I was very bored.  This boredom led to an unfortunate event.  I had already exhausted my boredom fighting arsenal of singing and fairy dancing around the golf course.  I looked in front of me and saw a lovely expanse of green flat earth and thought to myself, “I wonder if I could still do a cart-wheel?

Thinking about doing the cart-wheel

The answer to the cart-wheel question is yes, however, during the landing I definitely pulled something.  So the cart-wheel attempt was a mistake.  Here is a photo story of the day.

Unloading the car

You know I didn't carry my bag

Isn’t that so cute; my dad and husband wore matching shirts…actually I had a blue shirt on too!

Taking a swing

Now, some people don’t believe that I actually golf.  I do….and now there is picture evidence of it!

I really do golf!

My tiny little golf shoes

...and I even let them get dirty!

It was a lovely day – an unexpected warmth in November.  The cart-wheel was a mistake, but overall a fun day.

Feeding the Soul

On the way to Mariann's - I am stopped at a light!

I take care of my health as much as possible.  I have doctor’s appointments with my Dermatologist, Oncologist, Oncology Surgeon, Clinical Trial Oncology Surgeon, and OBGYN.  I get my blood drawn weekly for the clinical trial and also give myself the shots for my treatment.  With all this going on in my life it is really easy to forget to attend to the most important part of me – my soul.   I looked up the word soul and its synonyms.  These are a few of my favorites:

1. Heart
2. Marrow
3. Mind
4. Recesses of Heart
5. Secret Self
6. Spiritual Being
7. Substance
8. Breath of Life

As an associated word being came up.  The definition of being is our essential nature.  What am I feeding my essential nature, the recesses of my heart?  In Matthew 4 Jesus is being tempted by the devil while he was in the wilderness.  In response to the devil trying to convince him to turn a rock into bread to ease his own hunger he said, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”   So in interest in keeping up with my spiritual health I tried to think of things that would feed my soul.  God always knows just what you need.  My dear friend Mariann text messaged me and asked if I would like to go to the Maryland/D.C. Ladies Conference with her.  What a blessing that ended up being.

Attempting to take a picture of ourselves.

We met up on Friday after my workday and headed to Havre De Grace.  The way up was fairly uneventful until we began looking for a place to eat.  We didn’t want to just find a chain that we could go to any ol’ time, but wanted to find something local.  Well, let’s just say we drove one way for a little while….nothing.  We turned around and headed in the opposite direction which was a good call because we saw water ahead.  Both of us figured where there is water there are usually restaurants and shops. 

Down by the water in Havre De Grace

We found this cute little restaurant called the Tidewater Grille.  It was right on the water and felt like you were eating outside on a patio although you were inside.  We each got a bowl of crab soup and split the special – Fried Seafood Sampler.  It was very good.   Now, I still had to do my treatment even though I was going to the Ladies Conference.  I had packed myself a little shot kit including:   Alcohol swabs, Tylenol Arthritis, syringe for mixing, sterile water, and a syringe for giving myself the shot.  I also packed my medicine in a small cooler style lunch box with ice-cube sheets. 

Towards the end of the meal I reconstituted my treatment and with the check asked for a cup full of ice.  With my mixed vial of meds we walked back to the car and pulled over in a secluded area of the parking lot.  I drew my syringe, poured the ice in a zip lock bag, iced down my leg, sterilized the area with a swab, and gave myself the shot.   It would have been fairly uneventful except for Mariann shreeking things like, “The stuff got on me.  My arm is twitching!” and “Are you going to have anything like a seizure?”  With that business out of the way we were off to the church. 

Tidewater Grille

Despite the fact that a certain person driving would not allow their passenger to enter the church’s address into the GPS, and went the wrong way initially, and then yelled at the GPS when it was talking, we managed to get to the church in time for prayer.  What an awesome service.  The prayer was so anointed, the worship so well-done in addition to being anointed, and the message was tailored to me.  The message was titled “Keep on Walking”.  I definitely needed that reminder that this is a journey and I just have to keep on walking. 

I ended up going up the next day with my friend Kenesha.  We had a great time traveling up together.  The message the next day was good as well, but more directed to mothers.  After the session ended on Saturday a group of women went out to eat together and enjoyed a lovely time of fellow-ship with no children, husbands, or everyday worries.  I am glad that I was able to spend the weekend shoring up my faith and nurturing my spiritual self.  And of course I wore amazing shoes while doing it!

Mariann and I in the parking lot of Tidewater Grille

Marylaskans Learn to Eat Crabs

I was especially glad after two weekends in a row of being sick – one weekend from a UTI and the other weekend from a bad bout of side effects from IL2 – that my friends were back from their six months of living in Alaska.  With six months in Alaska and six months in Maryland they are not really Alaskans and not really Marylanders.  So I decided to call them my Marylaskan friends.  On their first week back we took them to eat all you can eat steamed crabs at Mike’s.  Much to all of our surprise we discovered that they had never had Maryland steamed crabs.   So the following photo stories shows our night and the first time Mariann ate a steamed crab.

Everyone at the end of the night.

Can you believe only the guys got salad.  Not one woman, but every single of our “we hate vegetables” men went to the salad bar and ate a real salad!

 

 

Our first platter of all you can eat crabs.

 

 

Re-creation of the praying mantis crab claw moment...

For her first time out she did pretty good!

We all had a great time….and just because I know this will endear me to her for life, I will include this last picture for the night.

I told her to try and look cute - and this is what I got.