Yesterday was a perfect, sunny, spring day and the weatherman promises the same for all next week. Yet, we are still in the winter season here in the Southern Hemisphere. Yesterday it was over 20C and it is expected to be up to 24C tomorrow. It's very welcome as I walk more and more to improve my physical strength. I try to walk every day when the weather is good and I am signing up for the gym next week if I remember to get a doctor's certificate to exercise.
Last week I forgot, what with all the things I had to discuss about my visit to the eye hospital. This coming week I have to have a blood test for diabetes, and then the only test remaining is an MRI to rule out vascular problems in the brain. I am pretty sure that will be clear too, as my brain is the only part of me that seems to function as well, if not better, than before this current visit from my cancer monster.
My brain. I think I may have mentioned before that I had post chemotherapy cognitive disfunction, or chemobrain, for at least three or four years after my first chemotherapy in 2006-7. It was a nightmare. This time I am foggy while I take the cyclophosphamide pills, but as soon as I stop the fog clears and I can think clearly. What joy!
Since I am chemo free for most of this month, I am focusing on my writing. This time I am thinking of entering the Calibre essay competition ran by the Australian Book Review. I started the research two weeks ago and am really fired up, as I know I have only until 28 August before the fog descends for another two weeks (if my blood test is OK, that is).
I find the chemo much more manageable now that I can plan my activities. I seem to take things in stride. I focus on seeing my friends and doing my research. I do my brain exercises every day and try to do creative writing exercises as often as I can as well for this month. I have to be careful not to overdo things, which I have a terrible tendency for. Tomorrow, I am starting an online course in Data Journalism. I am hoping it will help me with mining the data I am collecting for my essay.
So, there's method to my madness, but I still have to watch that I do only as much as my energy allows. And this is my challenge for now: to do what I love to do, but stay within the constraints dictated by my health. I think that's one of the hardest lessons to learn in this journey.
That's a challenge for both of us, but isn't it a joy when your brain work they way it should! Good luck with he essay - you're certainly putting the research in - which should also keep your brain healthy.
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