Update – 1 week to go!

I haven’t posted any updates recently because I have been feeling pretty fatigued from the proton therapy treatments, but I wanted to check in so that everyone knew that I am doing well…and bald (a.k.a. no longer have the ridiculous monk-cut). The fatigue is a normal side-effect from the proton treatments.  I’ve been experiencing two different types.  The first type is feeling like I hit a brick wall, and suddenly having no energy.  This usually lasts for a couple of hours, but after relaxing for a bit, I’ll return to my normal self.  This “brick wall” fatigue has been occurring on and off since my 3rd week of proton treatment.  The second type of fatigue feels more like general exhaustion.  I feel too tired to want to go out and do much, but not tired enough where I feel comfortable lying on the couch all day.  After a few hours binge watching West Wing on netflix, I usually start to get a bit stir crazy even though my body still feels too exhausted to do anything.  This exhaustion-like fatigue has been happening pretty frequently over the past week, and is expected to peak over the next couple of weeks.

The good news is that I am on my last week of proton treatment, with my final treatment on Monday the 23rd!  While the fatigue is a bit frustrating at the moment, I know it will subside soon, and I will be able to start getting back to a normal routine…well a normal routine including the oral chemo and weekly blood-work.

In other news…I shaved off the rest of my hair!

Thanks again to “Eddie” Eduardo Tramontozzi for taking the time to cut my hair!  I actually like the almost bald look.  It helps the bald spots from the proton treatment blend in a bit better.  Also, the shorter hair helps when my head starts to get sensitive from the proton treatments.  The radiation affects the hair follicles, which causes an itching…sometimes burn-like sensation.  This is usually at the point when the hairs start to fall out, and it feels a lot better when the hair is short.  It is still up in the air how much of the hair will grow back, but out of everything going on, that is not a big concern for me at the moment.

Oh, and for everyone who donated to the wacky haircut fundraiser, I fulfilled my promise and took a picture on the T.  Fortunately for me, most people were too preoccupied with some form of screen or technology that no one noticed my “unusual” haircut.  Also, the only person not wearing headphones was a lot shorter than me, so the haircut was not so obvious in the photo…but anyways…as promised, here it is:

P.S.  The fatigue has been slowing me down on my writing, but I have a few things in the works…so stay tuned!