I got a reduced dose of paclitaxel yesterday and got to ring the bell to celebrate the end of chemo treatment. There are still more steps ahead, but it's a milestone worth celebrating. After the treatment, the nurses removed my PICC line - it was surprisingly quick and painless! I've contacted my radiation oncologist to make arrangements for next steps and will get contacted about an appointment in a few weeks. There will be some prep before radiation treatment starts.

I've been spending a lot less time at the computer lately because the nerve damage in my hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) makes so many things feel cold and/or prickly and often mildly painful. You know that tingly, prickly, numb feeling that you get when your foot falls asleep? I feel that in my fingertips, soles of my feet, and toes 24/7. And touching, pressing, or holding things adds an extra layer of both extra sensitivity and numbness that makes everything just a little more painful and/or difficult. For example: Objects that might normally feel cool to the touch feel sharply and uncomfortably cold. Metallic surfaces are the worst ones to handle, and they're everywhere - cutlery, zipper pulls, drawer and cupboard handles, nail clippers, and laptops. Textured towels and dish cloths feel rough and a nail file feels like rough sandpaper. A few times, I've dropped something unexpectedly when I thought I had a good grip on it. Writing on my laptop for more than a few ...