Hello everyone!
I guess you deserve some updates. If you signed up for this newsletter for just the humor, you can check out my newer posts: a behind-the-scenes look at some satire, and a live reading of the piece. However if you’d like an update on life and cancer things keep reading. Then head over to the posts above for some uplifting humor.
So, first of all, a week after my last newsletter in January of 2024 they found cancer mets in my brain, so I changed meds and did WBR (whole brain radiation). I talked a bit about it on a JAW update, but let me tell you it was rough. With chemo I felt awful but a week after infusions I at least began to feel normal-ish. Radiation (especially of the brain) was a whole different beast and to this day I feel…different. The doctor warned me that things like short term memory and concentration would be affected, but what I wasn’t expecting was the months of fatigue that followed.
But I finished the radiation, lost all my hair (again), continued on the new line of treatment and kept going. For months things were good, the meds held the cancer at bay. Until August when we discovered the new line wasn’t working and while my brain remains clear (knock on wood) they saw mets popping up elsewhere. Now I’m on a new treatment and we’ll see how this one goes.
I’ve been told that as long as my body can handle it, there are plenty of treatments left. I let myself be gloomy for a couple of days and snapped back (or at least the current version of snapping back) to living my life. I’m working a part time job that gives me flexibility to go to infusions and scans and writing/editing on the side. I’ll admit, I’m still learning to accept I don’t always have enough spoons to do everything I want to do.
But that’s everyone, we all have our limits on time and health, so learning to respect the body’s boundaries is important. My goal is a post a week, because while I’m feeling well (enough) I don’t want to waste the good days.
Another note: I opened my newsletter to paid subscription options because if you’ve ever paid for medical treatments of any kind, you know they are not easy on the pocket. This newsletter will remain 99% free, but I will throw in extra readings/recordings for those who generously threw something my way with no expectations of getting anything in return.
To those who became paid subscribers, thank you. Because everyone is drowning in subscriptions please don’t feel guilted into adding this one, you can still support me by reading, sharing, and recommending my work.
I’m currently working on different passion projects (hopefully more to tell soon), applying for jobs, practicing art, and spending time doing things with family and friends.
Here’s to a healthy and happy and funny 2025!
Kyrie
Oh, man! And I thought my 2024 sucked. Be gentle with yourself. Keep looking for the humor, and share with us whatever you feel like. Laughs, rants, musings during a treatment, whatever. There will be someone out here that your words will touch. And, thank you.
This sounds really rough. Thinking of you and hoping 2025 treats you so much better! ♥️