Manageable

I have been on the pain patch for just under a week and it is finally starting to kick in. I am still having to take meds for the breakthrough pain, but not nearly as much as I would without the patch. My pain is manageable now, but definitely still there. I just have to be cautious of my actions and movements as sometimes I turn and it sends a shooting pain out of the blue. I can't squat or bend down so things on the ground are tricky. That's where my trusty claw grabber comes in handy! When I had my back surgery three years ago that thing was a life saver and now it is back to prove it's worth once again. It's been helpful getting things from lower in the fridge or in the low drawers around the house.
Right about now is when the BRaf inhibitors usually start to work their magic so I have hopes that they are working hard and getting this progression under control. I hope to see improvement from here on out. These meds are the ones that make me super sensitive to the sun and today I pushed my limits being outside without protection so I bet I'll be a little rosy. I went with a friend to Wheeler Farm to just see the animals and get a little walking in. Since October I haven't been as active as I would like and then having this last month pretty much keeping me in bed or on the couch, my muscles have definitely started to go far far away. I can feel that I am weak and know that I need to work on regaining my basic muscles again. For now it is walking around stores or farms. Little things that will help just wake up my body hopefully. Plus I don't like laying around all the time, even though I know it is necessary at times.

For now I don't have an appointment until the 21st. Hopefully just improve until then.

The sun interfered... 

Puppy Bjorn did really good with all the animals! 

Miles for Melanoma - Salt Lake, September 10th! Join my team!

I am heading a team for the second annual Miles for Melanoma walk on September 10th at Wheeler Farm! I am excited to be part of this for a second year and to help this walk grow and get more attention. Last year was the first one and it was a pretty sad turn out.

My team name is #melafreakinoma, I figured they probably wouldn't like my signature hashtag so I toned it down just a hair.

If you feel like attending then you can join my team by going to the Miles for Melanoma page and joining my team. If you just want to fund-raise for me that would be great too! Last year I was the fastest fundraiser - raising over $400 in only a couple days! I have almost reached my team goal of $1000 which is great! Our team is currently #2 for the top fundraisers, I think we can beat the other team - but time will tell.

Thanks for all your help! I am working on getting some t-shirts made up too possibly, I just don't know if they would be done in time.

http://join.melanoma.org/site/TR/5kRunWalk/MilesforMelanoma?team_id=3047&pg=team&fr_id=1270

First Outdoor Market Day

Yesterday was farmers market day. For those of you who don't know my full past, my last job was doing vendor management for one of the local farmers markets in town. I would make sure vendors did what they were supposed to and collect payments and just basically make the event/day run smoothly. I have worked a bit here and there since my cancer returned, but I always try and go to the market if I can. I also have FOMO (fear of missing out) if I don't go.. so there is that. Regardless, yesterday was the market and I went to go support my work buddies and enjoy the day. Since the weather has been kind of nice, they decided to have it outside. Knowing this, I put sunscreen on as well as I had a long sleeve cardigan/sweater on. I have been on the BRaf inhibitors since January 1st, technically, and one of the side effects is sensitivity to the sun so I was prepared. Or so I thought. It was overcast for most of the time I was there and then the sun came out towards the end. I could feel that I was getting some sun so I would duck into the booths and shade every chance I got. By the end I felt my face and top of my head burning - like a chemical peel almost. I began covering my head and face with my cardigan like I was hiding from paparazzi or something. It was pretty crazy. By the time I left I knew I was burned, just didn't realize just how bad it was. My lips felt like I was scalding them when I put on some vaseline and the top of my head (where a bald spot would be) was stinging and itching. By the end of the night my chest and neck were becoming more and more red and began itching and burning, almost feeling raw. I took some benadryl to sleep and when I woke up the true extent of the burn was there. I got it good! My chest is soo red and one side of my neck as well. My nose and some of my cheeks are rosey and my lips have already peeled once. To really make it crazy, my hands are burned. My hands!! Just crazy. I knew that it made you more sensitive, but my hell! It is like I have brand new baby skin!! I really thought I was prepared, but obviously not. I will say I did not put sunscreen on my chest, so that is my fault. Now I will be extra prepared and have put my sunscreen in my bag so I am ready. I am hoping this pain and stinging subsides soon, but I am almost positive I will peel. Nothing like a skin cancer patient getting severely burned .. the irony. For now it is ibuprofen and aloe gel as well as extra sunscreen.

Beginning of the day

You can barely see my nose and neck in this.. as well as my hands

Who burns their hands? 

Mid day.. heat is radiating off of this!

First day back at the market

Today I worked the market again! For some of you that don't know my market history - I used to be a vendor and sold sea salt caramels (hence the blog name, sweetsaltydeliciousness...) and then once I injured my back I decided to end that chapter and then became one of the market managers. I help manage the vendors and operations day of. After my cancer diagnosis and treatment I haven't been back - since February. Today they were short on cashiers for the breakfast so I filled in. It was my semi-return to the markets and I was greeted with open arms. Everyone was so excited to see me and just was so happy that I felt good enough to be there.
I worked for 4 hours, standing the entire time and I did alright. By the end I was a bit shaky and exhausted but I was happy I was able to do that much. The market is truly like a family - they have been so great through this battle and extremely supportive. I am not sure if I will be working more this weekend or not - we shall see!