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I know it may sound fluffy, but I like to look nice on infusion days. It lifts my spirits and helps me to feel stronger, empowered, and even normal in a way. I feel less like a cancer patient when I get dressed up a bit. Now I'm not talking about wearing sequins and stilettos, but what we wear can  have a positive impact on how we feel. When we look good, we feel good. It's real. 

I've been going to Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the past four months for infusions to treat my leukemia, but not all infusions are chemo. There are also vitamin drips and IVs for other various illnesses. Even some spas are now offering IVs to boost the immune system and fight exhaustion. I've learned through trial and error, how to dress for my "drip days and want to share them with you. I hope my tips are helpful, but most of all, I hope that you will never need them for medical reasons!

Comfort is KEY.  I can spend 5-10 hours sitting in the infusion chair, so I have to be comfortable. My clothes must be pajama-like...soft, stretchy and movable. 

Layer me up. Hospitals can run hot and cold, so I'm constantly shedding and adding extra layers. However, I learned the hard way not to wear jackets, vests, or cardigans, since it's impossible to get my arms out of the sleeves with the IV hooked up. For this reason, I prefer to wear a thin sweater or top, with a wrap or poncho over it. This video from a social media post says it all.

The right pants. I'll be blunt, going to the bathroom and trying to zip and button jeans is not easy when hooked up to an IV.  So, I prefer pull-on pants such as leggings or joggers, that are not only comfortable for long-term sitting, but also easy to pull down and up. Skirts or dresses work too, but make sure they're long enough to sit comfortably all day without being self-conscious.  A maxi can be problematic since it's a tripping hazard and can drag on the hospital floor (big YUCK). 

White is not right. It doesn't happen often, but there was one time when a little blood from my IV stained a white sweater. Lesson learned, I now wear darker colors.

Wear your inspiration.  Throughout my cancer journey, friends have sent me jewelry and tee shirts with inspiring messages.  I always wear at least one piece to make me feel hopeful and strong during chemo. Maybe it's mind over matter, but whatever the reason, it helps!

Roll up your sleeves.  You may not think of this, but your sleeves will need to be accessible for the IV.  Button down shirts or tops with super stretchy or loose arms make for easy access.  Let's face it, sitting for hours with tight sleeves digging into your arms is not fun (been there, done that).  

Shoes off.  Every time I go for an infusion (or doctor's appointment) I have to take my shoes off to get an accurate weight. However, I don't want to hold up the nurses while I fiddle with ties, so I always wear slip-on shoes that are easy on/off. This is actually a good excuse to buy more shoes!

Less is more.  When it comes to jewelry, less is more on infusion days. Bracelets worn on the same hand as the IV can get in the way, long earrings can catch on masks, and super heavy necklaces can be plain uncomfortable. Having said this, I do like to wear a few stretchy bracelets that I can easily switch to a different wrist if needed, and I always wear my Apple Watch to monitor my heart-rate. When I had my first infusion, I could feel my heart beating out of control and my Apple Watch confirmed it before I even spoke to the nurse. It's been incredibly helpful. 

My recommendations:

Cozy Earth jogger sets: Love the softness and comfort of these pieces. They aren't cheap, but they wear like iron (no pilling!), help to keep body temperature regulated (bamboo fabric), and are pretty darn stylish. I have black, navy and cream...that's how much I love them! Code CEFASHIONISTA for 40% off the site! I also love their elastic waist skirt , which is just the right length for sitting long periods of time without riding up.  Find the jogger pants and matching top here. 

Ponchos: I don't normally wear a lot of ponchos, but they're perfect for infusion days because of the reasons listed above. Some styles I like HERE  HERE  HERE.  Just make sure that the poncho doesn't have sleeves!

Loose sleeve tops:  Again, it's so hard to get an IV with tight sleeves. The Cozy Earth tops are great and work perfectly. I also like bell sleeves and shirts. 

Leggings: I love to wear faux leather leggings for an edgy look. I know, I know...edgy at the hospital? YEP!  Prefer knit leggings? Here you go! 

Shoes:  Slip-on boots, sneakers, and flats are all good choices for easy on/off.  Sole Bliss is one of the most comfortable sneakers I own and they have a side zipper! Worth every penny!  Code Fashionista15 for 15% off.  A comfy stylish boot with a side zipper works too! 

Bag it:  I pack quite a bit for infusion day since they're so long. Here's my list (yours may differ):  computer, charger, phone, wallet, make-up bag, hand-cream, hard candies, tissues, a book or magazine, earphones, extra masks, hand sanitizer, snacks, drinks, tummy drops (amazing to settle an upset belly), and more.  My kids bought me a fabulous rolling bag that I use a lot and I also love this bag from Quilted Koala (it fits everything!). I get so many compliments on it too.  Code Mid20 for 20% off. 

As you may know, I started treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) last week. I've been grateful to remain in a "watch and wait" for the past four years, but honestly, it hasn't been as good as it may seem.  I felt like I was walking on eggshells, not knowing when my health would go south. Imagine living with cancer, but not doing anything about it!

A few months ago, it became apparent that the time had come for treatment. My white blood cell count (WBC) hit 345,000 (cancer cells), my bone marrow was at 90% cancer, and some of my other numbers bottomed out.  Although there is no cure for CLL, there are treatments to keep it at bay and even catapult a remission (I'm hoping for that!).  

I had the option of choosing between a trial and a standard treatment at Dana Farber in Boston.  After digging into the research and speaking with doctors and other CLL patients, I decided to go with the standard protocol, a combination of Obinutuzimab (infusions) and Venetoclax (an oral drug).  The treatment  begins with infusions that happen over six months, followed by the oral drug which gets introduced three weeks after the start of the infusions and carries over for the duration of the year.  At the end of the year,  a bone marrow biopsy determines if remission is achieved. Patients on this treatment  plan with my cancer markers, have an 80% chance of going into a remission for 5+ years until they need additional treatment.  These drugs literally blast cancer away like dynamite.

Let me back up to tell you that I'm the type of person who doesn't even like to take a Tylenol! So the thought of pumping my body with toxic drugs took quite a bit of processing.  I had to shift my thoughts and look at the treatment as a "GOOD THING", instead of something harmful.  Gratitude helps too.  I'm grateful to live near excellent medical care and have access to cutting edge drugs that could put me into remission. I'm also grateful for the support of my husband (who is incredible), friends (old and new), family, support groups, and community. When life throws you lemons, squeeze some lemonade.

And of course, I want to LIVE!  After all Penny needs her Sue-Sue, and I have lots of memories to make with my amazing kids and family.

I started the first two infusions last week, and although the experience was far from fun, I got through it. I did have a few bumps though, including a rapid heart-rate that caused a pause in the treatment.  All went well until Saturday when high fevers, uncontrollable shaking, and major fatigue set in.  The drug almost worked TOO well, creating a horrible inflammatory response in my body.  Imagine, 345,000 cancer cells dying within 24 hours releasing toxins in the blood! This was NOT what I was expecting.

Although I had a 4:00 a.m. ER visit last weekend and I'm still feeling HORRIBLE, I'm hopeful that the side-effects will pass over the week.  If things don't improve, a hospital stay may be necessary. Fingers crossed that this is transient.

Living with cancer and now dealing with treatment, has given me a personal understanding and deep empathy for what cancer patients go through.  It's hard, very hard.  When people say, "you have the good kind of cancer", "just live your life", or "you're lucky it's chronic",  quite honestly I get pretty angry.  There is NO good cancer and chronic diseases mean that there is no cure.  The anxiety and stress of having cancer (or any serious illness) is overwhelming. No judgement please--just support.

If you or someone you know is impacted by cancer (all types), please follow Kicking Cancer in Heels on Instagram and Facebook.  I co-founded this positive and hopeful community with the amazing and inspiring patient advocate Michele Nadeem Baker.  One of the gifts of the pandemic and CLL has been my special friendship with Michele and connecting with women all over the country sharing our cancer journeys and supporting each other,

By the way, I took comments off this blog because I'm having a hard time managing everything.  But please reach out to me on Instagram and Facebook. I love hearing from you! I also hope you'll subscribe to my blog to stay in touch.  The mobile version has the sign-up link at the bottom of the page, and desktop has it at the top. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Here's to a cure for ALL cancers!

With love,

xx Susan

 It's been a rough month.  In addition to my Instagram account issues and the stress that goes along with losing a business that I've spent seven years organically building, my health has taken a major turn in the wrong direction.  Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a strange beast with lots of unpredictable twists.  I've been blessed to have 4 1/2 years in a watch and wait (not as easy as it sounds), but over the past month I started running daily fevers and losing energy.  I met with a team of infectious disease doctors last week at Dana Farber, and they are trying to piece the puzzle together.  It's a mystery.

I need treatment NOW.  I'm having pretty serious anemia which is causing a very racy heart-rate and major exhaustion. I feel winded when walking up the stairs and I can no longer take my daily 3 mile walks. It's crazy. I've dreaded starting treatment for the past four years, and now I'm begging for it.

However, it's not that easy, my medical team at Dana Farber won't initiate treatment if there's an infection.  And pinpointing an infection can be like finding a needle in a haystack.  So far, all of my routine tests like chest x-rays and bloodwork results for Lyme and other infections, have come back negative.  However, there is something going on since a few of the tests point to an infection.  I hope to have some answers this week.

I've been blown away by the incredible support I've received from friends, family and my followers (you!). I get messages on a daily basis from people I don't even know personally, just checking in to see how I'm feeling.  I'm grateful and it truly warms my heart. Thank you.

One piece of good news....my Instagram account has been restored (after two months!)), but I've been told to post slowly as it's still fragile.  If you're not following me already, I'm at @TheMidlifeFashionista.  I'm also working on getting an email sign-up for this blog (it only took me seven years! ). Once the sign-up link is installed, I hope you'll opt in.  Should my IG account go down again, at least we'll be able to stay in touch this way!  Lesson learned. 

Again, thank you for your support, kindness. and love.  More to come. 

xx Susan