This is another one of those posts that's meant to help/prepare someone who is facing this adventure. I was getting ready this morning and, as I looked around the bathroom, it hit me. There is always something around to remind you that you are living through something - diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and any number of things that could really make your day a bummer. My guidance to you is to not let the negatives and/or any reminders take over your thoughts. For me, there seems to be something in every room that tries to ruin my mood. I just acknowledge it and then replace the thought about whatever it is with one simple thing - this too shall pass. Sure, there are aspects of this that will follow me for years and some for the rest of my life. I've just accepted that it's a new life and those things will work in and I'll live as "normal" a life as I ever have.
So, what kinds of things am I talking about? Let's travel through my house and a typical morning and just a few of the things that scream "HEY! You are being treated for BREAST CANCER and don't you forget it."

• Reflection - I wake in the morning to Uncle Fester looking back at me in the mirror. Hey Ugly!
• Skin Care - I wash my face and try not to scrub too hard just in case my eyebrows decide to fall out.  ;-)  (don't get me started on the eyebrows)
• Biotene - I brush and rinse with Biotene products because chemo can do ugly things to your mouth. I also use a nice semi-soft toothbrush because you don't want anything that will make your gums bleed or otherwise irritate your mouth.
• Make-up - Extra concealer is needed to cover the circles under my eyes. You tend to pay a little more attention to your makeup when you're trying to draw attention away from other stuff. 
• Hair - It feels like there's fake hair in every room of my house. In reality, there is not but you can't go far without coming across some hair (unless of course it's on my head) or a hat. There ARE hats all around.

Let's move out of the powder room and into the bedroom.

• Lingerie drawer - Bras, there are still bras in the drawer. I'm really not sure why. I was going to have a bra burning, wasn't I? On a couple of occasions I have come across one and said to myself "What is tha....oh yeah, I used to need those...not so much anymore."
• Pill bottles - If I have any pill junkies reading the blog, don't get excited, I have nothing "good". But the bottles are there saying "Don't forget me or you'll be puking!!"
• EOBs- on my desk, I'm building a great wall from the EOBs I receive from the insurance company. They've slowed down a lot but at one point they had to send them in a large flat envelope. You know it's serious when that happens.

Kitchen

• Water, water everywhere!
• Protein drinks & Instant Breakfast
• Treatment calendar on the fridge
• Cancer care team contact information magnet on the fridge

You get the idea. Let me say that NONE of this stuff depresses me. My point is that it can be tough if you let it. Stay positive, remember it's only temporary and focus on your recovery and all of the wonderful things ahead.