tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59298904791935126032024-03-18T23:05:42.715-04:00Moving Beyond Chemo ChicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-45780128961129510442012-08-22T22:15:00.000-04:002012-08-22T22:17:13.188-04:005 Years Post OpAugust 23rd of 2007 is the date I consistently remember about my cancer journey. I know I was diagnosed in early April. I never would have believed I'd ever forget the exact day, but I have. It was maybe the 4th or 5th. I think Easter was the 7th that year. It was the Thursday before Easter. Maundy Thursday... so I've been told. It was an awful awful Thursday that year in my universe, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-80910452722576528912012-03-28T21:32:00.000-04:002012-03-28T21:32:50.545-04:00April is coming.In early April I will reach my 5 yr Cancer-versary. It seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago. It is both. It's horrifying, amazing, scary, sad, an accomplishment; but it's not my definition.
I'm stronger, smarter, older, more aware, less concerned about the BS, more concerned about things that matter to me. I'm different and the same.
I don't think that reaching this year will give me a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-28583251814901390952011-01-26T17:23:00.000-05:002011-01-26T17:23:25.514-05:00The End.The first month of 2011 has been a little all-over-the-place.
What can any of us say about the holidays, really? If you're at all like me, but about Dec. 26th, part of you is ready for the tree to be down and out. The other part says 'just enjoy sitting by the fire admiring the pretty lights'. Suffice it to say that I enjoy the holidays but they are stressful.
Coming off the holidays is as Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-45237204619380048342010-09-24T14:44:00.000-04:002010-09-24T14:44:27.759-04:00Gentle Yoga Friday I've gone to yoga classes sporadically over the years and the one constant is that I always feel good after yoga. I may feel tired or have some aches in muscle groups that never had to work until yoga class, but it's good pain. The last 2 weeks I have participated in a Friday morning gentle yoga class.
It's only a 30 minute class designed to treat yourself kindly through yoga practice. I,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-27545277244949018362010-07-02T18:05:00.000-04:002010-07-02T18:05:54.626-04:00You Look Healthy.Ladies, you'll understand. I had my annual exam on Thursday. I scheduled it first thing in the morning - not because I can't think of a better way to start my day, but I'd rather just do it and move on. So I go to my appointment leaving my kids at home and frankly, I'm enjoying the time alone in the car on my way. I get there early enough to go get a cuppa joe and it's all good so farUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-6640089768230849602010-06-13T13:00:00.000-04:002010-06-13T13:00:43.640-04:00One of the gifts.
This will be quick. I just find it amazing that 2 Cancer Survivors can view one-anothers' journey as so much harder than the their own. This is the scene: I meet a survivor. I hear their story. I am amazed at what they had to endure. I tell my story. They tell me how they can't believe what I endured. I think 'you had it so much harder than me'. They are thinking that of my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-79733671957008085022010-06-09T12:01:00.001-04:002010-06-09T12:04:40.286-04:00If Every Hospital were Sloan Kettering…We'd all have the very best cancer doctors available.
We'd all know what it means to have options for Follow Up and post treatment services.
We'd all feel like a person, not 'Patient Number x'.
We'd all get email reminders of appointments and after care seminars.
We'd all feel as confident in our treatment as I do.
Why do I love Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center? The number 1 reason isUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-2949323819208389322010-06-03T14:02:00.000-04:002010-06-03T14:02:30.157-04:00Let the pity party … close down.You certainly gain some perspective when you go through cancer. But that doesn't preclude me from the occasional petty reactions to everyday events. Like when my relay team is just 9 people, 4 of them residing under my roof and really without free will on whether or not to participate.
Recently I've had to talk myself down from freaking out over being excluded, cried about a lack of attention Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-36737208124189862802010-01-21T17:26:00.000-05:002010-01-21T17:26:59.189-05:00Dead at 37: breast cancerI don't watch "Survivor" so I have no idea about this Jennifer, but she died at 37 from stage III breast cancer. I could cry reading this but my kids are around and I hate to show them that fear.
I read some jackass comment on facebook today:
"they have a cure for cancer and they are just spending our money". I'm not kidding - that was a real post. I cannot even imagine who would say that Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-85788307134382800472010-01-15T15:03:00.003-05:002010-01-20T17:20:59.111-05:00Reading Cancer PatientsIn my reading lately I find I recognize myself in some posts by cancer patients. I'm prompted to think about my experiences by their words. I read too much for a bit and then shift gears and duck out for a time. Lately I read a lot of Kairol's blog.There are a few recurring thoughts that I consider posting and then stop because I don't want to make anyone 'worry'. But the whole point f the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-54533850634395376092009-11-22T21:48:00.007-05:002009-11-22T22:31:03.703-05:00What do I know?For me there are limits to how much "cancer chatter" I can handle in a given day. Maybe it's cumulative and if I hear, read or think too much about cancer, I hit my threshold and freak out a little. I'm really not sure how the equation works, but this week was tough.The whole Mammogram guideline thing. Ugh, that's about all I can say on that topic. Then there was a story about and NFL wife whoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-85372869906086470732009-09-14T17:56:00.002-04:002009-09-14T18:07:05.599-04:00Hunting SeasonIt's that time of year again when I have a fresh round of doctors appointments checking me out making sure that there's nothing to see. This Friday I see the oncologist where I get to have my blood drawn and all the counts of various particles measured. Fun. I usually get my blood pressure reading of about 100 over 70 on these visits. And then the Mammogram is in October (10-7) the day prior Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-63762267198141933042009-09-08T17:10:00.004-04:002009-09-08T17:52:21.531-04:00Survivors Obligations?I came across this whole presentation that Lance Armstrong did about the obligations of the cured. I watched the "highlight" portion but I cannot dedicate another 55 minutes of time to watch the rest. I've gotten what I needed.So am I really obligated? I feel like I am. Maybe that's another self-preservation thing that one's mind fabricates after traumatic events. Does being here to share my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-2733788909656089802009-07-10T13:15:00.002-04:002009-07-10T13:56:33.473-04:003, 11, 20 & 383. The 3rd anniversary of being cancer free comes on August 23rd. Three years since the surgery at Sloan to remove the remnants of my tumor. I remember it was gone before the surgery but the "lumpectomy" pathology proved that I was clear. Nothing found in my lymph nodes either. I remember that day waiting for the surgery. I remember Dr. Heerdt smiling and happy to tell me that I was CLEAN. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-32253271076490810502009-06-15T10:23:00.002-04:002009-06-15T10:36:24.407-04:00Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.The ostrich has moved on.This past weekend was the ACS Relay For Life in Simsbury where we raised $84k! I was lucky enough to have a team of 20+ walking with me, selling cupcakes, bringing contraband to the field. It was a great day. We had sunshine, the kids were having a blast running around on the field collecting beads for the laps completed. The vibe on the field was amazing.For me the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-45479091999369264842009-05-22T12:10:00.009-04:002009-05-22T13:21:16.525-04:00The Inner OstrichMaybe it was two weeks ago that I "hid" status updates from a Facebook Friend because I needed a break from the Cancer-thon my days had become. Each day I'd click through multiple links, read frightening statistics or of another young diagnosis. I was reading books about survivors, about hope. There were days I cried quietly at the screen while on the Planet Cancer site. At the same time I am Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-69686250915735788982009-05-11T17:28:00.003-04:002009-05-11T17:45:56.598-04:00Detour: Pity Party AheadI got a huge compliment recently that I hadn't let myself be defined by having had cancer. Let me say this: I feel like I bring it up too often, that it's always on my mind and that it is painfully obvious that I had breast cancer. So to read from a friend that I was NOT defined by cancer was great news.With Spring in full gear and Summer following shortly, all I want to do is garden. I want toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-25024892421224808042009-04-27T09:15:00.003-04:002009-04-27T10:05:34.922-04:00Even Cancer is Competitive - WTFBefore I had cancer I would sometimes roll my eyes at all the walks and 3-days and runs to "race for a cure". It seemed a little unlikely to me that these things would "cure" cancer. I'd make contributions. I'd feel guilty if I didn't. I had Breast Cancer License plates and stamps. What else could I do? Weren't there people working on that?Then I was diagnosed. At the oncology office I saw a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-31537924784456832982009-04-09T14:06:00.004-04:002009-04-09T14:32:47.218-04:00Second Cancer-versaryI spent the approach to this 2nd anniversary a ball of nerves. I had an MRI, and appointment with my local oncologist and a visit with my surgeon at Sloan-Kettering. My calendar was full of something other than play-dates for the kids. Not exactly what you dream of, but when you have the energy to think in "silver lining" you tell yourself 'I'll get some confirmation that all is well'. The dayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-42269033860840185662009-01-29T10:49:00.005-05:002009-01-29T18:00:11.152-05:00Remember My Insurance Nightmare?OK. Well, I fully realize that there are WAY bigger nightmares out there. But even for something as minute as a $185 claim, I have spent HOURS upon hours of time and energy trying to navigate my coverage with United Health Care.We had a plan last year that provided NO coverage for "out of network" providers. It's a factor you work around. I did. I jumped through that hoop and drove double theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-12512653234544324162009-01-27T17:09:00.002-05:002009-01-27T17:45:02.681-05:00Mark your Calendars, Girls.Several years ago I wound up scheduling my annual exam with my birthday. At the time, I was in my 20s, and health issues were the farthest thing from my mind so I thought my schedule was me being "weird". I needed to remember to have the check up and it was a way for me to remember. On WebMD I just read an article suggesting we women do EXACTLY that.Here's the deal: many, MANY things are Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-18900422770784063002009-01-10T17:43:00.003-05:002009-01-10T17:48:31.126-05:00Cancer MythologyFor years there has been a buzz about Long Island women and cancer. There was a reported 30% greater incidence of breast cancer on Long Island than the national average. Yikes. So, millions were spent on a study but no environmental factors have been detected. Read on: NY Times article.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-51254378072156105822009-01-05T20:11:00.004-05:002009-01-05T20:36:47.955-05:00oh-nineI have to start by saying that I had a nice holiday. My family was together, my kids are happy, Santa came… and he didn't leave any coal. A success by most accounts. But I was ready for the regular routine to start up again. I felt ready for the New Year and my New Habits to get started.Not one for resolutions because that would require some commitment on my part, I quietly contemplate the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-83595616433034766612008-12-01T18:28:00.002-05:002008-12-01T19:08:21.175-05:00Over a YearThough I never officially made a list of the things for which I am most Thankful, it did cross my mind last week. There are the usual items: family, friends, a safe home… but there was one thing that kept flickering in my thoughts. It has been a year since I completed my cancer treatments. I was supposed to complete the radiation course Thanksgiving week but it was delayed for some reason. I amUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929890479193512603.post-20279689983079574582008-11-19T18:05:00.002-05:002008-11-19T18:23:20.249-05:00How did we live before the internet?Looking quickly at my day I honestly wonder how we got by back on the glorious 1980's. I was in high school, we didn't have cell phones. We didn't have email. We didn't have facebook. What did we do? Well, somehow we thought drinking wine coolers was fun.Just today I used the internet to buy a holiday gift, sell some wares, touch base with friends from those "glory days" and read up on news Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1