I start to feel panicky. I'm sweating. And I have to calm myself again.
cancer journey
Teaching Middle School, Week 3: Not only the weather was unpredictable!
I'm learning that unpredictability is going to be a big part of my life now as a middle school teacher. It's kind of like four years ago when I was going through cancer treatments. One of my big struggles was the unpredictability then, too. How would the side effects manifest during chemo treatment? How would the radiation affect me … Continue reading Teaching Middle School, Week 3: Not only the weather was unpredictable!
An Upcoming “Birth”day: Three Years After Cancer Treatments
April 24th is a kind of birthday for me. It's the day I completed breast cancer treatments. And fittingly, this year's local Relay for Life is on April 25th. So I'm looking at this year's Relay event as a "birthday" celebration of my third year as a cancer-free person. But I'm not only feeling celebration … Continue reading An Upcoming “Birth”day: Three Years After Cancer Treatments
Another anniversary
Just a quick post today to acknowledge the three-year anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis. I was terrified that day three years ago. I numbly went through an MRI and PET scan that week (or the next. It all ran together). And then port surgery and right into chemo for eight weeks. And a lumpectomy … Continue reading Another anniversary
As they say . . . denial ain’t just a river in Egypt!
Now that I'm on Grouchy Day #5, I finally realized that something must be going on in my psyche. Typically my grouchy days come one at a time and last maybe a day and a half - at the most.So what is it that's bugging me??What has me feeling ready to cry at almost anything, … Continue reading As they say . . . denial ain’t just a river in Egypt!
There is NO “waiting”
You'd think I'd have learned this during my cancer journey. There is no "waiting." There is only NOW. "Waiting" takes me out of the NOW. And waiting necessarily needs expectation. Another thing I should have gotten beyond, should have learned to let go of, during my cancer journey. Have no expectations. These last weeks … Continue reading There is NO “waiting”
(Mostly) Good News
Why am I still in a funk? I got the results from my mammogram and ultrasound on Monday, and my surgeon evaluated them yesterday. There is no evidence of cancer. That's good news, right?? You'd think I'd be all happy and celebrating. Even the "mostly" part isn't that much of a glitch. That part is that … Continue reading (Mostly) Good News
The Two Year Mark: In a Funk
I'm in a funk today. I have been all weekend. And I know why. It's because tomorrow I have a mammogram. I'm at the two-year mark after my breast cancer diagnosis, and that means checking to be sure I'm still cancer-free. And that also means anxiety, which is manifesting for me this weekend as a … Continue reading The Two Year Mark: In a Funk
8 Things I Learned from Having Cancer
Today marks one year since I completed treatments for breast cancer. I had my last radiation treatment on April 24, 2012. So today is a day of celebration, as well as a day of reflection about what I’ve learned. Here’s my list of learnings: 1. I’m not as big of a coward as I thought. … Continue reading 8 Things I Learned from Having Cancer
The 18 Month Mark
Yesterday was a day of seroma aspiration followed by mammogram followed by ultrasound. It was 18 months to the day after my breast cancer diagnosis and a check-up to see if everything is okay. And everything IS okay, I'm very happy to say! According to my doctors, the first two years after a cancer diagnosis … Continue reading The 18 Month Mark
eddies and currents 