(In honor of being 11 years cancer-free, I’m sharing part of my journey so that others may be educated, encouraged, and possibly entertained. The following journal entry has been slightly modified from its 2008 creation.) I’ve been reading health and nutrition books since I was 14 and following all the…
Part 2 – A Look Back at my Cancer Journey – Diagnosis, Tests and Staging
(Note: I just realized that the calendar days from 2006 are the same as in 2011. April 10th was a Monday and Easter was on the 16th in both years. Weird. According to my old day-timer scheduler, I hiked the Manitou Incline Monday, April 10th before going to work and then meeting…
Part 3 – A Look Back at my Cancer Journey – PET Scans and Ports
(Note: The following are three excerpts from family email updates 11 years ago.) Thursday, April 20, 2006 Tootie the Toomah must die! Rather than conduct a family participation contest to “Name the tumor,” I went with the first one that came to my mind – Tootie. Sorry, no prizes. Much…
Part 4 – A Look Back at my Cancer Journey – MAYDAY!
(Modified from a journal entry/family update email dated May 1, 2006. It may have been a day to celebrate Spring and May baskets, but for me it was “Mayday! Mayday!” — my own personal distress day.) Putting chemotherapy drugs in the human body is like spraying pesticide on a garden.…
Part 5 – A Look Back on my Cancer Journey – Hello side effects!
(Adapted from journal entries/family email updates from May 2-7, 2006) I now have several radiation treatments under my belt — or more accurately, below my belt. It is a daily appointment and painless except for the exposure issue. I have to drop my scrub pants and lie uncovered on the table…
Part 6 – A Look Back on my Cancer Journey – Flights, Hikes, and Hair Loss.
(Adapted from journal entries and family email updates from May 13 – 18, 2006. I flew to Boise to drive back to Colorado with our daughter, Tess, who had just finished her Freshman year.) Saturday, May 13, 2006 Hello again. Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. Hope…
Part 7 – A Look Back at my Cancer Journey – Blood work, balding and other business
(Adapted from journal entries and an article written 11 years ago – May 2006. I never thought I’d be shopping for hair one day, and it’s the weirdest experience to pull handfuls of hair out of your head without feeling a thing. The good news is that I’m halfway through…
Part 8 – A Look Back on my Cancer Journey – “Poster Child” attends Picnic for Survivors
(Adapted from family updates, journal entries and notes from 11 years ago, May/June 2006.) Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Tootie’s Last Stand Hey family. I can tell it’s time for an update when the email questions start flowing in. Thank you for your timely concern and prayers this week. Today’s visit…
Part 9 – A Look Back on my Cancer Journey – Bonding over Blush, a Burned Bum, & a Scheduled Cry
(Adapted from family emails and journal entries 11 years ago.) Monday, June 5, 2006 I’ve seen posters around the Cancer Center advertising an upcoming seminar and I hear they give away some nice products. Look Good…Feel Better is a free makeup and skin care class available to women with cancer. The premise…
Part 10 – A Look Back on my Cancer Journey – Getting my Wings
(Adapted from family updates and journal notes 11 years ago.) Tuesday, June 13, 2006 No more chemo or radiation! Hopefully, no more Tootie. Yes, I’m done with treatment; no I don’t feel much better in the treatment area. My mouth sores are gone and I enjoyed a glass of…