Life Update
This summer flew by. I blinked and it was gone. So hard to believe that September is here and school has started. My goal this summer was to have a nice relaxing summer and show my kids that it can be fun to not be on screens constantly. It was not as relaxing as I imagined it to be. Summer started going back and forth to the baseball field watching my oldest play. That is busy but fun. I love watching my kids do what they enjoy.
When I was a kid, we spent all day outside playing and riding our bikes. I wanted my kids to see that they can have fun without technology. We definitely achieved that goal. We had many trips to the park, lots of walking and bike rides, endless games of kickball and hide and seek. They even got to learn how to play manhunt as well as kick the can. Bonfires and s’mores were a favorite. It was hard to fit all in that we wanted to do because we were quite busy this summer, but I’d say it was one filled with good memories, family time, and laughter.
Having cancer changed me completely as a person. It put into perspective how easily everything can change and that’s why I wanted to spend as much quality time making memories with my kids and family as I could. That’s just what I did.
My cancer update: August was a month full of nerves. I was so anxious all month to get to September so I could get my PET scan and then find out if I needed to plan for future treatments or continue to heal. The day of my scan I was trying to stay positive and said so many prayers. Then I had to wait 3 days to find out the results. Of course I went into my portal the day before my appointment to see if my scan results were in there. They weren’t. The day of my appointment I was anxious and a ball of nerves. I just wanted to find out what was going to happen. I was hoping and praying that my remission status would stay. The doctor came in and handed me my results and then told me that he was very pleased with my scans. My scans showed that the tumor was still scar tissue and the activity level didn’t increase meaning it’s still dormant. So I’m still in remission! I am beyond blessed with these results. He said I won’t need another scan for 6 months and at that time we’ll also discuss when I will be getting my port removed. I could have scheduled a port removal now, but I’m scared that I will need it and then I’ll have to have it put back in. I’d rather keep it as a back up just in case. I do have many appointments still in the next 6 months, but I am feeling more optimistic with the future. I am praying to make it through the next 5 years without a relapse. If I can do that, then I’m a survivor and have less of a chance of it ever coming back. Everyday is full of anxiety because I don’t know what is going to happen. I’m going to stay positive and optimistic about the future and continue going day by day. I’m also going to continue making as many memories as possible for my kids to take with them.
More updates: my hair is continuing to grow thicker and longer. I was told that the growth will slow down now. My oncologist asked if I was going to keep my hair short or let it grow. I’m going to just let it grow. I have really long hair before chemo and plan to see how my hair grows now. TMI but my period hasn’t returned. My doctor says it may or may not. He said it can take 6 months to a year to return. Anywhere between the end of October and the end of April we’ll see. The constant body aches are still here. I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago because I was having a lot of pain in my ankle which would keep me awake at night. X-rays showed no break or fracture. He diagnosed me with a soft tissue injury. Told me to come back if it didn’t improve after soaking it and applying a topical gel to it 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks. That appointment will have to be made because the pain hasn’t improved. I’m also still exhausted constantly. That doesn’t seem to be improving no matter how much sleep I get. Hopefully time will help with that. The aches and exhaustion are side effects that I’ll happily take if it means I don’t ever have to go back to a hospital and do treatments. I would do it all again, but I’d rather not have to think about that.
I am so excited to be in my healing phase and be able to find my new identity. I’m looking forward to future adventures and rediscovering myself. I hope you’ll all continue following along on this crazy journey with me.
