Happy Cancerversary 4.0

I began my day at the gym. I have the most awesome trainer who understands my limitations yet still pushes me to improve. I never want to go, but afterwards am so proud that I went.

I spent the afternoon and evening with my daughter and it was amazing. We both love the used book store in downtown Champaign, Jane Addams Bookshop. I found several I couldn’t pass up, including one that my pastor had recommended to me: The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen. We shopped for new jeans for me since I’ve lost more weight and have dropped another size. That sure improved my mood.

We went to Harvest Market to look for my favorite snack these days, Hippeas. They are puffed chick peas and delicious and crunchy but not many points on the diet I follow. They are difficult to find so when I saw how many there were at this new store, I was a little happy.

My birthday present from my daughter was spending the day together and matching tattoos – my first tattoo.

I have always had a high tolerance for pain and 4 years of MBC has only increased that. I could barely feel it. Accessing my port for chemo is much more painful than a tattoo and that happens at least every three weeks. The chair was comfy and my daughter and I had lots of time to visit during the process.

We chose our matching first initials. My daughter had saved up to pay for the whole thing. I love it!

It’s been 4 years since my old life disappeared in an instant. Four years ago I had never heard of metastatic breast cancer and didn’t know that mammograms do not see cancer in people with dense breast tissue. I’ve been through 68 chemo treatments, 3 gamma knife procedures, radiation on my adrenal gland and my shoulder, numerous scans, had my lungs drained of fluid twice, and spent my first times in the hospital for something other than childbirth. I had to quit work. My medical expenses have skyrocketed. Yet…

I have learned to prioritize my time and my relationships. I have a group of friends who have rallied around me. I’ve made so many friends in the MBC world. I’m sorry for the reason we met but I’m so grateful they are part of my life. I don’t sweat the small things anymore. I feel like I have a direct line to talk with God.

I have big plans for Cancerversary 5.0 so let’s “get to the getting” (as my husband would say). 🩷🩵💚