8 years

 8 years.  A lot has happened in 8 years. But this is 8 years from my cancer and treatment. It has been a long road to recovery but I am here. I have passed a lot of milestones that the cancer world sets and I can say I am a survivor. 5 year milestone- which I was told that most cancer returns within 5 years of treatment. Every year is a milestone to be cancer free.

Next phase for me is weaning down my tamoxifen medication. I am so excited about this. I am so ready to come off this medication.  Maybe my hair will grow back (and stop thinning), and hopefully I will be able to lose weight easier. Not looking forward to my leg hair to start growing, but I will be ok with that!

This medication is just a reminder of what I have been through and so glad to start putting it behind me. Let me say, I never want to forget about my experience, because I learned a lot about myself and how strong I am. You see, during trials like this, you learn to have more confidence (you lose all your hair and have to go out in the public bald), work through feeling sick (chemo makes you sick and have nausea all the time), manage pain and stress (having a port is not fun, they have to access it everytime and it doesn't feel good!)

With every trial we face, we learn something new about ourselves. It may be how to learn to be stronger or to reflect on how we reacted and how to learn to do it different the next time.

One of my Mission team mates is facing a battle of her own. She has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her battle is different than what I had, but the battle is still with cancer and the battle of the mind. But she is strong. I ask for you to pray for her healing and strength through this battle. Stay positive my friend, you can get through this.

"I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Love to all,

Anniversaries

Anniversaries can either bring good memories or bring some memories that you want to forget.  Yesterday, on my facebook memories, was the picture of me getting my graduation certificate for finishing my chemo treatments. This was 7/23/2013.  Feels like a lifetime ago.  I don't want to forget. Why? you ask? because I don't ever want to go back through that again. I want to remember so I will continue to stay healthy, eat right and exercise. It is a drag and I have to be honest, (whisper) I haven't exercised this week at all. But that is ok. I just need to get back on the right track from this break I took. 

Stop focusing on the mirror, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! Treatments will cause you to gain weight, that will go away. I know when I look in the mirror I think, "who is that person!" Love who you are. 

I will sometimes get in the negative thoughts and it is so easy to get caught up in them. They will bring you far away from your goals. Stay positive, keep positive notes on your mirror, on your desk, in your car, anywhere you need to see and hear them. I have them in my office and on my phone lock screen.

If you are going through treatment right now, there is an end. You can make it. You will get your "diploma" for finishing your chemo or get the honor to ring the bell when you finish your radiation treatments.  Some do not make it this far to finish and their bodies are overtaken with the disease. So take joy in your progress and in your victories!

Psalm 60:12;"with God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."

Love to all,

A second blog!

I am starting a second blog. This is for those that have thought about going on mission trips and want to know what to expect. I will tell you stories and about my experiences of going to Honduras throughout all my trips. I will start from day one, 2011!

Go to my blog One Mission at a time at https://onemission4him.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Bendiciones (blessings)

Kicked in the gut

So have you ever experienced this? I am about to tell you a story that I bet you can relate to in one way or another.

I go get my physical checkup,  labs drawn, questions answered (both ways).

I get my results and my doctor wants to recheck some of it. My liver enzymes are elevated some, (must be the great wine! Thank you Hubers).

So I go back a month later, get it rechecked, and he calls me with my results...... they are still elevated. The problem with having a cancer diagnosis hanging over you is that you can never get away from it. They are elevated from my medication that I have to take because 1. for cancer, and 2. because the aromatase therapy that I was on decreased my bone density so much I had to come off of that and go back on tamoxifen.

Can I say that this sucks! OH,  it gets even better.

So the way to decrease my liver enzymes and improve fatty liver, my doctor told me to do more exercise and lose weight! WTH! (sorry, but this pisses me off). I know I have gained weight since cancer 8 years ago, and I have been exercising, trying all the diets and programs with no luck, but really! Lets have a little heart and give me the blow a little easier. I am on Noom now and have lost some weight since my check up, but did he ask me about that? NOOOOOO.

Ok my rant is over. But the struggle is real as you may know. You don't have to have a health issue to know if the struggle is real on weight loss and being healthy. But I have to tell you, KEEP A POSITIVE MIND AND SPIRIT. Don't let anyone tear you down with their words. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. The only person you have to impress is yourself. 

I keep pressing on, each day. I push myself because I know that I WILL reach my first small goal of losing 15 pounds and I am close. It just takes me a little longer. And I feel better and more confident of what I accomplish.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Love to all,

11Six

Romans 1:16,"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

It's possible to give without love, but IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE AND NOT GIVE.

Love to all,