Looking Forward

It feel like ages since I've been on this blog - had my 5th treatment, and am just a week away now from the last one. I'm now at another level emotionally - I can now see my life beyond this phase and am reading books that talk about life with and beyond cancer, and getting ideas for a more healthy lifestyle for the whole family, including diet, exercise, and lowering stress. I remember how towards the beginning of treatment, I couldn't read about other people's experiences with cancer - I felt too helpless with the news myself and it just made me more scared and uneasy. Now I feel so much more able to face my fears, knowing that I will be able to find the strength and grace to deal with whatever comes, with God's help, and the support from everyone around me. This has come to me just in the last couple weeks - you need to hit bottom sometimes, which I sorta did emotionally after the 4th treatment. So thankful to be beyond that, but I am sure it will continue to be something I will have to deal with as I live with the uncertainty of life as a cancer survivor.

I went for my first 6-month mammogram yesterday, and the radiologist said that it looks good. We were very pleased to hear that though it's the MRI really that will show any changes in the abnormalities they saw last time. The MRI's next month, and a follow-up with the breast surgeon will be a week or two later. I've also scheduled my radiation (June 2 to July 14 or so) to be at 10am, so now I can start planning for what camps to have the kids go to for the weeks they are out of school, and I will have this treatment (about 3 weeks). Tomorrow I have an ultrasound to check what showed up on the CT scan in Jan, and they feel are fibroids... I pray that goes well also.

Otherwise I feel great - in the mornings, that is. I did a mile walk at the gym this morning, and think that I will do that more regularly instead of my evening walks that I have been trying to do 3-4 times a week. I am out of energy around noon and though I can regain some by lying down or just resting, I think it will be better to do it early and not think about it all day.

Been listening to some good audio books from Kemi and Aunty Marilyn, and getting better at Sudoku. Also finding out more about activities at the church - so far, the people have been quite welcoming.

I thank God for a New Day!!