Cancer Journey Archives • Page 7 of 20 • New Nostalgia

Cancer Health Update – I Get To Live Longer, My Heart Soars & God Kisses

I had my every- six- month check up with Dr. Midathada yesterday, and for the first time since diagnosis, I was able to walk into Nebraska Hematology and Oncology without feeling nauseous. The familiar smell of disinfectant and latex was there, but even that didn’t get to me. Instead, I walked in with just a sense of peace & quiet. A stillness of sorts. Time heals.

It is always so good to feel Dr. Midathada’s reassuring hands checking for lumps and bumps. I trust those hands…they have always been right with what they have felt. I also appreciate her eye contact; gentle, serious & reassuring. And her hug. She always leaves me with a genuine hug that makes me feel so very cared for.

She raves about my blood results and I marvel at normal numbers. I know how very fortunate I am to have normal numbers. No highs or lows, except for my heart that is soaring with gratitude & my bowed head, humbled & amazed by continued good news.

Her hand stops on a familiar spot, the same spot she always pauses on. It is between my port scar and my armpit, a lymph node that hangs around and greets us every time. She looks me square and says, “it still feels soft. It feels benign.” It has been a year since looking at it with ultrasound, so we decide it is time to take another peek.

It is the next day and the ultrasound tech now knows me by name. So does the radiology staff at Saint Elizabeth Hospital. I used to pout about that–“poor me who is there so often that I am known.” Now I just feel gratitude that they take the time to recognize me and care about my story. There is no room for self pity when I continue to get good news. There is no room for self pity when there is so much to be thankful for. There is no room for self pity when you get the privelege to live.

I get to live. My heart soars.

The ultrasound tech finishes and tells me to wait as she goes to get Mr. Radiologist. This is the only time my heart stops soaring and instead skips a beat. I’ve been in this place before, lying in the dark & exposed, heart racing; wondering why she is bringing back the man who knows. Last time that man told me what I already knew, and his words turned my world upside down. Cancer.

He greets me with a smile and a hand shake, and stares at the screen as the tech rolls over my outgoing lymph node. Every time it catches and rolls,it is an uncomfortable feeling. I feel uncomfortable until I hear him speak, telling me it looks totally benign and the tissue around it looks great.

I get to live. My heart once again soars and I feel the first kiss of God for the day. One of many in a day. August 20, 2013 was a day full of God-kisses.

God kiss #1–I don’t have to wait 3 days for results. Doc stood there and told them to me. Results delivered personally.

I drive toward home and decided to get groceries. A farm-fresh produce stand on the corner catches my eye. I decided to stop. I realize I can’t stop smiling and feel silly. I notice how people smile back at me and decide I need to purposefully smile more often. I then see her. A beauty bagging produce, the same one who showed up at my door when I was sick and bald in the middle of treatment with these words, “you don’t know me, but I have been following your story. God urged me to bless you, so here I am and here this is.” She held out a very generous spa gift card, & my tears fell at the perfect timing of that God kiss. She is once again here front of me again and we greet each other. After sweet word exchanges she tells the stand keeper that my produce is on her today.

God kiss #2–Free farm-fresh produce & a reminder in flesh of His faithfulness when I was sick.

Hospital band on a breast cancer patient

I continue on to Trader Joes, where I grocery shop weekly. I am always happy to see my favorite grocery checker; he is tall and slender with grey hair and smiley eyes. He asks about the hospital bracelet I am wearing, and I tell him my good news. He rejoices with me, then tells me that he will be right back. He comes back carrying a bouquet of flowers. Exactly what I would have picked. I wonder if he knew just how much fresh cut flowers make my heart soar.

God kiss #3–An unexpected gift of fresh cut flowers. Stranger-friends rejoicing with me that I get to live.

I arrive back home and I’m greeted by some of my most favorite people in all the world. My lil’ sister and her 2 kids, age 3 & 1. Can this day get any better? Even on the worst days their company would make my heart soar. Ready for God kiss #4?

My nephew is autistic. He is a joy and I am amazed at my sister and her husband and their dedication to helping him. I see the results of their love & answered prayer in so many ways, including my little nephews’ eye contact. He holds may gaze, greets me and smiles at me, responds to his name & shows off his counting skills to me. These are all new things, and I am in awe. Later, after a full day visit, after a walk & playing in the sand and helping me water the garden, it is time for a bath. He does NOT like baths, and was quite upset when it was over. I take my freshly scrubbed nephew out to the swings to find his smile again. It comes back immediately and we count together “1-2-3 WEEEEE!” I sit next to him in the swing, and say “I love you.” He looks at me in the eye and says “I love ooo.”

God kiss #4–Hearing my nephew say new words. The 3 most very special words. “I Love You.”

Yep, my heart soared, higher than I though possible in one day. I shut my eyes and receive the kiss, and vow to live life to the fullest.

Cancer Journey/ DIY/Crafts/ FUN/DIY/ HEALTH/ HOME/ Organizing

DIY Art Bags

Creating is something I have always encouraged in our home, even when my girls were little wee ones. We have always made sure paper and colors are available for them to use whenever they want. As they have gotten older, I have worked hard to make sure they have access to age-appropriate supplies, so that they can create whatever their art brains desire.

We have rolling carts with labeled drawers upstairs where we keep all their craft supplies, and use them a lot, but I also wanted to have basic supplies handy on our main floor that they could just grab and start creating with!

My solution was to make them each their own little school supply art bag. I shopped for these at the beginning of the school year when all the supplies were super cheap. I found the bag at Wal-mart in the craft supply section. All of the bags are black, but I made them distinct with certain supplies that were all the same color (my youngest daughter likes blue so her scissors, pencil sharpener and pencil erasers are all blue.) This is how they tell which bag is theirs.

I keep the bags in a very central location (our dining room) right by the table, not only because they are in view and the girls will use them more if they see them, but also so I can make sure they take good care of their bags and put them away properly. Our table is also where they do their homework so the bags are very handy for that! I am pretty strict about keeping them in the dining room to use at the table. I only allow them in the car for trips that are longer than an hour.

Before, we had supplies on all 3 levels of our home and showing up in places where they didn’t belong! I grew weary of questions like “Mom, where’s my little scissors?” and “Mom, where’s the tape?” Now that they are in one area it has worked so well. They know right where they are, and find them daily, sitting on a shelf waiting for little creative hands to grab and use them!

Update:

I originally wrote this post when my girls were 6, 9 & 10. They are now 10, 12 & 14. Now that they are older, we are down to one bag. I’m all about simplifying, and it was overkill to have 3 bags now that they are older because they are rarely doing art at the same time. If they do, they are old enough to share, and in the car we have ipods that keep them busy so the art bag is easily shared there, too.

Cancer Journey/ Counting Gifts/ FAMILY/ HEALTH/ Love/ Spiritual

PET Scans, Cancer, & Looking At The Insides

I just learned that my dear friend Karen’s PET scan came back clear. Oh how I am rejoicing! Karen blogs over at I Choose Hope and if you don’t know her story, you are missing out.

Karen and I met through this blog while we were both in treatment for cancer. She is a California girl, and came all the way to Nebraska to meet me. Since then our hearts have been bonded, never to let go. I have visited her in Cali and she has been here twice. I have fallen hard for her family and she has done the same with mine.

Girls receiving gifts, lotion and smoothies

{Karen visiting, loving on my girls, and bringing gifts}

Hearing that Karen is NED (no evidence of disease) is some of the best news I have ever received. You see, I worry about her. She had triple negative breast cancer, which is a type of breast cancer that is aggressive and there is not as many treatment options for. Not only that, but it has shown her just how aggressive it can be. We finished treatment about the same time, but, my dear friend ended up having to get double treatment. After reading a post here at New Nostalgia about survivors checking lymph nodes, she reached under her arm and found an almond shaped lump. Her cancer was back already. She went on a little get away with her husband to process this awful news, and ended up getting in a car accident there. She had to learn how to walk again before starting another tough regimen of cancer treatment. She is the strongest woman I know, both inside and out.

{Silliness at a retreat we both attended in the spring}

Black and white photo of two women at a retreat

{She supported me through my first speaking engagement. Her calm presence melted my nerves}

Waiting this last week, holding my breath with her as she prepared to know what was on the inside, reminded me of this post I wrote early in my battle with cancer. I thought I would share it with you again.

So many body images taken

Vulnerable insides exposed

Ultrasound

X-rays

Cat scan

Bone scan

Pet scan

MRI

Images show so many shades of grey,

Sliced shapes of organs..

Tell me they are ok?

Images of this body of mine

Fragile with disease yet so strong

My brain works, fingers move

Digestion. Menstruation.

Walking. Talking. Fine.

But not.

Images show a cluster of cells that don’t belong

Cells that have the ability to meander

To go with the flow and end up where they may.

They multiply and make friends,

Their celebrating clusters destroy my tissues.

So we take images..

We peer into the insides

Looking for the “don’t belong’s”

I lay on display, cold and in dismay,

Enveloped in large, rotating tubes

Small tubes inject a solution

So we can find a solution

Tubes rotate

I lay and pray

For what my 3 girls will learn

At the end of this day.

The same 3 girls

Look at their own body image

So many times I’ve whispered,

“my lovelies, its what’s on the inside that matters“

This is one moment when I wish that were not true.

I peer deeper,
I see Him in whose Image I am made.
I find the solution.

———

Thank you Lord, for keeping my friend safe and NED. Thank you for being close and with us, in control, always bringing hope no matter what our insides are feeling or showing. Thank you for ALWAYS being the solution. Amen.

Get to know my friend Karen

{Website}

{Facebook}

{Pinterest}

Books/ Cancer Journey/ GF, Vegan & Raw/ HEALTH/ Healthy Eating/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Nutritarian – A High Nutrient Way Of Eating

{image inspired by Dr. Joel Furhman’s Food Pyrimad}

I have been on a journey of health since my cancer diagnosis in 2010. I big part of pursing health has been in what I choose to eat. I strongly believe what we choose to put into our bodies can play a big part in our overall health. After much reading and many small changes in my diet, I have embraced Nutritarianism.

What is a Nutritarian?

(source)

A nutritarian is a person who has a preference for foods that are high in micronutrients.

The term “nutritarian” was coined by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. In his book, Eat to Live, he offers this health equation while describing the nutritarian approach to health:

Health = Nutrients/Calories (or H= N/C for short).

In other words: the more nutrients you consume per calorie, the healthier you will be.

Nutrients in the numerator (top part of the equation) include vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Since these are found in small quantities in food, they are considered to be micronutrients. Caloric sources in the denominator include the macronutrients: fat, carbohydrate, and protein. We need to meet our caloric needs without consuming excessive calories.

A high N/C diet is also called “nutrient-dense” or “nutrient-rich.”

In the Standard American Diet (SAD), about 6% of the total caloric intake comes from nutrient-rich foods.

Nutritarians eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, onions, mushrooms, whole grains, beans, and berries, and particularly consume leafy greens, which are the most nutrient-dense foods. A nutritarian strives to consume at least 90% of their diet from these foods.

A nutritarian diet will lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and even such conditions as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Nutritarians do not necessarily exclude animal products. Many nutritarians do choose to be vegan (excluding all animal products). Many vegetarians, however, are not nutritarian, if they frequently consume products containing processed grains, oils, sugars, or salt.

It takes a bit of education to become a nutritarian. One must learn the relative nutrient density of various foods. For instance, many people are surprised to learn that bok choy has more calcium per calorie than whole milk, and even than “2% fat” milk. The same is true for many other leaf greens.

—————-

{Dr. Fuhrman’s Website}

I love the idea of getting “more nutrient bang for caloric buck.” I love thinking about food in terms of nutrients, and it feels good to know I am doing something positibe for my health by simply being mindful of the nutrients my food contains.

I have been eating this way for almost 3 years now. It was a gradual change, but especially over the last 2 years, I have been pretty close to being a vegetarian/vegan. I never knew what to call myself until reading Dr. Fuhrman’s Book– Eat To Live. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Dr. Fuhrman has so much knowledge and his words are easy to read and absorb.

Most of the recipes I now feature at the blog reflect the change in our eating habits. My whole family is now eating this way, which happened slowly and over time. With my kids, it truly was educating them as to why I eat the way I do, and they have slowly adapted the changes themselves. When we are home, we eat Nutritarian. When we go to others homes or out to eat as a family we eat more “normal.” When Todd and I go out on dates, we prefer places that allow us to eat Nutritarian. It it crazy how tastes buds change– we have found that we prefer whole, natural, high-nutrient foods.

Other resources that have highly influenced my way of eating:

Forks Over Knives by Gene Stone
The China Study by T. Colin Campbell
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn
The Engine2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn

So…again…what is a Nutritarian?
~They eat lots of high-nutrient, natural plan foods. Vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts & seeds.
~They eat fewer animal products and choose healthier versions of these foods.
~They eat much less or almost no foods that are empty of nutrients: sugar, sweeteners, white flour, processed foods & greasy fast foods.

———–

Got questions for me regarding the Nutritarian lifestyle? Ask away! It may spur on more posts in this series.

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH

A Health Update + The Importance Of Magnesium

I just realized I made the announcement over at New Nostalgia’s Facebook page, but never wrote an update here on my scan results.

ALL IS NORMAL.

I AM NED. (no evidence of disease)

I can’t tell you how thankful and relieved I feel. Reading the words “there is NED” is such a profound gift to a cancer fighter/survivor. I know so many of you reading this now would give just about anything to hear those words and I want you to know I think about that and you in my heart and thoughts.

I got the brain MRI back first, and it was completely normal.

{scan day}

I then got the call about my CAT Scan and Bone Scan, and the nurse said, “All is normal except…” and then my heart jumped into my throat. Until she continued “…you have a large cyst on your ovary.” I sighed relief, as I already new that. I get them all the time and we check them regularly.

I had been feeling much more normal a day before getting the calls, so I was hopeful it was low potassium causing all these crazy symptoms. You can read more about low potassium and the havoc it can cause on the body, and also ways to get more potassium in your diet —> here.

My blood test results showed my potassium level was going up, and thanks to the awesome world of health blogs I was able to figure out that it was not lack of potassium foods in my diet (I live on them) but lack of MAGNESIUM! I am less faithful with eating foods with lots of magnesium (oat bran, sesame seeds, etc) so this made much more sense. Magnesium is needed to absorb potassium, so this was my solution. When I brought this up to my doctor, she agreed it could very well be that and lets tackle magnesium, too.

I am now being much more purposeful about getting magnesium and I can’t tell you how much better I feel!! My digestion is perfect…PERFECT! My energy levels are up so much and I am getting this house decluttered with my new energy. I am still taking naps, but I think as long as I am on cancer meds that is just something I have to accept as part of my life now, and be thankful that I have a life that allows for naps.

A great way to get magnesium besides food is by taking Epsom salt baths, which are so good and detoxifying. If you have trouble sleeping, take one before bed. I always feel like going to sleep right after an Epsom salt detox bath.

Another great way I just found from Herbs & Oils is a Homemade Magnesium Oil spray. What a cool idea! Magnesium can be absorbed into the skin so this is something I am going to look into. I enjoyed reading the comments on this post. So many have been helped by up-ing this mineral!

{source}

If you suffer from migraines, fibromyalgia, have neck and back pain, low energy, low sex drive, and constipation…you may want to up your potassium foods and make sure you are getting magnesium. It has made the world of difference for me and so many others.

Cancer Journey/ Drinks/ HEALTH/ Healthy Eating/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Health Update, Foods High In Potassium, & Cantaloupe Basil Agua Fresca

Well, I woke up today with my symptoms much worse. I had a doctor appointment at 2, and she drew more blood for more tests & scheduled a brain MRI on Monday. I already had bone scan and CT scan scheduled on Monday, so what’s one more, right?

We are not sure if all these random symptoms are due to low potassium or not. Many of them fit the bill, but they want to make sure we are not missing anything. In the meantime, I am doing my best to make sure I’m ingesting as much potassium containing foods as possible, and supplementing with magnesium as it helps with absorption of potassium.

Potassium is:

is a dietary mineral necessary for balancing the pH of your body and for keeping fluids in balance as well, so it’s important for normal blood pressure regulation (it works in opposition to sodium). Potassium is also needed for normal muscle growth, and for nervous system and brain function. It’s found in many different foods, especially fruits and vegetables, so you may be getting plenty of potassium in your diet right now. If not, here’s a list of foods that contain potassium.

{from About.com}

It has surprised me that in my reading I have found that many people are low in potassium but do not even know it. Both men & women need 4,700 milligrams a day.

Some of the symptoms of low potassium include:

Fatigue

Muscle Twitching

Tingling/Numbness

Muscle Aches

Nausea

Feeling Chilled

Headache

Constipation

Muscle Weakness

Foods high in potassium:

Raisins
Prunes
Apricots
Dates
Strawberries
Bananas
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Citrus fruits
Beets
Greens
Spinach
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Soy and soy foods
Many veggie burgers
Peas
Beans
Turkey
Beef
Salmon
Cod
Hemp Seeds
Chia Seeds
Coconut Water

……………….

Here is a potassium-filled recipe from Bon Appetit that I’m planning on making this weekend, but instead of straining the pulp, I’m going to make a smoothie!

Cantaloupe Basil Agua Fresca

Ingredients

15 cups chopped cantaloupe (about two 3 1/2-pound melons)
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves

Special equipment

Cheesecloth

Preparation

Working in batches, purée cantaloupe in a blender until smooth.
Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl; line sieve with cheesecloth. Strain purée into bowl; gather cheesecloth into a bundle and squeeze any remaining juice into bowl. Repeat process with fresh cheesecloth, straining into a large pitcher (you should have about 5 cups juice).
Add lemon juice, basil, and 2 cups cold water to pitcher. Let steep at room temperature for 1–2 hours. Fill glasses with ice. Divide agua fresca among glasses.

…………………

I will let you know when I get scan results. Love to you all!

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH

Health Update

Hi Ya’ll!

I just had my 6 month checkup yesterday, and initial blood tests came back really good. Iron counts, RBC & WBC counts, B-12 & Calcium are all good.

I have not been feeling well lately, but symptoms seemed random and would come and go. Today I got a call from Oncologist saying my potassium levels are low which would explain some of the bizarre symptoms I am having. Tingling/numbness on left side of my face, stomach problems, fatigue, twitching (eyelid & leg), ringing in ears, heart palpitations and muscle aches. The muscle aches and fatigue have gotten pretty severe, today I woke up in a lot of pain between my shoulder blades and my calf muscles. I keep saying I feel really, really old. Like 90.

It is good to have a reason for all of the things I have been feeling, but Doc is not sure what is causing my low potassium.

If I go one point lower they will admit me to the hospital for a few days and give me IV potassium.

For now I am concentrating on high potassium foods, supplementation & rest. Today was not a good day and I spent most of it in bed with muscle aches. I am not sure how I can eat any healthier…all the high potassium foods listed are main staples of my diet, (bananas, spinach, peaches, potatoes etc.) so that is frustrating.

Doc wants to see if we can get my levels up and if they will stay up. If they continue to misbehave, she will seek out what might be the cause of it. Potassium levels can affect the heart and kidneys and can be quite serious, so they want to stay on top of it.

For now, she wants to do CT scan and bone scan. It has been a full year and she wants to make sure we have our eye an anything that could be happening inside. It will also show a lymph node we have been watching. She does not think there has been change but wants to make sure. It will also give us an update on ovarian cysts and uterine thickening, all side effects of the drug Tamoxifen that I take for cancer protection.

Scans are on Monday.

One more thing if I may…

Doc brought up the new study that was done in January on Tamoxifen. They found that women who stayed on it for 10 years had up to 15 years of protection. Those are some BIG numbers. But honestly, I got pretty teary at the idea of staying on this drug for that long. I have been on it for 2 years and I was counting down the days to 5. Now the time has doubled, and I’m having a hard time with that. I don’t ever feel great on this drug. It is not fun to be on and I’m pretty pouty about it. Humph.

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