I headed on down to Vista, CA today to see my favorite doctor, Dr. Koka. She's an amazingly important doctor/friend in my life now! She really worked extra hard for me to make sure I got the proper radiation treatment I needed for my particular cancer -- and considering the degree of infiltration I had it had to be a speicalized treatment -- one in which the insurance company balked at allowing this treatment to happen. The insurance company wanted a "generic" procedure which would not have encompassed the areas I needed. Yes, I may have had desquimated skin (3rd degree burn) after my treatment, but I know in my soul the radiation got whatever other cells may have been attempting to implant themselves in my body all over again. Either way, I'm alive and flourishing and doing my best to move forward.
I was happy to travel down there with my youngest daughter, Amy, today. WE always have such great conversations. Love our discussions. Nothing is off limits. WE talk politics, life, jobs, ideas, whatever. It's great. She was very helpful to me to remind me of a few items I wanted to bring up to her. I let her know that I was informed by my regular oncologist that I need to pay close attention to Mexican Yam and Flavanoids -- in my particular case because my cancer was hormone driven, I have to be careful of anything that may encourage any kind of estrogen to be reproduced. I had no idea about Mexican Yam and Flavanoids. But I also have been reading labels even more so than I've ever done before looking specifically now for anything soy, high corn fructose (that's a given) soy lecithin, soybean anything and anything that I can't pronounce. It's proving to be very beneficial for me. I feel so much better, once again, knowing where my food comes from. Down here in So Cal, it can be a challenge, but I go to the local farmers market and support a couple very excellent farmers I've been supporting now for more than a year. Their methods and practices are very much in keeping with the methods of the organic farmers in Humboldt County/Trinity County I've know for 40+ years. I don't mind paying a little more for food I know I can trust. It gives me that peace of mind that was ripped away from me.
Until one goes through major illnesses or any kind of trauma, it's very easy to dismiss. I used to big time. I've always been conscientious, but now it's a different ballgame for me and my familly.
Since my daughter has moved back from Italy with her husband, we have had amazingly simple, slow foods that we know can only benefit our bodies, minds and overall health. I love this. Now, if my weight would fall off, then it would be perfect, right? LOL!!
I now practice yoga and do my walking and any kind of cardio I can. I cannot do weight training any longer due to my lymphatic issues. Can't take the chance of generating friction or inflammation in my tissues. Ha, something new and odd, but it's true. Sucks the big one, if you ask me since I love to do that kind of exercise. The other thing I cannot enjoy any longer -- get this one: No More Full Body Massages!!!!!!!!! I can have massages on my legs and thighs and feet! I will take that one! I will. But the upper body is off limits -- too much stimulation of tissues and cannot take the chance of inflammation developing. This is one of those moments one can envision themselves standing at the edge of a cliff screaming into the great abyss! Can you hear me roar? I've known about this for weeks now, but have not written it down. On my left arm I have lymphatic issues -- not bad because I've been doing preventative treatments; on my right side, I have veinous issues from when I had my superficial clots in my arm when I had my port placement and first chemo injected by that bad, bad, bad chemo: adrymyacine (spelling is probably wrong and I'm too lazy to look it up right now.) It's bad because of the side effects. It's good because of what it does in erradicating Cancer -- but it's mean either way.
Getting back to my doctor's visit. I will have another PET Scan taken in the middle of September to keep a close eye on my progress. I feel ok about this one finally. Maybe I'm finally looking at this procedure as a great baseline of clarity of making sure nothing is suddenly showing back up. I would be lying to myself and to others if I didn't admit that it brings in anxiety when I have to do these tests. But considering what I've been through I can't help it. Yes, I'm doing great; yes, I'm living my life; yes, I'm moving forward; yes, my life is getting back to a sense of normal -- but the fact remains the same: I have to live my life a little differently now. All has changed -- more than I will ever write about. Some subjects are off limits especially through this type of media. Suffice it to say, I'm so grateful. I'm not one to always be thinking about me, me, me, but I've had to give myself permission to focus moreso on my situation. I have to if I want to live a healthy life the rest of my life -- whatever that means in time............I know I'm truly blessed. I know I have been spared. I think of those who have not so I must honor their spirits in the fight to make the best of my life -- whatever that may be.
In my case right now, I love, love, love my knitting/crocheting projects. It keeps me focused and it's helping my brain so much to get my memory back. It's helping big time. (post chemo stuff) It also means my new friends having to tolerate my weird sense of humor and temperment. God bless them so much! They are so wonderful with me and I can't thank them enough. My Old friends who love me no matter what! Thank you! And especially my FAMILY -- they are my rock stars! I can't express the profound love and gratefulness I have for all of them. So how can I not succeed? I'm truly blesssed and I haven't written it enough. I do tell them -- but I think they are sick of hearing it! LOL!! I don't care -- I just love them so much, but I do love all my friends so much!
My strength is still growing and I can't believe that it still does. When I feel strong -- I feel normal which gives me that strength -- so it's this circle that perpetuates itself. So cool. My inner strength is unyielding -- I have my faith, I have my spiritualness stronger than ever -- now if I can only master a couple more things such as not getting wigged out when I go to the doctor, then life will be almost perfect. LOL! Oh, silly me. Justs tells me that I'm human. Never a dull moment in my world.
My Cup's Half Full and doing well. Thank you for caring. Thank you for embracing my words.
Ciao, Ciao!
I was happy to travel down there with my youngest daughter, Amy, today. WE always have such great conversations. Love our discussions. Nothing is off limits. WE talk politics, life, jobs, ideas, whatever. It's great. She was very helpful to me to remind me of a few items I wanted to bring up to her. I let her know that I was informed by my regular oncologist that I need to pay close attention to Mexican Yam and Flavanoids -- in my particular case because my cancer was hormone driven, I have to be careful of anything that may encourage any kind of estrogen to be reproduced. I had no idea about Mexican Yam and Flavanoids. But I also have been reading labels even more so than I've ever done before looking specifically now for anything soy, high corn fructose (that's a given) soy lecithin, soybean anything and anything that I can't pronounce. It's proving to be very beneficial for me. I feel so much better, once again, knowing where my food comes from. Down here in So Cal, it can be a challenge, but I go to the local farmers market and support a couple very excellent farmers I've been supporting now for more than a year. Their methods and practices are very much in keeping with the methods of the organic farmers in Humboldt County/Trinity County I've know for 40+ years. I don't mind paying a little more for food I know I can trust. It gives me that peace of mind that was ripped away from me.
Until one goes through major illnesses or any kind of trauma, it's very easy to dismiss. I used to big time. I've always been conscientious, but now it's a different ballgame for me and my familly.
Since my daughter has moved back from Italy with her husband, we have had amazingly simple, slow foods that we know can only benefit our bodies, minds and overall health. I love this. Now, if my weight would fall off, then it would be perfect, right? LOL!!
I now practice yoga and do my walking and any kind of cardio I can. I cannot do weight training any longer due to my lymphatic issues. Can't take the chance of generating friction or inflammation in my tissues. Ha, something new and odd, but it's true. Sucks the big one, if you ask me since I love to do that kind of exercise. The other thing I cannot enjoy any longer -- get this one: No More Full Body Massages!!!!!!!!! I can have massages on my legs and thighs and feet! I will take that one! I will. But the upper body is off limits -- too much stimulation of tissues and cannot take the chance of inflammation developing. This is one of those moments one can envision themselves standing at the edge of a cliff screaming into the great abyss! Can you hear me roar? I've known about this for weeks now, but have not written it down. On my left arm I have lymphatic issues -- not bad because I've been doing preventative treatments; on my right side, I have veinous issues from when I had my superficial clots in my arm when I had my port placement and first chemo injected by that bad, bad, bad chemo: adrymyacine (spelling is probably wrong and I'm too lazy to look it up right now.) It's bad because of the side effects. It's good because of what it does in erradicating Cancer -- but it's mean either way.
Getting back to my doctor's visit. I will have another PET Scan taken in the middle of September to keep a close eye on my progress. I feel ok about this one finally. Maybe I'm finally looking at this procedure as a great baseline of clarity of making sure nothing is suddenly showing back up. I would be lying to myself and to others if I didn't admit that it brings in anxiety when I have to do these tests. But considering what I've been through I can't help it. Yes, I'm doing great; yes, I'm living my life; yes, I'm moving forward; yes, my life is getting back to a sense of normal -- but the fact remains the same: I have to live my life a little differently now. All has changed -- more than I will ever write about. Some subjects are off limits especially through this type of media. Suffice it to say, I'm so grateful. I'm not one to always be thinking about me, me, me, but I've had to give myself permission to focus moreso on my situation. I have to if I want to live a healthy life the rest of my life -- whatever that means in time............I know I'm truly blessed. I know I have been spared. I think of those who have not so I must honor their spirits in the fight to make the best of my life -- whatever that may be.
In my case right now, I love, love, love my knitting/crocheting projects. It keeps me focused and it's helping my brain so much to get my memory back. It's helping big time. (post chemo stuff) It also means my new friends having to tolerate my weird sense of humor and temperment. God bless them so much! They are so wonderful with me and I can't thank them enough. My Old friends who love me no matter what! Thank you! And especially my FAMILY -- they are my rock stars! I can't express the profound love and gratefulness I have for all of them. So how can I not succeed? I'm truly blesssed and I haven't written it enough. I do tell them -- but I think they are sick of hearing it! LOL!! I don't care -- I just love them so much, but I do love all my friends so much!
My strength is still growing and I can't believe that it still does. When I feel strong -- I feel normal which gives me that strength -- so it's this circle that perpetuates itself. So cool. My inner strength is unyielding -- I have my faith, I have my spiritualness stronger than ever -- now if I can only master a couple more things such as not getting wigged out when I go to the doctor, then life will be almost perfect. LOL! Oh, silly me. Justs tells me that I'm human. Never a dull moment in my world.
My Cup's Half Full and doing well. Thank you for caring. Thank you for embracing my words.
Ciao, Ciao!
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