Wow, haven't blogged since March!

Yes, I have been busy!

I've been back to work for three weeks now. Playing tennis. And experiencing the kind of energy I must have had before I started treatment. It's true what they say, you never know what you've had until you've lost it. I don't think that I let myself acknowledge just how tired I was when going through treatment. Now that it's done, I feel like a new person!

Taking care to keep up good habits was really important, eating healthy foods, keeping up with exercise even if it was just walking, and having incredible support from David, family and friends!

I found this article in the NYTimes very inspiring! Battling cancer takes all of the strength you have, but in the end, you come out stronger.

Did you know...

...that March is colorectal cancer awareness month? Neither did I. Guess we were all caught up in our St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

With that in mind (no, not weird bearded guys) there is a promising new test for colorectal cancer that is non-invasive and doesn't require any prep work (the worst part of having a colonoscopy). Here is a video about the test.

If the insurance companies decide to cover this, it would encourage a lot more people to get tested and hopefully avoid what I have gone through!

Staying healthy through diet and testing

CNN recently reported a BBC article that showed colon cancer rates are down since the 1980s. Main reason - people are getting tested. Colon cancer has been the number one cause of cancer deaths, and with regular testing, is preventable. So, GO GET YOUR TEST!

WSJ had an interesting article on doctors, chefs and nutritionists teaming up to learn how diet and health can support each other. Of particular interest to me, was the story of New York chef, Seamus Mullen, who has written a cook book called Hero Food. Through diet he was able to reverse the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. In some states, doctors are writing prescriptions for fruits and vegetables that people can get filled at farmers markets. It's a farm to pharma idea.

So, exercise, eat a Mediterranean diet and get your tests done!

From WSJ

Yes, there are stupid questions

Great article in the NYTimes, about a young man who asks what he did to get cancer. When I was first diagnosed, I blamed myself for not getting a colonoscopy sooner (GO GET ONE NOW!). And then I'd see a toddler with a chemo port and wondered if that child blamed herself. In the end, "Why me?" or "What did I do?" are stupid questions for which there may not be answers. As the fellow in this article realizes, don't ask why, move on to the next phase of your life - living.

Good advise

I saw this article on CNN about being blindsided by cancer. I felt there was some good advise, some which I did, some which I did not. I didn't shop around for doctors - when I first met with the team that would be treating me, I was overwhelmed with the scope of treatment and the idea of going through this with additional doctors was beyond my comprehension. Also, since I was at SCCA, the treatment would have been standard across the board.

Since the WHO has recently released a report that the incidence of cancer is becoming a global disaster, we all need to prepare for the idea that cancer will be entering our lives. Here is a link on things you can do to prevent getting cancer. Speaking of which, get your colonoscopy test done! Here is a great graphic from SCCA!

Thoughts

One thing having a life threatening condition can do is to make you think - all sorts of things, good and bad.

I honestly don't think about cancer, per se, my focus was mostly getting through the treatments and maintaining as close to a normal life as I could. I think sometimes I was fooling myself. I had a visit from a friend yesterday who commented on how good I look, that my color is so much better than when I was on chemo. I was kind of surprised, did I really look that different then, than now? I asked David and he confirmed that I did.

Maybe my fooling myself was a good thing, who knows. I recently saw this article in the NYTimes and found it interesting how cancer can put all sorts of thoughts into your head, but there are tools for dismantling the anxiety.

My sister recently sent me the book, A Breast Cancer Alphabet. I've just started to read it but it reinforces the notion that no matter what kind of cancer you get, you join a group of people who understand what you are facing, inside and outside of yourself.

The kindness of my friends

I've received many wishes for my recovery in the forms of emails and cards. I appreciate the thoughts that everyone sends my way for a speedy recovery.

One morning I got a call from friends that there was something on our doorstep. We found a beautiful wooden basket with all sorts of goodies - matzo ball soup, meatloaf and glaze, biscotti and daffodils (I call them Daveydils because David likes them). Fumiko made the best matzo ball soup! The broth was flavorful and the matzo balls light. Actually, everything was fantastic and really appreciated.

Then one day I received a bright bouquet from my USTA tennis team. I miss seeing everyone at our weekly practices and look forward to joining them again in a few weeks.

Unfortunately, this is what the cats do to flowers!

My friend Michelle was smart in bringing me a balloon with the image of a flower on it. The cats didn't eat it, but it became a kitty toy as they jumped for the ribbon and then walked around with the balloon trailing behind them. Everything is a potential toy to kitties!