health
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MRI
The second MRI was completed this afternoon—the one that will tell us whether the chemotherapy worked. What am I hoping for? A pathological complete response, or pCR: the absence of all invasive cancer cells in my tissue samples after neoadjuvant treatment. Achieving pCR indicates a strong response and is a key marker of improved long‑term… Continue reading
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Rebuild
The first phase of cancer treatment is complete: chemotherapy—fifteen weeks of it. Oncologists chose the neoadjuvant route, and now we wait for the scans to show how the cancer responded. Those results will determine the type of surgery and what comes next. I didn’t have much motivation to write during treatment. It felt like I… Continue reading
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Cardiotoxic
“Are you ready for me to give you your shot?” Kyle, my infusion nurse for the week, stood in the doorway of the cramped infusion room where I sat reclined, staring somewhere between the ceiling tiles and my own uncertain future. “Let’s do it,” I said, pushing my reclined chair upright. “I think this one… Continue reading
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The Art Project
“Would you be interested in an art project today?” The woman approached my recliner just as the infusion bag emptied and the final flush began to drip. Her name tag identified her as a volunteer. She carried a clear tote filled with tiny craft supplies: small cotton balls, glitter, ribbon. She held up the finished… Continue reading
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Red Electrical Outlet
“Do you know what the orange electrical outlet stands for?” “I have no idea…though that looks more red than orange, don’t you think?” I replied to my husband as we sat in the doctor’s office waiting on the results of my latest labs. “There’s a red switch too. Let’s find out,” he said, already pulling… Continue reading
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Third Day
Day 3 has been the toughest. I sit here typing, shivering beneath a multicolored yarn blanket my mom knitted many years ago. My husband is in the far corner of the room, laptop open, headphones on…..present, steady, in his own quiet lane. I kept my routine nutrition plan and completed my 45-minute outdoor workout. I… Continue reading
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First Day of Chemotherapy
It was a good day…..better than I expected. We made the 30-minute drive to the cancer center and checked in about three minutes late. Within moments, they had me back for vitals and then guided me to the infusion area. I was assigned a nurse and asked to take a seat in a comfortable recliner.… Continue reading
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Max Heart Rate
If I’m going to put myself through treatment, I might as well make it worthwhile. I decided early on that if my experience can help someone else in the future, then I’ll gladly contribute. So, I volunteered as a test subject, agreeing to follow a prescribed workout regimen throughout treatment and undergo periodic physiological testing… Continue reading
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Echo
Had an echocardiogram today, watched my own heart moving across the screen, sound waves bouncing through my chest to form a real-time portrait of the strongest muscle I have. It felt surreal… hearing the blood flow and the rhythmic opening and closing of valves through heart chambers. December is the month where treatment begins. Dates… Continue reading
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Wigs
The Oncologist told me I’d be losing my hair once treatment starts. It wasn’t something I wanted to hear. My hair has always felt like my life force….my own version of Samson’s strength…..and imagining myself without it felt devastating. But after the initial sting, I did what I’ve been doing with everything lately, I gathered… Continue reading
Journaling was Recommended 