Thursday, December 29, 2011

Half crazy

Coming back from Florida, I was exhausted, drained, and fighting a serious case of the winter blahs.  Then, a few weeks ago, after I went running with one of the women from Cancer-to-5K, I decided to join her in signing up for a half marathon in March.  (Thanks Jess for the inspiration! and Colleen for adding to it!)

I emailed the Cancer-to-5K coach and asked him whether he thought I was crazy for doing this.  His response:  yes (I hadn't run more than 4 miles in two years), and no (there's a generous four-hour limit on it, and I can do run/walk intervals).  And more yesses and nos.  I am most certainly half crazy.  But also crazy (in a good way) for the half.  I don't know yet whether I will be able to complete it, but I know that the decision to start training for it was the best decision I have made in a while.  I have found new motivation for exercising, even through cold and windy weather, which in turn is giving me more energy and helping me fight my winter depression.

So, I feel I have gotten a head start on new year's resolutions already.

In medical news, I made it through a week last week without a single medical appointment!  That is definitely progress.  Still many to come early in 2012, routine follow-ups, oncologist, dentist, bone scan (to get a baseline), a colonoscopy in the spring (an every-5-year thing) (ugh), and more physical therapy.  Just as my right shoulder finally started unfreezing and feeling good, my left shoulder decided to become frozen.  I have had a lot of pain in my left shoulder and neck, and am getting physical therapy and massage therapy to help with that.

Looking forward to 2012 as a year to make more positive changes in my life.  While the path is not yet clear, I hope it soon will be.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Benign

That is definitely the word I was hoping to hear from my doctor.  After 17 days of waiting, and an extra hour waiting at the doctor's office, finally learned that my uterine polyps were benign.  No cancerous cells, no pre-cancerous cells.  WHEW!

My horoscope for that day said:
"Once you tend to certain business you'll be able to forget it -- very likely forever.  It's not something that should stay with you."
I certainly hope I can forget this cancer business!!

While I am relieved by this news, I am still sad over losing my Uncle Morris over the Thanksgiving weekend.  In an odd twist, because he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in mid-October, the last 5-6 weeks of his life were spent with friends and family surrounding him, and he went quickly and easily with a heart attack.

It has now been a year since I completed my radiation treatments.  I can't believe how fast this year has gone.

I feel like it is time to make some changes in my life, personally and professionally.  I hope I have the strength and willpower to do so and will spend these last few weeks of 2011 trying to figure out what I want the upcoming year to look like.