Monday was my 27th month appointment for the PRESENT trial. This was an easy one. All they asked for was 6 tubes of blood and some urine.
In these five tubes they checked my cholesterol, triglycerides and normal basic metabolic profile. My labs came back normal and my triglycerides had improved. I found that surprising because I hadn't fasted for the test and ate mostly ice cream the day before (It was 90+ and humid, I don't cope well). So that is all good.
However, I am tired. Really tired. And I know that part of it from scheduling myself down to the second for the past 6 weeks. But, there is another large part of it.
My hormones are likely going awry.
According to the HOW study (Health of Woman) #2 Problems with Sleeping occurs in 49% of all breast cancer survivors. This is a far increase from 34% of all woman who overall list sleeping problems. Here is what happens for me. I have no problem falling asleep, but I cannot stay asleep. Last night for example I fell asleep at 8:45 pm. I then woke up at 10:15 pm. Then slept until 3:15 am. Then woke up every 10-15 minutes until my alarm went off and I went for a run. Or sometimes I will sleep until 2 or 3 in the morning and be awake for a couple of hours.
My room needs to be cool in order to sleep. I have to be able to have at least a sheet on or I will not be going to sleep. I use my sleep timer on the television like it's my job. It's quite handy to not have the tv wake me back up and I keep running. I try to run at least 4x a week, but lately its been more like 3 times a week.
And I've been reading up on some tips for menopausal symptoms. I found this article from Dr. Susan Love Research foundation that confirmed I need to keep my AC cranking.
On Monday, I dragged my ass into my appointment. The research RN asked me how I was feeling. I told her tired. She asked me about hot flashes and I told her thankfully still none. She asked me about when my thyroid was last checked. I told her April and it was normal. Then my Oncology NP came in. Her and I are quite friendly and she asked me how tired I was. She said that she noticed that I have been a lot more tired lately. She knows that I am frustrated with how slow I've been running (she and I had a brief chat after the Lahey 5K) and she asked me how I was sleeping.
Me: "Not well"
NP: "Trouble falling asleep?"
Me: "No, staying asleep"
NP: "Should we start melatonin or anything else?"
Me: "I don't want to."
NP: "Ok, but I'm going to be checking in on you"
And then she added the thyroid onto my labs. And called me an hour later to let me know it was normal.
For now, I'll make liberal use of my AC and TV. And hopefully catch a nap or two,or three.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Too much fun, too little reading
Sometimes in the Summer I like to do nothing, and sometimes I like to have myself so scheduled that I have no plans only one night of the week. I've been doing the latter and having a blast. However, this has put me way far behind on my breast cancer reading. Even though I'm long out of school, I still feel like I have required summer reading. Thanks to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation facebook page they've been keeping me updated on all the goings on in the breast cancer world. It also has demonstrated how far behind I'm getting in my reading.
Let's catch up a little.
Age of menarche may effect if breast cancer is ER positive or negative
African-American woman have a higher rate of ER negative breast cancer. This study looked at the probability of younger age of menarche and an increased rate of ER negative breast cancer. It found that it is probable that earlier age of menarche (as seen more in African American woman) can lead a woman to have ER negative breast cancer. I think this study is fascinating because it shows that the path to developing breast cancer might start when your younger. You can read the article recapping the study here.
How do we identify chemicals that can lead to breast cancer
This study looked at what methods are used to identify synthetic chemicals that could potentially lead to breast cancer. The researchers identified that a chemicals ability to damage genetic information as well as its ability to be an endocrine disruptor, were both categories that a chemical needed to be tested for. The researchers found that there were not many tests in order to identify the chemical's genotoxicity or endocrine disruptor function. The study also found that for existing methods there was not great data to back up those tests. This study concluded that better methods/tests are needed and identified places where the gaps were needed. Methods in which testing is done is important because we cannot identify causes of breast cancer if we cannot do consistent, well defined tests. A review of the study can be found here. Being able to identify genotoxic and endocrine disruptors likely has implications beyond breast cancer is well.
Just in case you needed yet another reason not to smoke...
For premenopausal woman, smoking increased your risk from dying from dying from breast cancer by a 3.4. And it was even more significant for ER/PR + cancer (like mine). Just another reason not to light up, among the hundred of thousands.
More reasons to just keep moving
Women who sit for work and also in their spare time, have hobbies that are sedentary, are 2.4 times more likely to develop breast cancer. This study followed woman over 25 years. I couldn't find the actual article but a summary can be found here. Which for me, this raises more questions about the causation of my own breast cancer, because I am hardly sedentary and a life long non-smoker. But, it is good motivation to just keep running.
Sleep quality effects long term survival in breast cancer patients
If you don't snore and sleep more than 6 hours a night your going to do better in the long run than those who snore and sleep less. Breast cancer survivors report sleep disturbances as one of the top items that effect their quality of life. It's recommended that if people are having sleep issues that they be investigated by specialists to identify the causes. Lately, I've been able to identify why my sleep has been lacking. It's called fun. But, truth be told even with all the fun the least amount I sleep at night is 6 hours. I usually aim for at least 8 and have been known to go to bed before 8 pm when I'm very tired.
Well at least that answers the pertinent question the Barenaked Ladies raised; it turns out cancer survivors need sleep.
Let's catch up a little.
Age of menarche may effect if breast cancer is ER positive or negative
African-American woman have a higher rate of ER negative breast cancer. This study looked at the probability of younger age of menarche and an increased rate of ER negative breast cancer. It found that it is probable that earlier age of menarche (as seen more in African American woman) can lead a woman to have ER negative breast cancer. I think this study is fascinating because it shows that the path to developing breast cancer might start when your younger. You can read the article recapping the study here.
How do we identify chemicals that can lead to breast cancer
This study looked at what methods are used to identify synthetic chemicals that could potentially lead to breast cancer. The researchers identified that a chemicals ability to damage genetic information as well as its ability to be an endocrine disruptor, were both categories that a chemical needed to be tested for. The researchers found that there were not many tests in order to identify the chemical's genotoxicity or endocrine disruptor function. The study also found that for existing methods there was not great data to back up those tests. This study concluded that better methods/tests are needed and identified places where the gaps were needed. Methods in which testing is done is important because we cannot identify causes of breast cancer if we cannot do consistent, well defined tests. A review of the study can be found here. Being able to identify genotoxic and endocrine disruptors likely has implications beyond breast cancer is well.
Just in case you needed yet another reason not to smoke...
For premenopausal woman, smoking increased your risk from dying from dying from breast cancer by a 3.4. And it was even more significant for ER/PR + cancer (like mine). Just another reason not to light up, among the hundred of thousands.
More reasons to just keep moving
Women who sit for work and also in their spare time, have hobbies that are sedentary, are 2.4 times more likely to develop breast cancer. This study followed woman over 25 years. I couldn't find the actual article but a summary can be found here. Which for me, this raises more questions about the causation of my own breast cancer, because I am hardly sedentary and a life long non-smoker. But, it is good motivation to just keep running.
Sleep quality effects long term survival in breast cancer patients
If you don't snore and sleep more than 6 hours a night your going to do better in the long run than those who snore and sleep less. Breast cancer survivors report sleep disturbances as one of the top items that effect their quality of life. It's recommended that if people are having sleep issues that they be investigated by specialists to identify the causes. Lately, I've been able to identify why my sleep has been lacking. It's called fun. But, truth be told even with all the fun the least amount I sleep at night is 6 hours. I usually aim for at least 8 and have been known to go to bed before 8 pm when I'm very tired.
Well at least that answers the pertinent question the Barenaked Ladies raised; it turns out cancer survivors need sleep.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Lahey Health 5K 2015
Yesterday wrapped up one of the craziest weeks I had scheduled for the summer. It involved attending the New Kids on the Block concert with my best friends from the 3rd/6th grade, a surprise baby shower, hosting a wedding shower for my running buddy and the culmination of months of fundraising and bake sale-ing at the Lahey Health 5K.
This is always one of my favorite events every year. It raises money for the Lahey Health Cancer Center's and as a survivor out of the Lahey Cancer Center it's always an important date on the schedule. I've been running the race since 2012. Actually, I won the race in 2012, having just noticed that my sports bras were starting to fit funny. 2 months later I learned how much I would need the Lahey Cancer Center.
After I was officially declared NED in 2013 my colleagues and I decided that would be our team name for the Lahey Health 5K. Every year our major fundraiser is a bake sale at the hospital. Dietitian's love to bake, and as a department we really go all out. Here is our table from this year:
The philanthropy office gave us a banner to make our table more "legit". Well, to say people were generous or that our baked goods were delicious would be an understatement. We raised $1,302 from the bake sale. That's a lot of dough (terrible pun, I'm not sorry). However, my favorite donation of the day came from a gentleman with a cane who handed me all the cash he had in his pocket, $4. He apologized for such a small donation, but felt compelled to hand over his cash as his mother had passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 and he knew how important the cancer center was. I smiled at him and shared with him that I was a survivor out of the center. He looked at me and burst into tears and thanked me for sharing that with him. I smiled, myself in tears at this point, and thanked him for his donation. I honestly didn't care if we raised any more money after that. There were many other folks who came to the table and didn't buy anything, but just gave donations. Many of them come, who I don't know their names, but recognize their faces, and they know I was once the bald dietitian, ask me how I'm doing and give a donation. How can you have a bad day with baked goods and generosity on display? So very grateful for all who stopped by the table that day.
Team NED is a compilation of people. Some of my colleagues and some of my friends. We decided to get T-shirts made this year. Grey and pink (I can't help myself) with Team NED down the front and No Evidence of Disease on the back. I ordered them through CustomInk.com and really can't say enough about their customer service. They noted that our t-shirts were for a charity event and even made a donation. It was really fun to match everyone who was running and walking this year. Saturday morning we laced up our sneakers and headed out to Burlington High School for the race at 8 am.
Well, actually, my day started much earlier than that, at 4:30 am to be exact. See I was hosting a bridal shower in the afternoon and there were cupcakes that needed frosting and crostini that needed toasting. My first round of buttercream failed, but the second batch came together nicely. I had a couple of handfulls of cereal and a fairly good amount of buttercream frosting when I got picked up to go race. In fact, I smelled like buttercream and still had some on my face when my running buddy (and bride for the shower later in the day) picked me up. When her and I headed to the line I looked at her and said, "Something pretty terrible in my GI system is about to happen". She smiled and headed to the front of the pack as she was going for the win. I hung back for the second wave of people as my legs have been heavy, filled with lactic acid and have hurt constantly while running consistently for the last 6 weeks.. And its been getting worse. I haven't been able to run faster than 9 min miles during my training runs. I thought by hanging back I would go out at a more reasonable pace. Boy was I wrong.
When the second wave was let go, I took off. My running competitiveness got the best of me and although my legs were burning just standing on the line my first mile was 7:40 minutes. Now, in years passed I would have been mad about how slow that was. This year I was mad that I went out so fast. I had just passed my oncologist out on the road, who said to me "I've been waiting for you to go past!". I told the other dietitian who was running with me to go on ahead. Once he was out of view, I vomited a small amount of buttercream and kept running. I then passed through the second mile at 7:51 minutes. There was a lot more trouble to come. I vomited some more buttercream, I walked the giant hill and then I sprinted into the finish. It is officially the slowest 5K I have ever run by 3 minutes. My legs hurt so much the entire time and I am frustrated that I am running slower now than when I was just 3.5 months of treatment. But, Team NED did produce the Lahey 5K Champion and it was great day to see everyone out there. And....I was able to pick up my third survivor shirt. They were pink this year!
After drinking some water and taking some team photos, I put my survivor shirt on. It's fun to give fellow survivors the nod and the woman volunteering in the snack tent had her pink shirt on and a layer of peach fuzz for hair. She asked if I wanted to pat her head, which I did. She looked at me and said "Look how straight your hair is now!" I laughed and we chatted about her upcoming Chemo perm and how my hair is slightly darker now than it was, but 2 years later the texture is exactly how it was prior to chemo. This made her smile and we went our separate ways.
Overall, team NED raised over $2,000 for the Lahey Health Cancer Centers, produced a race champion, and taught me what I already knew; buttercream frosting is a terrible pre-race meal. Overall, and this might just be the concert I went to earlier in the week talking, but I'd say Team NED has the right stuff. Thank you for all who donated, cheered and purchase baked goods. I'm grateful for you all!
This is always one of my favorite events every year. It raises money for the Lahey Health Cancer Center's and as a survivor out of the Lahey Cancer Center it's always an important date on the schedule. I've been running the race since 2012. Actually, I won the race in 2012, having just noticed that my sports bras were starting to fit funny. 2 months later I learned how much I would need the Lahey Cancer Center.
After I was officially declared NED in 2013 my colleagues and I decided that would be our team name for the Lahey Health 5K. Every year our major fundraiser is a bake sale at the hospital. Dietitian's love to bake, and as a department we really go all out. Here is our table from this year:
Team NED is a compilation of people. Some of my colleagues and some of my friends. We decided to get T-shirts made this year. Grey and pink (I can't help myself) with Team NED down the front and No Evidence of Disease on the back. I ordered them through CustomInk.com and really can't say enough about their customer service. They noted that our t-shirts were for a charity event and even made a donation. It was really fun to match everyone who was running and walking this year. Saturday morning we laced up our sneakers and headed out to Burlington High School for the race at 8 am.
Well, actually, my day started much earlier than that, at 4:30 am to be exact. See I was hosting a bridal shower in the afternoon and there were cupcakes that needed frosting and crostini that needed toasting. My first round of buttercream failed, but the second batch came together nicely. I had a couple of handfulls of cereal and a fairly good amount of buttercream frosting when I got picked up to go race. In fact, I smelled like buttercream and still had some on my face when my running buddy (and bride for the shower later in the day) picked me up. When her and I headed to the line I looked at her and said, "Something pretty terrible in my GI system is about to happen". She smiled and headed to the front of the pack as she was going for the win. I hung back for the second wave of people as my legs have been heavy, filled with lactic acid and have hurt constantly while running consistently for the last 6 weeks.. And its been getting worse. I haven't been able to run faster than 9 min miles during my training runs. I thought by hanging back I would go out at a more reasonable pace. Boy was I wrong.
When the second wave was let go, I took off. My running competitiveness got the best of me and although my legs were burning just standing on the line my first mile was 7:40 minutes. Now, in years passed I would have been mad about how slow that was. This year I was mad that I went out so fast. I had just passed my oncologist out on the road, who said to me "I've been waiting for you to go past!". I told the other dietitian who was running with me to go on ahead. Once he was out of view, I vomited a small amount of buttercream and kept running. I then passed through the second mile at 7:51 minutes. There was a lot more trouble to come. I vomited some more buttercream, I walked the giant hill and then I sprinted into the finish. It is officially the slowest 5K I have ever run by 3 minutes. My legs hurt so much the entire time and I am frustrated that I am running slower now than when I was just 3.5 months of treatment. But, Team NED did produce the Lahey 5K Champion and it was great day to see everyone out there. And....I was able to pick up my third survivor shirt. They were pink this year!
 |
| We wanted people to read it says survivor |
 | |
| Go Team NED! |
Overall, team NED raised over $2,000 for the Lahey Health Cancer Centers, produced a race champion, and taught me what I already knew; buttercream frosting is a terrible pre-race meal. Overall, and this might just be the concert I went to earlier in the week talking, but I'd say Team NED has the right stuff. Thank you for all who donated, cheered and purchase baked goods. I'm grateful for you all!
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Call to Action Update
Here's the update from the Young Survival Coalition
It looks like Senator McCain will not be seeking a vote on the amendment. For today it's a win and the DOD's Breast Cancer Research Program gets to continue. For today....
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Call to Action!
The breast cancer advocacy world is on fire with discussion about opposition to Sen. McCain's (AZ) amendment #1482 to the National Defense Authorization Act. Here is the text :
What is concerning here is that this will do damage to the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Program. If you click on the link you can see all the other medical research that the DOD does. The vision of the DODBCRP from their website is to end breast cancer by funding innovative, high impact research through a partnership of scientist and consumers. One of the consumer advocates from the breast cancer research program is Noreen Fraser, the woman behind Stand Up 2 Cancer.
Because of sequestration the NIH has already had their funding cut; as a breast cancer survivor and individual who is participating in a clinical trial, the research world can not lose yet another source of funding. There have been too many strides made in treatment methods and I would hate to see it stall because their isn't money to run trials.
Call to Action: go here (putting the link here in case I can't get the widget to work) to send letters to your senators today to ask them to oppose this bill!
What is concerning here is that this will do damage to the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Program. If you click on the link you can see all the other medical research that the DOD does. The vision of the DODBCRP from their website is to end breast cancer by funding innovative, high impact research through a partnership of scientist and consumers. One of the consumer advocates from the breast cancer research program is Noreen Fraser, the woman behind Stand Up 2 Cancer.
Because of sequestration the NIH has already had their funding cut; as a breast cancer survivor and individual who is participating in a clinical trial, the research world can not lose yet another source of funding. There have been too many strides made in treatment methods and I would hate to see it stall because their isn't money to run trials.
Call to Action: go here (putting the link here in case I can't get the widget to work) to send letters to your senators today to ask them to oppose this bill!
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Happy National Cancer Survivors Day!
Today there are 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States. Today is National Cancer Survivors Day and the goal is to increase the quality of life and have healthier and happier survivors. The American Cancer Society has compiled a great list of resources here.
For me as a breast cancer survivor there are certain things that I try to do (some more successful than others) on a daily/yearly basis.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
This means keeping my BMI between 19 and 24.9. Last years visit to my PCP for my annual physical where my weight had creeped up 10 lbs since finishing treatment was a good wake up call. My weight was still within a healthy range, but if I kept eating cookies like cookie monster I was headed for 10 additional pounds each year. It helped me refocus on getting back to the 80/20 rule. Eating well for 80% of the time and allowing for whatever (cookies!) the other 20% of the time. And, it's always helpful to just keep running.
Following the 80%
When I eat like the dietitian that I am it means 5 to 7 fruits and veggies per day. Organic if they are on the Dirty Dozen list. Currently, cherries are in season and I take about a cup with me to work every day. Ideally, I eat them in place of having chips with my lunch. But, sometimes I'll have both. I have organic or at the very least rBST free dairy, daily. Usually in the form of skim milk and fat free yogurt. And if my gut has been out of whack, I enjoy some Kefir to help re-establish my gut bacteria. Whole grains, the whole time. Even my cookies are made with white whole wheat flour. I eat mostly lean proteins: chicken, fish, chicken, chicken, nuts, peanut butter and chicken.
At least 4 hours of exercise per week
I've been a little more tired than I would like. I think its a combination of tamoxifen and getting older (or so I've been told). In order to keep myself from just coming home and sitting on the couch when the weather and schedule allows I've been taking the bus halfway home and then running the rest of the way. They are not the prettiest of runs, but they are getting the job done. Sometimes, however, my body is not willing to run. In order to get my "steps" in for the day I'll walk home from where I usually pick up the second bus. It takes about 30 minutes (if there is no snow!), but again I can be done working out by the time I get home.
Practicing Gratitude
Even though I may not write it down each day, I like to recognize something I am grateful for each day. Sometimes it as simple as as being grateful for my individual co-survivors, sometimes it is as silly as being grateful for chocolate (which is needed) and sometimes I am grateful for concepts such as supportive colleagues.
And today's daily gratitude is pretty easy. I am grateful for all 14 million of my fellow cancer survivors!
For me as a breast cancer survivor there are certain things that I try to do (some more successful than others) on a daily/yearly basis.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
This means keeping my BMI between 19 and 24.9. Last years visit to my PCP for my annual physical where my weight had creeped up 10 lbs since finishing treatment was a good wake up call. My weight was still within a healthy range, but if I kept eating cookies like cookie monster I was headed for 10 additional pounds each year. It helped me refocus on getting back to the 80/20 rule. Eating well for 80% of the time and allowing for whatever (cookies!) the other 20% of the time. And, it's always helpful to just keep running.
Following the 80%
When I eat like the dietitian that I am it means 5 to 7 fruits and veggies per day. Organic if they are on the Dirty Dozen list. Currently, cherries are in season and I take about a cup with me to work every day. Ideally, I eat them in place of having chips with my lunch. But, sometimes I'll have both. I have organic or at the very least rBST free dairy, daily. Usually in the form of skim milk and fat free yogurt. And if my gut has been out of whack, I enjoy some Kefir to help re-establish my gut bacteria. Whole grains, the whole time. Even my cookies are made with white whole wheat flour. I eat mostly lean proteins: chicken, fish, chicken, chicken, nuts, peanut butter and chicken.
At least 4 hours of exercise per week
I've been a little more tired than I would like. I think its a combination of tamoxifen and getting older (or so I've been told). In order to keep myself from just coming home and sitting on the couch when the weather and schedule allows I've been taking the bus halfway home and then running the rest of the way. They are not the prettiest of runs, but they are getting the job done. Sometimes, however, my body is not willing to run. In order to get my "steps" in for the day I'll walk home from where I usually pick up the second bus. It takes about 30 minutes (if there is no snow!), but again I can be done working out by the time I get home.
Practicing Gratitude
Even though I may not write it down each day, I like to recognize something I am grateful for each day. Sometimes it as simple as as being grateful for my individual co-survivors, sometimes it is as silly as being grateful for chocolate (which is needed) and sometimes I am grateful for concepts such as supportive colleagues.
And today's daily gratitude is pretty easy. I am grateful for all 14 million of my fellow cancer survivors!
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Well, I think this is some of my best work
My surgeon was off during my month of tests. I usually see him after my mammogram, but didn't because he was off. Yesterday at 4 pm I had my appointment. I hadn't run into my breast surgeon in the hospital in awhile, so of course the day of my appointment I am behind him at the cashier in the cafeteria. When he sees me come in he says "Oh, hello again, not to worry we will make this quick".
The medical assistant takes my blood pressure, temperature, oxygen stats and heart rate. She looks at me and states "Well, that is the definition of normal." I told her I try. I'm beginning to wonder if I am the youngest patient they have had all day by about 40 years.
The medical assistant gives me a johnny to have open in the front and she logs into my account. I tell her about the large error that was in the system with the transition to the electronic medical record "Brain Surgery-Partial Mastectomy" that the endoscopy folks fixed. She gets a good chuckle out of this and tells the surgeon while I get my johnny on.
He strides in and says "So it's my brain cancer patient". I laugh and say "No, it was breast cancer just that you did the partial mastectomy in my brain". He just shakes his head. "How could that have even been an option?"
We get down to my actual appointment. He asks me about any pain. I tell him that if I haven't run or been working out for >1 week than I get some pain and that shoveling in the winter didn't feel great, but other wise I have zero pain. He is very pleased by this. I know from discussions with some of the nurse's who are also survivors that I am very fortunate to not have any pain. I had a discussion with one the other day about how she had to battle with her health insurance to go see the special lymphadema physical therapist because she has had pain and swelling in her arm as a side effect. She said it took a month to get approved, but now she finally doesn't have pain daily. She is only 10 years older than I am. A year of daily pain. I am grateful that for her it is starting to resolve.
My surgeon does his physical exam. He is super impressed with my scar. "Well, look at how minimal this is. There is only the littlest indentation. Well, I think this is some of my best work." Obviously, he is clearly disappointed with his results 2.5 years later. He looks at me and says some of my most favorite words "I'll see you in a year." Yay!
Then on his way out the door. "Keep running.". I would agree with him that my level of physical activity has likely helped me from having significant pain. It's also a great motivator to keep myself moving. And, occupational hazard, but I think my excellent nutrition has likely helped my great healing from day one. Cookies and all.
Speaking of cookies as I already celebrated with a run and some weight lifting, I think I'll do a little baking. Or maybe a lot of baking. And some more running.
The medical assistant takes my blood pressure, temperature, oxygen stats and heart rate. She looks at me and states "Well, that is the definition of normal." I told her I try. I'm beginning to wonder if I am the youngest patient they have had all day by about 40 years.
The medical assistant gives me a johnny to have open in the front and she logs into my account. I tell her about the large error that was in the system with the transition to the electronic medical record "Brain Surgery-Partial Mastectomy" that the endoscopy folks fixed. She gets a good chuckle out of this and tells the surgeon while I get my johnny on.
He strides in and says "So it's my brain cancer patient". I laugh and say "No, it was breast cancer just that you did the partial mastectomy in my brain". He just shakes his head. "How could that have even been an option?"
We get down to my actual appointment. He asks me about any pain. I tell him that if I haven't run or been working out for >1 week than I get some pain and that shoveling in the winter didn't feel great, but other wise I have zero pain. He is very pleased by this. I know from discussions with some of the nurse's who are also survivors that I am very fortunate to not have any pain. I had a discussion with one the other day about how she had to battle with her health insurance to go see the special lymphadema physical therapist because she has had pain and swelling in her arm as a side effect. She said it took a month to get approved, but now she finally doesn't have pain daily. She is only 10 years older than I am. A year of daily pain. I am grateful that for her it is starting to resolve.
My surgeon does his physical exam. He is super impressed with my scar. "Well, look at how minimal this is. There is only the littlest indentation. Well, I think this is some of my best work." Obviously, he is clearly disappointed with his results 2.5 years later. He looks at me and says some of my most favorite words "I'll see you in a year." Yay!
Then on his way out the door. "Keep running.". I would agree with him that my level of physical activity has likely helped me from having significant pain. It's also a great motivator to keep myself moving. And, occupational hazard, but I think my excellent nutrition has likely helped my great healing from day one. Cookies and all.
Speaking of cookies as I already celebrated with a run and some weight lifting, I think I'll do a little baking. Or maybe a lot of baking. And some more running.
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