Thank you everyone for the sweet birthday wishes, it is good
to be 42. The past year has been filled
with a range of emotions. I attended 3
funerals in 2013, all related to cancer.
Each celebration of life was intimate and beautiful, but at the same
time devastating. Cancer continues to be
a part of my daily life, but isn’t that true for so many of you too? I have many friends who have or have had
cancer. I read about cancer daily
whether from my initiating a search or something coming across my desktop. I see cancer in my scars that I have to look
at every day. And yes, some would just
see a warrior or a badge of courage, but I can’t help but wish my scars were
gone. It is a burden I carry because at
the same time I feel guilty that I’m complaining about scars. I’m really looking forward to the perfect
body in heaven. But Lord not yet, I’m truly
thankful for another birthday.
In March I celebrated 6 years as a cancer survivor. My 12 year old daughter and I were on a ski
lift together when I remembered it was 6 years!
We were surrounded by God’s landscape of beauty and it was a perfect time
to share with Isabella how thankful I was and am for the 6 years. Let me clarify, I’m thankful for life not
cancer. My 6 year check up with my wonderful
oncologist Sharon Giordano http://www2.mdanderson.org/app/peoplefinder/person.cfm?id=3D5DD9DACF1D
was uneventful. For the first time, I had
no anxiety-filled questions or concerns.
Whew! I never thought I would get
to this point, it is refreshing. I will
have to stay on Tamoxifen for 5 more years as the new studies are showing
significant benefits on 10 years v. 5.
Onward with the hot flashes and other ‘not fun’ gynecological side
effects…………… Oh Lord, I’ll take it!
I want to give back and am praying for God to show me how
Waltz Warriors can best support breast cancer survivors this year. Locally, I continue to serve on the board of
Pink Ribbons Project www.pinkribbons.org.
I love this group of passionate men and
women and appreciate what we are doing in the Houston community. Speaking of Houston, I am enjoying the cool,
spring weather and what a perfect time to eat outdoors. Houston has some wonderful places to eat an
anticancer meal alfresco. To name a few-
Local Foods (now with 2 locations), Adair Kitchen, Ruggles Green, Harvest
Organic Grill, Radical Eats, Corner Table and Sparrow. There are many more, which makes me proud to
be in Houston. This spring, Fox
Restaurant Concepts www.foxrc.com will bring
True Food Kitchen to the Galleria area.
I am thrilled! This is a must eat
restaurant and makes me feel like Houston is becoming one with the earth like those Colorado and Arizona folks.
Finally, I want to give a shout out to Ali Miller, RD, LD, CDE
www.naturallynourished.com. I first heard Ali speak at a Food as Medicine event at Sparrow. She immediately had my full attention with
her discussion on cancer prevention. Soon
after, I made an appointment to see her.
Ali is a dietitian with both conventional and unconventional training-
she marries the two perfectly. She told me “we are going to put out the fire
and rebuild the house.” Aaaaaaah,
someone who speaks my language. I look
forward to this newfound knowledge of detoxification. Currently, I am awaiting results from a blood
test that will identify pro-inflammatory foods in my body. I know (I think I know) some of what this blood
test will tell me. However, hopefully
these results will solidify many of my theories on types of food, inflammation
and cancer/ disease prevention for my body. And what am I going to do with that information? I am going to start putting out the fire and
rebuilding my house J. To be continued..
