6 years!

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..