Auntie Susu's Cancer Journey

Here we are in September already... which is a bittersweet month for me.  It was my one year anniversary on September 3rd for removing the cancer tumour that started me on this cancer journey.  Yahoo, and also my first year in menopause, of which I haven't noticed much changes in that respect.  Too busy dealing with the cancer treatments that take precedent over menopause symptoms.  And so September begins many first reminders of the journey to becoming cancer-free.  It is seven months cancer-free on September 17th.  Hospital life has slowed down, and I only have the physical check up in Sudbury at the end of the month.  My doctors are never far away... while I work through the post-chemo treatment issues.  Life is good... hopeful... and promising for a cancer-free future.  However, I know that there are several years of monitoring ahead of me.  But for now, so far so good!! September 4th marked one year without my dad.  It's been a massive year of change for ...

Six months ago to the day, I was sitting in the chemo chair getting my last dose of treatment. I had a bald head, and feeling quite emotional for making it through everything that I had faced since my July 2020 cancer diagnosis.  Ringing the Cancer Bell for the final time... There is an overjoyed sense of relief that you are done... but then chemo starts to do its thing to work internally. The chemo flashes where your whole head gets hot, the cold flashes where your whole body is freezing. Michael would laugh at me sitting in a 24c temperature under my cancer blankie, then I would drop dead to the world into an exhaustion sleep, only to wake up 3 hours later wondering who and where I am. Feeling like sh*t was the norm, taking my anti-barf pills to fight nausea (and I still take them sometimes), and the metal chemical taste that lingers way longer than I think it should have.  Thankfully, I was provided with the rinse bottle and simple mouthwash recipe which helped a lot with that metal...

Well July 17th I reached the 5 months cancer free mark in my recovery.  I am still suffering from neuropathy in my feet, insomina, fatigue, and chemo brain.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever regain my old level of self back.  I know it is a slow process, and I have to tell myself be kind and rest when I'm tired.  In the meantime to stimulate my recovery, I have taken on some tasks to help rebuild my strength and mental capacity again.   I have been keeping myself busy with caring for my raised bed garden.  It has been growing like a crazy weed, and I have already had a couple feedings of lettuce, beans, and peas.  It is a joy to watch it grow, and it stimulates me to keep checking to see when to harvest my carrots, beets, and potatoes.  My family has jumped on the garden bandwagon this year too.  Mom has a massive garden growing.  My siblings helped her with some of the planting, and my uncle Raymond (her brother) comes often to check it too.  I think they have the potato bug prob...

Here I am celebrating my 3-month cancer free milestone today, and I am three days away from my first post chemo treatment check-up.  I am expecting all good news... and making a bit of a vacation out of it since my check-up is in Sudbury.  It will become an overnight trip since I need to be at the Cancer Centre for 9am May 20th.  We are planning to fit in a Red Lobster take out supper into the trip too!!  At least, that's the plan.  We are both looking forward to some seafood to fill that East Coast cravings! April weirdo weather did bring May flowers.  My tulips were a pleasure to see, and my bearded iris are still yet to come.  I planted a rose bush so let's see how that works out.  Michael bought me a raised garden planter box.  I love it!!  I decided we would put some vegetables in there.  Seeded and ready to grow!!  It will prove to be great exercise this summer.  Just what I need as I continue to build my streng...

Previous Next Springtime Sunshine has arrived!!  I watched as March came in like a lion, and throughout the month it was up and down with winter-spring weather that played havoc on my mental and physical recovery.  March 3rd marked six month since having my hysterecomy and doing cancer treatments.  Wow, when you are going through it, you take it one obstacle at a time, everything is scheduled.  A lot was packed into a short timeframe.  Now done that part for my recovery, the rest of me needs to catch up.  I sat a lot of days in my comfy chair under my blankie letting the winter sunshine come through the living room window to warm me and kick in the healing process.  Some of those days I looked out at the snow and felt defeated, and wondered how do I transition from the cancer patient to the cancer survivor.  I have learned that just because I have finished my treatments, the return to "normal" life does not happen...

After meeting with my social worker to discuss next steps in cancer survivorship, I have learned that many cancer patients start the clock on being a cancer survivor the day after their last cancer treatment is finished.  In my case, my cancer survivor day is February 17th.  This can serve as an official date that I beat cancer - well as much as we know until I start achieving milestone scans and check up appointments to reaffirm this date.   That means today, I celebrate one month as a cancer survivor!  Yippie for me!!  Even though I should feel over the moon with joy, there is an uneasy feeling where I have a bit of guilt for the feelings of relief that I have escaped alive.  There are feelings of wondering whether I am really done with cancer.  All of this is normal, as I gain new confidence as a cancer survivor.  Each day forward is a blessing to celebrate today... that is a good feeling! Still, my heart feels heavy for several others in ...