Update 2024

 I just noticed my last post was in 2018.  That’s crazy!  Since it’s been 6 years, I don't even know where to begin. Much has happens.  All of us made it through Covid unscathed.  And here we are in 2024.  

Here are some highlights and a couple photos.  Basically I didn’t get a colonoscopy or scan since I was NED year 5.  I’m now 7 years after that and doing great. I did a bunch of medical updates in 2022 including mammography, gyno, colonoscopy.  But I haven’t seen gastroenterologist since 2017.  I’m okay with that.  Only concern is that when I found out about cancer in the first place I felt just fine.  I feel just fine now, mostly.  I’m just 12 years older.  

These past few years we’ve done lots of travel, hanging out with the grandkids, friends, and raising cherries 🍒 (RNR Orchard - our house in WA).  I’m still cranking out loans at Guild Mortgage in this crazy economy and high rates, high home prices, and low inventory. The market is unprecedented and who knows what’s next.  I guess the days of depending on stability are gone and even more than ever before I expect the unexpected.  

Other than that, can’t complain. Cheers to 2024. My goal is to always remain healthy and happy and I hope everyone else can too. 

Six Years Ago Today

Today is a landmark date. July 25th does not go by without me reflecting upon my last day of treatment.  It is such a distant memory now.  Six years ago.....  Life is great.  I'm healthy, happy, and little to no side effects.  Had my last scan last year and I don't plan to go in this year for anything follow up related (even though I did look forward to those warm hugs and assurance everything looks perfect down there).  :-)  I have much I could say about anal cancer and what I've been through, but for now, I'd just like to offer up hope to each and everyone that you can do this.  You can make it.  Keep fighting.  Be strong and be happy!  This little blip in the road of life will add so much to your story as it has to mine. I'm always so grateful for BFAC and all it's supporters.  Cheers to 6 years after!

Almost to year 6, Post!

It has almost been 6 years post treatment for me.  Time flies.....  Since my diagnosis in May 2012 so much has happened.  I've overcome a lot of fears, moved from UT to WA, have 2 grandkids that I love and adore, sold our home in WA and moved to a new one last year with cherry trees, and most importantly, I've been super healthy and feeling strong. 

There are little reminders along the way of battling cancer.  But overall, I just sneak those thoughts out of my head.  It so weird though the niggling thoughts and feelings I have about going through this critical event in my life;  Most of these, I just keep inside my head and whisk them away.  One of those thought I have is each year, heading up Doomsday Hill at Bloomsday in Spokane, I just love seeing the vulture.  It reminds me of the old me, bc (before cancer) and the new me ac (after cancer), kicking that thing in the ass!! 

Going through cancer, and treatment, was an event that changed me, and changed my thoughts about living, people, jobs, family, friendships, diet, exercise, time, and generally evaluating what is important in life. 

Seeing my divot now, and my "tattoos" are a daily reminder of getting to live out so many more wonderful years and the hope of the future.  Never take a single day for granted.  Soak up the sun and keep on fighting!!!

What's the most important thing about this photo?  :-)

NED for me!!!

Today is the day!  I hit my 5 year mark.  Today is the day after my last day of treatment 5 years ago.  I completed chemo and radiation on 7/25/2012.  What that means to me is that I hit a milestone I've been waiting for.  I went over to Seattle this afternoon to Swedish for my appointment with colo-rectal doc/surgeon Mindy H. and for the all clear.  I had gotten a CT on my chest and lungs (weird I know because I had anal cancer) but that was to follow up on some suspicious "spots" that I've had since my initial PET in 2012.  She told me the spots were stable, my lungs are fine, and after inspecting my darkest regions, THAT is perfect too.  I'm all clear.  Isn't that fantastic?  I'm super excited about it.

I had stage 3a which means that one lymph node near the tumor was 1 cm (or larger).  Anyway, I've always been worried about the spots and the stage because if one lymph was affected there could be more later, or spreading, or worse go to my lungs or liver (I have spots on my liver too but they are likely the more common ones a lot of folks have and not concerning). I remember the first couple days after I heard I had cancer, I read an article that the statistic listed at the time (from stats in 2010 tests) for making it to the 5 year mark without a reoccurrence was only 40% for people who had stage 3a anal cancer   How depressing is that?  Yikes!  I quit reading stuff after that   And this was way before I found BFAC website.  Still, after all this time, that statistic stuck in the back of my mind and I continued to wonder.  I'm sure by now, someone has come up with a better, newer, and much more optimistic statistic regarding the various stages of anal cancer.  I sure hope they have.  And, if they have not, I hope that others will have hope when they know it's possible to come out of this alive and mostly well. <smile>

So, today was my big day.  Maybe I can relax just a tiny bit more now.  Or at least now I can find a different focus or milestone to work on.  This past week I've reflected a great deal about all that has happened in the past 5 years after my diagnosis and treatment.  I feel so fortunate.  I think my very first post in this blog was titled "Lucky Me" if I recall correctly, without looking  back, some things you just can't forget.  And boy oh boy was I lucky!    Completely dodged a bullet.  Beat the big "C".  Went the 5 years!!!  Yay me.  Yay you too.  Keep fighting.

Can You See My Divot?

Well, can you?  Can you see it?  Right there on my chest.  No one has ever asked me in three years, "what is that from"?  You gotta wonder if they wonder.  I mean, I do wear a lot of tank tops.  Just FYI, that little "divot" is from my port.  My port that was installed to carry the chemotherapy into my body to cure the cancer.  I referenced a photo of it when it was put in (blog 5/30/12) and when it was taken out (blog 8/23/12).  Check it out.  Now...... I'm left with just this "divot" (and the 3 little tattoos on my hips and pelvis) as permanent daily reminders that this happened.

PS  It's sensitive to touch and I hate when pressure is put on it.  Weird.

Made it past the 3 Year mark!!

I haven't posted since January this year.  I notice I did 25 posts in 2012 after I was diagnosed.  Then only 6 in 2013.  In 2014 and 2015, only one post from me.  That's it.  I briefly scanned a couple of my posts before writing this one and documenting my thoughts about cancer, treatment, friends, BFAC, and other topics relating to how finding a tumor, treating a tumor, and being cured.  I'm super glad I wrote them and I think I should add more updates along the way.  So.... here goes......

I almost purposely missed posting a blog on my end of treatment three year anniversary this year which was 7/25.  Some days I feel like writing about it makes it too raw and too real, and I don't want to honor that memory with documenting it.  I want to put it behind me and pretend it isn't a part of me.  Then again, I'm so happy that I blogged my feelings and a few photos along the way (which was the whole purpose, to remind myself later), so that I can reflect on an event so major that changed my life, my thoughts, and my being.  It changed me.  So even though part of me doesn't want to write about it, there are those days when writing about it helps me through it and reading others blogs are still helping me through it, answering burning questions electronically, and sharing feelings and worries.  

The fact that I don't write about it doesn't mean that I don't think about it every single day, several times a day.  I think about the experience and what I went through.  I think about the love, support, and friendships validated throughout the process of chemo and radiation and it's aftermath.... which is still there.  For these gifts I am grateful.  I think about every ache, cough, and headache as "what if".  I never felt any of this BC (before cancer).  I feel in a deeper way than BC for my many friends that have suffered, are currently suffering, who have lost their battle, or had someone who lost the battle, who are fighting the battle, and who are surviving.  I feel for them as someone who is family.  I understand.  I suffer, fight, and live, by their sides, with compassion and deeper understanding than before.

So much has changed in my life since the end of treatment.  I am now NED and feel good about that.  I have had several PET, CT and Scopes to verify it.  The more time that passes, the more secure I am that the demon been exorcised and will not return.  I am down to seeing the gastro surgeon once a year now.  I am excited for 7/25/2017.  That is the famous 5 year mark that we all hope to get to without reoccurrence.  Even then, I think I'll worry for the rest of my life.  I am different now. I have changed.  This is my new normal.

On the personal side of life, in the past 3 years, I have become a grandparent of 2 exceptional, beautiful, gifted, amazing miracles, Liam & Liv.  I've moved.  With this move, we're in Wenatchee again and totally enjoying life here again.  My whole family has moved (to be close to each other) back to Wenatchee; Sam, my mom, Amber & Adam (and their kids), Adam's mom & sister and hopefully more to follow.  I've changed jobs (still with Wells Fargo though, 10 years this Sept 2015).  I get to go on some fabulous vacations with Willie a few times a year.  I'm happy.

10/17/2015 with Liv Catherine and Liam Cameron Nealy 

PET & Routine Follow Up Appointment 1/2/15

I had to postpone my PET from last month to yesterday, 1/2/15. The good new is that after all the SCANXIETY of the wait, all is clear, nothing lights up, the "spots" on my lungs and liver are still there, no change.  I'm so happy to report that I have gone 2 1/2 years (since end of treatment on 7/25/12) NED.  YAY ME!  I wish all of you a happy & healthy new year in 2015.  Every day is something to be so grateful for don't you think?  Life is good!