Halfway There - Finally, Turnaround!
So, I have been in actual remission from anal cancer for 2.5 years. Five years is the official cancer-free mark. This should be celebrated, but I'm not sure how.
Right around the beginning of May, someone somewhere flipped a switch, and I started to have energy again. I am now consistently walking without my cane (and by consistent I mean I walk somewhere every day unless it's gross-hot). Just thinking about my former work-out routine is not enough to exhaust me, and, in fact, yoga this morning felt really freakin' good. The goal is my full work-out by the end of the month, and back to dancing by the end of the year. (Hi, Barb!)
I have projects! Some are personal, some professional (still waiting to hear on that submission - love my story! Put it in your magazine! Pay me! please?), some social (stuff with my Shire, parties for friends - anyone else want one of those? I give great party.), some spiritual (teaching, getting back to my practice). Some of them cross over. I have energy for them too. I can think about them. I can do them. I am NOT sitting around wondering what unpleasant episode my health/body is going to put me through today.
Some thoughts:
Right around the beginning of May, someone somewhere flipped a switch, and I started to have energy again. I am now consistently walking without my cane (and by consistent I mean I walk somewhere every day unless it's gross-hot). Just thinking about my former work-out routine is not enough to exhaust me, and, in fact, yoga this morning felt really freakin' good. The goal is my full work-out by the end of the month, and back to dancing by the end of the year. (Hi, Barb!)
I have projects! Some are personal, some professional (still waiting to hear on that submission - love my story! Put it in your magazine! Pay me! please?), some social (stuff with my Shire, parties for friends - anyone else want one of those? I give great party.), some spiritual (teaching, getting back to my practice). Some of them cross over. I have energy for them too. I can think about them. I can do them. I am NOT sitting around wondering what unpleasant episode my health/body is going to put me through today.
Some thoughts:
- Anal cancer is one of the easiest forms of cancer to detect and treat. It also has some of the most annoying symptoms. This combination equals comedy gold.
- When your digestive system is whacked, toddlers going through toilet-training are a blessing in a disturbingly cute disguise. (Seriously. They can talk about what goes in and comes out for hours and leave you laughing because they are just so excited about it. Much better than constant complaints. Thank you, Amy.)
- Being nice to the various health care professionals helping you pays off - especially when you are lying in a hospital bed dependent on them for every little thing. (Nurse's aides arguing over who gets to answer your 2:30 AM call? Score. Radiologist's P.A. bringing you homemade chocolate cookies? Even bigger score.)
- Working the family business is fan-freakin'-tabulous when it comes to arranging time off for something like this. (The two years to get my office organized again after being gone for 3 months? Not so much.)
- Privacy is a wonderful thing.
- Family taking care of you is just as wonderful.
- Friends who get your sense of humor and are willing to contribute to the joke take SO much of the stress away. (Thank you Seesters, Paul, Tom, Belle, Doreen, etc.)
- While various issues certainly are serious, and must be dealt with in one way or another, perspective, people!!! (I just beat cancer - and I should be worried that you don't like my politics?)
- Death's not so bad. All-y'all had better be having one big-ass party once I'm gone, though. That's an order.
- Life is pretty cool, too. I say we start the party now. (Oh... wait... I already did that...) I say we continue the party now.