Hello to everyone still following my journey :)
As you all know it’s breast cancer awareness month. I was blessed with the opportunity to share my story with Fox News and it will air 10/25-26 in SWFL
Here is the link if you don’t live in the area and want to tune in on 10/25 at 715 or 915 AM.
https://www.fox4now.com/live
Also - this year for breast cancer awareness I raised money for barbells for boobs and was able to do their WOD “GRACE” this past Friday directly after my zometa infusion. I didn’t feel great during it but I was NOT missing the chance to show up and do my best with awesome people I adore Here is a photo of the awesome group post workout!
I wanted to give a quick update/summary on my health! I am feeling good overall and still doing quarterly appointments to check estrogen levels - to ensure all my meds are working right!
Every 6 months I get a zometa infusion to help decrease my chance of having the cancer return as bone cancer.
Each day I take exemastane which puts me into medically induced menopause
I get a subQ injection Zoladex every 28 days which not only protects my ovaries but also decreases ability to release hormones (as I had hormone positive breast cancer both times)
The last few follow up visits we noted my calcium continues to be within normal limits but always at the very top - so my awesome oncologist took it a step further and got a PTH this past Friday which was also elevated. So now I will also see endocrinology to figure out how to keep this from getting higher. Most likely I have some type of hyperparathyroidism (self diagnosed thus far this is not confirmed) from having radiation to my neck. Of course, a high PTH and calcium also does have the chance of being something worse but no reason to go there! I feel really good, have been very very disciplined in my treatments ,so I think the elevated PTH most likely is from radiation. I wanted to share this level though in real time without a confirmation as an example to all that read this blog how just ONE lab value can mean so many avenues with a life with cancer! I think this is a great example to show what it’s like to live “in the waiting” of unanswered prayers.
This leads me to a tangent that I feel I need to take as I have continued to walk in my relationship with God and have spent more time in the word and learning who he is and what he wants me to reflect. I hope to give some hope and encouragement from the one true source for anyone that may come across my blog because they or a loved one are dealing with the day in and day out of this awful disease.
A cancer patient, even in remission never truly is “done” with cancer. We live in a constant battle, a true marathon of wanting to believe we are healthy - all while trying to not let some abnormal labs, or a day with a headache - have the power to derail our hope and confidence completely.
On the other side - prior to cancer, I am not sure I would have ever understood what that feels like. The smallest pain or littlest lab marker off having the power to cause a full spiral of googling and panic. Not to mention the friends and loved ones I have that are battling metastatic cancer each day and choose through that to keep pushing forward no matter what.
I have an amazing support system full of family and friends that love me and guide me away from “negative” thoughts and feelings whenever they come up. They are positive and amazing and I appreciate them SO much. But, even they just are not enough.
The only thing that is? My faith in God.
So, I want to share some recent passages that have been brought to my attention that have shed light in anxious moments not just this past weekend, but over the last 2 years of my life. They continue to pop up in my personal study, in sermons, in podcasts etc. Each time they fill my heart with joy, peace, and contentment. My prayer is that the person that needs them will receive them and if you don’t already you will consider walking alongside Jesus with your cancer diagnosis (or loved ones) and feel power and peace that is intangible without him.
Philippians 4:5-7 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to god. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength”
Colossians 2:6 “So then, just as your received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live you lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as your were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus”
1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all Grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”]
Until the next blog - I hope you find light and joy in each and everyday, feeling so blessed and grateful for all that we have Sami
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