Author Archives: cathy@hellocancerfriends.com

HEALTH UPDATE: The surgery was a success! I’m still healing and it hasn’t been easy, but it’s going better than I could have ever imagined. There will be follow up appointments and scans but I think it’s safe to say that at this point, I’m done! Ramblings…. What does one do when they have defiedContinue reading “New Life”

HEALTH UPDATE: Open Distal Pancreatectomy and Splenectomy scheduled for February 12, 2024. Ramblings… This feels so unusual. Something I used to do so often and so quickly. So easily. Writing and sharing has become a distant friend to me. I still love the friend and for every additional word that is written, it feels moreContinue reading “Snow Day”

HEALTH UPDATE: I experienced my first ct scan that was not stable back in June. Multiple liver lesions. The only information I know about these lesions for sure is that they are not neuroendocrine in nature. Tests and scans are ongoing. If you guessed that I am mentally unstable due to this cloud, then youContinue reading “Exhale”

Health Update: Are you ready for this update? WOW! I’m still cancer stable as of my last scans in May, 2023. There are lots of weirdo things popping up in my labs and I am following up on each of them with my trusted team. My broken esophagus is still in play. I eat smallContinue reading “The Next Chapter”

HEALTH UPDATE: CT last week shows no change in the tumor monster. Still hanging around at about 6×5 cm. Not bad considering it started at 22x16x18! Much of the same these days although I’ve been experiencing more severe fatigue. My hemoglobin is low. The red flags are flying in my mind. I’m working on eachContinue reading “How it started. How it’s going.”

HEALTH UPDATE: Doing well. Meeting with a surgeon about my esophagus issues this week. Scanxiety sets in for my 9 week scan next week. Insomnia is common these days. Constantly emotional about, well, everything. I’m okay. Ramblings… Dear Tumor Monster, First of all, fuck you. You came into my life uninvited, you total piece ofContinue reading “A letter to the tumor monster”

HEALTH UPDATE: Some days I’m great. Some days I say out loud, “I feel like I am a cancer patient”. I have had increasing neuropathy lately. My feet are consistently tingly and I’m used to that. Some days, my legs are like jello. I’ve had several viruses, shared by my beautiful daughter and her peersContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”

HEALTH UPDATE: Scan week! I really need to count how many I’ve had. I’ve been blessed with the word “stable” for months on end. Will tomorrow continue the trend? Followed by my 46th, or is it 47th? immunotherapy miracle concoction infusion on Wednesday. Who’s counting anyways? I’ve had pretty consistent challenges, which in perspective areContinue reading “Cheers!”

HEALTH UPDATE: I’m itchy. It’s always hard to know where my symptoms are coming from. Treatment 4? Today. The beat goes on. Ramblings… I should be used to this by now. Used to this place. Used to the sick people and their brave companions that face this hell with their person. Used to constantly wonderingContinue reading “Thank you, God!”

HEALTH UPDATE: I’m mostly boring now with little change. My 20 something-ish CT scan yesterday showed no change from the scan before and no cancer spread. The tumor monster has dwindled from the size of a small football to a round-ish egg size. Truly and incredibly amazing. A medical miracle, if you will. My legsContinue reading “Shaken, not stirred…with a twist of fate.”