I’m officially done with chemo! August was my last month, not a terribly hard one, and I am so thankful to have all of that behind me.
It’s now been about 10½ months since I learned of my brain tumor. That’s been enough time for surgery (and recovery), 7 weeks of daily chemo and radiation (and recovery), 6 months of chemo while working. My MRIs are clean, I’ve blasted the hell out of my brain, and I’m ready to return to a more normal lifestyle.
It’s been an emotional journey from complete shock and fear, to a period of restlessness and uncertainty while I had the tumor removed and waited for biopsy results, to increasing levels of clarity on what this is and where it’s going. Even though this is a lifetime disease and the cancer will almost certainly come back, my fear is mostly gone. There’s plenty of time to live and be healthy, to make the right choices, and to believe in the advances in neuro-oncology. Things are only getting better in cancer treatment.
I have found my strength and I have ideas on how to hold on to it. But over the last few months I’ve been pretty maxed out, and I haven’t stuck to all of my newfound healthy practices… I’ve often prioritized sleep over exercise, for example.
So as I pass this milestone, here are a few things I am trying to remember.
Focus on what’s important: the people I love; the adventures we have; making a difference in the world.
Recognize moments of kindness. Let the small annoyances and details roll right off my back.
Stay healthy. Eat well, exercise often, sleep, find the joy.
You are all welcome to remind me of these things any time. I’m serious. Thank you for all the love, prayers, vibes, food, shared stories. It makes a tremendous difference, still.
