Feelin' good

I love those days that I "forget" that I have cancer. Those days are frequent right now and it is such a glorious gift and blessing! I am living in the NOW and right now, I'm feeling pretty stinkin' GOOD! I hope I can hold onto that for as long as possible!

Hugs For Strength

This wonderful lady, Kathy, who has been following my blog, commented on my post and asked if I would share my story on her website, Hugs For Strength. This website shares stories of courage and strength of cancer survivors and is incredibly inspirational. Please check this website out, I'm so glad I found it!

LIVESTRONG

Side effects?

I just finished my second treatment of Yervoy (formally named Ipilimumab) and so far, have not experienced any side effects. Even though I was prepared for this possibility, I have mixed feelings about it. Diarrhea and rash are the most common side effects associated with this treatment, and even though both can be unpleasant and even dangerous (for example, diarrhea can lead to colitis), I also want to feel like this drug is working. Not feeling anything can be a blessing on one hand, but on the other, can lead to doubt and uncertainty. My doctor has told me that the side effects typically occur around the second and third treatment, and only being a few days out of the second one, I know I might be jumping the gun here. I just want to know that this drug is doing what it is intended to do, which is rev up my immune system to fight off the cancer. I'm hoping for the best!!!

PROUD to be their MOM

Yesterday I celebrated Mother's Day with the most important people in my life...and these two boys that I was blessed with to be their mother are the reason I continue to fight and will never give up!!!

I am thankful I am alive on this Mother's Day and as I think of my own mother and the impact she has had on my life, I am grateful that she is still here too. I like to think that anything good that I have I inherited from my mom. She is the most amazing person that I know!

Dear 16-year-old Me

This video is the best I've seen regarding melanoma awareness and prevention, so please, PLEASE get the word out and send this video to your friends and family, or ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. It's important for me to save lives and it should be to you too since melanoma is the #1 fastest growing cancer in the U.S.

Looking back on my 16 yr old self, I wish I wouldn't have spent so much time in the sun as a lifeguard/swim instructor-coach, because here I am fighting Stage 4 Melanoma at the age of 33...So please, again, spread the word and protect yourself and your children!!!

New goal (or should I say distraction?)

I've decided that since I will have 3 months in between scans and treatment (from June to Sept), that I need to distract myself from the anxiety of not knowing if the treatment is working or not. What better way to do that then to sign up for a race! I really want to get back into it, and this is a good start. The Viking Man event I'm going to do is the 1/2 Aquabike, which is a 1/2 Iron Man triathlon distance minus the run. That is a 1.2 mile swim in the Snake River and then a 56 mile bike ride. It will be good to train for a goal again. Some might think I'm a little nuts to do this all the while fight cancer, but it's important to me to keep living life and as long as I'm feeling good, why NOT??!!