“Health is the crown on the well person’s head that only the ill person can see.”-Robin Sharma

From this…

To this…

Latest monthly blood-work shows my CA level (Cancer Antigen marker) has gone down to 6.0, the lowest it has been in over a year! I’m up for my 6 month mammogram in September (high risk for Breast Cancer).

Ten things I’m grateful for:

Travel-California, Oregon, Washington, and Mexico. Saw great friends, ate great food, drank delicious wine and Mexican-made margaritas
Friends-all of you who have been there by my side during this 5 year journey
Fight club-this rock solid group of supporters
Family-the whole crew! Most especially my husband and children. You have seen the good, bad, and ugly of cancer.
Faith-the many prayers from all over the world!
My Bullet Journal– a place to track all of my healthy habits-I’m now two years without eating red meat
#midpacific Five years ago on August 6, 2012, I had just started work and three days later was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer. My school supported me through it all-the surgeries, the chemotherapy, the radiation, and recovery!
IB Coordinator position and USAFA liaison
Walking partners!
ENERGY!

I’m so excited for what is yet to come!

Each cycle of radiation or chemo is followed by the inevitable blood draw. It takes about a week for the CA 125 Ovarian Cancer marker to come back. Other blood markers are available in just a few days. Every time they take blood, I wait anxiously for the results. The last CA level blood marker was the harbinger of recurrence. Even “normal” values can cause fear if they double or triple for the previous draw. This go round, the hospital is using a new lab, so the numbers can’t be compared to previous values. There is no joy or heartbreak associated with this number; it’s simply a number. The plan, unless there is some anomaly is that I’ll start chemo next week. Happy to be down with radiation, but remembering the trek that was the last chemo journey. This time will be new drugs, which inevitably means new side effects. In the meantime…trying to get healthy and recommending these documentaries on #Netflix: Mortified Nation, Queen of Versailles, Girl Model, Russia’s Toughest Prisons, Fat Sick & Nearly Dead.