Checking in! Almost 3 years from my last treatment. Visited my oncologist today and got a clean bill of health! What a great and relieving feeling. Hope you are doing well and living life to the fullest!
4 month check-all good!
Through the Fire
Six years ago…I hiked Koko Head Crater for the first time…over a 1000 stairs…straight up.
At that time, I didn’t even know cancer was lurking in the wings…
Today, I had the opportunity to tackle the beast again. I went through the fire again!
From Leo on Trip Advisor “Some hikers throwing up on the side. View on top is great. Getting to the top gives a good feel of accomplishment.”
After reading the reviews, I was apprehensive. Could I do it again after all the crap I’ve been through….surgeries…chemotherapy….radiation…?
The railroad-tie bridge is not for the faint of heart. I remembered that from before. The crab-walk seemed to be the preferred method for passing over the 65 railroad ties suspended above ground. Shirley, you would love this!!
I’m pretty sure I was crawling for the last 100 yards to get to the top.
Thank you Stephanie for pushing me!
Injuries: bruised tail-bone, scraped leg, swollen wrist
Ended up taking a two hour angry nap
But we did it!!
Summer renew and refresh
What a great time to get back to basics!
View from my morning walk!
My Poem for Dr. Dietrich
My oncologist-Dr. Dietrich-retires from United States Army today. He has been by my side for 6 years. Two times, he literally saved my life. I will be forever grateful to him for giving me more time to do the things I want to do in life. His kind manner has changed the way I see the medical profession. I am headed to his retirement ceremony now!
I wrote a poem
Dr. Dietrich-the cancer doc
helping patients with their fear and shock
his most helpful phrase-“I’m not worried”
kept me from feeling flustered and hurried
each appointment began with a little chit chat
I know I’m really going to miss that
He leave us now with his beautiful wife
off to Kentucky…for a brand new life
forever he will stay in our hearts
cancer’s got nothing when he gets to start
with every person he’s walked a few miles
always kicking it Dietrich style!
for me he’s the best..there is no second
my own super hero, my own secret weapon
Dr. Dietrich-
thank you for all you have done
I actually think we did have some fun
Much Love,
Kym
Port of call-for the Port
This is the final port of call-for the port. Time to scuttle the metal that has traveled with me for over 5 years. It served its purpose, delivering life-saving chemo drugs (Carbo, Taxol, Gemzar, Avastin, and various blood draws. My last PET Scan showed good news…no hyper metabolic activity. (broken rib from falling/coughing? …but no cancer)
I don’t know why….but that was it.
Dr. D and I agree it was time for my little friend to go.
I was thinking about Neo in the Matrix (go to the end of the scene-worth it!):
But the doc assured me it would not be that traumatic.
Finally, it is out! I think a necklace would be a good plan! My Trophy!
Thanks to the Kym Roley Support Team (KRST) who waited in the freezing waiting room (Ross, Lesli, and Ben.) Ben and Lesli made me a little brekkie when I got back home.
In the Book Thank God It’s Monday, Roxanne Emmerich says, “I don’t care how many hours you work, how many obstacles you hit. Just show me the baby-I want to see the result.”
The Result is now! Time to focus forward!!
Each year I choose #OneWord to focus on for the following year:
2014-Mindful
2015-Excellence
2016-Presence
2017-Survivor
2018-Service
What is your One Word for 2018?
Breaking up with Cancer-#neverstop
Breaking up with Cancer…
….._What to consider when ending your relationship
(Oh wait…that is for the Astrological Cancer sign)
I’m calling it. Over….done….owarimashta…hallas…finito
- How do you know when the end is really the end? Actually, you don’t. Move forward anyway!
- What to consider…
- Yes, Cancer will always carry emotions….beginning, middle and end. Allow yourself to feel the emotions. Each time a new friend or friend of a friend is diagnosed or re-diagnosed, you re-live the shock and awe of the original diagnosis all over again. Even when it’s over, it doesn’t feel like it’s over. Making a clean break is a good plan. You may have to go back in the relationship, but isn’t it better just to be over and done?
-
How to keep going? Keep moving!
- Get your port out!
- What?
- Yes, get your port out!
- Maybe losing the port is like getting rid of crutches…
Yes, it will leave a scar.
Yes, it is a minor surgery.
No, general anesthesia is not required.
When should we do it? December 22….Christmas gift!
We keep moving forward! Motivation is seeing my 84 year-old father fishing in 25 degree weather. #Neverstop
2018 will be a positive year of good health, family, and friendships!
#neverstop
Health is the Crown
“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!
Fight Club
First was the shock
Hit by a truck
Statistics grim
Prognosis-yuck
We fought together, you and I
Persistence, humor, a dollop of grit
Defiant battle cries as we took the hits
Some came and fought a battle or two
Many the whole time…the one’s like you
Round two-a surprise…..I’ve often asked why
A protracted war…it made me cry
Our fight club continues in this roundabout way
We lost another sister just the other day
“How can you go-it’s just so sad?”
But being with these women actually makes me glad
They never give up
Play on
Play on
Radiant faces in various stages
Fighting the ravages-cancer’s wages
Support and prayer
An idea or two
These women in earnest
Elevate you
What is your fight club?
Where do you go?
Who are the people who raise your bar?
I think if you’ll look it won’t be too far.
Health update! #ovariancancer
The question was…Do you call on Friday afternoon and possibly get the bad news, or wait until Monday for that same possibly bad news? Is knowledge power? Or, do you shift your paradigm and call as soon as humanly possible and hope for the best of all news? My philosophy during this entire “journey” has been “head down and power through.” I’m happy to report that my cancer number (CA125) has actually dropped from a brief uptick last month. Good-to-go until the next test in 6 weeks (which in itself creates its own form of stress)!
One of the concepts I’ve throwing around in my head is the idea that our health is not binary. We are not just a “0” for everything is perfect, or a “1” for everything is fail. You’re never “just sick” or “just well”- there is a large continuum in which we all fall.
Ellen J Langer says it much more artfully than I in the book Counter Clockwise
“Just as we like to imagine that the mind and body are separate, so we imagine that at any one point in time we are healthy or we are not, and attitude that brings unexpected consequences. When we are healthy , we imagine we don’t need to pay much attention to our health. When we are sick, we imagine that we should be able to find expert information that cures us.”
It’s tough to live in the moment…neither speculating ahead or reflecting back, but right now, that is exactly where I am. Savoring this great moment! Thank you all for your continued well wishes being sent my way!
What would you do with 417 hours? #Productivity and #motivation
I’m always wondering where I can find extra time in my day to do the things that make me happy! Wondering where all my time went, I recently downloaded the Life Cycle App. This app gives you the ability to quantify that question of.. where does all my time go?
My life Cycle App tells me that I spend between 1 and 1.15 hours a day commuting back and forth to work. Not actually breaking news, but this became food for thought.Specifically, what could I do with all that commuting time in #hitraffic.
Here is a typical day (the app automatically tracks your movements-no need to input data)
Here is a one month break down:
Then, my sister sent me an article suggesting that if we disconnected from social media by a bit, our productivity could increase by leaps and bounds.
The Simple Truth behind reading 200 books a year
According to better human’s blog post, it’s all about creating new habits!
“Getting good at habit formation took me years….One game-changing idea from a good book is worth thousands of dollars. If a coach helps you read ONE more good book a year, you already get your money’s worth.”
But wait, what if it’s an audio book, or a podcast?
I’d like to share with you some of my favorite podcasts that motivate and inspire me!
The Robin Sharma Mastery Sessions
Arel Moodie The Art of Likability
One of my favorite quotes from Robin Sharma…” Problems are servants. They help you grow and lead to better things, both within your organization and in your life. To resist them is to avoid growth and progress. Embrace and get the best from the challenges in front of you. And understand that the only people with no problems are dead.”
What do you do that motivates you? Share out in the comments section. Please share and subscribe.
FODMAP UPDATE : Day 10 of the elimination diet. Evidently apples are bad. No migraines for two weeks and no guy issues for 10 days. This might work!
ovariancancerfighter 