The Savvy Survivor

For the last 8.5 years, I've been battling Stage 4 breast cancer; in that time, I have, unfortunately, developed a few more health concerns. In the next few blog posts, I'm going to focus on the other health concerns; sharing with you the research I've done on how to manage/care for them. The newest health concern of mine is a peptic ulcer; I had to have abdominal surgery, to repair a perforated stomach, because the ulcer had become a life-threatening situation. I didn't realize I even had an ulcer, until I was told my stomach had ruptured. That's what's known as a "silent ulcer"; they're caused by overuse of NSAIDs; and there are no symptoms. For years, I've been taking too much Ibuprofen (1K mg at a time), too often (multiple times a week); you could say I was addicted to it. It became the only pain reliever I could use, that didn't make me feel loopy, like narcotics do. Having become addicted to it, my stomach reacted and formed the ulce...

Happy Thanksgiving to my American fans; may this day find you blessed and healthy ! To all of my fans, wherever you are, I count each and every one of you as a blessing; and I am grateful to have you in my life! This year has been a very difficult year for everyone; what we thought was going to be another "flu season" has endured the entire year; it has caused more deaths, unemployment, and hardships than any other pandemic in history.  But, those of us who have survived this year, have that to be thankful for...we're still here! There is hope, on the horizon! I am especially thankful for the breath in my lungs, considering I almost died back in August ! It is crystal clear to me, that my journey on this planet is not completed, yet. And while I can still draw breath, I have decided to make the most of the time that has been given to me. Bonus points to anyone who can tell me what movie I just referenced! As you navigate though your day, whether you are with your loved on...

Do any of you know an alcoholic, or a drug addict? If you do, then you understand how difficult it is for them to abstain from the substance they're addicted to; or, you should understand that. Addiction is a powerful disease, that nobody ever realizes they have, until they're deep in it. Sure, they "try" the alcohol, or the drugs; but in just trying it, they're not aware that they're eventually going to get hooked on it. That may not even become a reality for them, once they are hooked. I am a junk food junkie; addicted to fast food, and junk food, the way an alcoholic/drug addict is addicted to booze and/or drugs. I can't just have one (fill in the blank), or a taste, or "just a little bit". The cravings get bigger, the more I try to control the amount of junk food I eat. It's best for me to abstain from eating fast food, or junk food; and living in a world that makes bad eating habits sexy or hip, is not an easy thing for me to do! I ...

I was fat-shamed by a stranger, this afternoon. Typically, I wouldn’t give two shits about what anyone thinks of me, but he blindsided me. What he said hurt me; and it shouldn’t have. Back story….yesterday, I commented on the health and environmental benefits of going vegan, on one of the Facebook pages I'm a fan of, and had all manner of replies from a few people, which I dealt with; it was a heated exchange of opinions vs. facts. However, nobody has said anything else in that conversation thread, for a while; then, suddenly the fat-shamer shows his ugliness. Not only did this person insult me, belittle me, and call me out for being overweight (as if my being fat was the sole cause of everything that was wrong with the world); he also used my portion of the thread against me. He twisted everything I had previously said to the others, and made it all about how much I don't deserve to feel that way....because I'm fat. This was my reply to the attack... " In cas...

I just celebrated my seven year Cancerversary, this month; I was elated, once I'd realized what day it was (July 3rd), after helping my daughter get the kids ready to go to daycare. I'm still here...I'm still alive!! But, I'm not where I want to be, in my journey. I have, unfortunately, lived my life giving up on myself; everything I do (including most hobbies), I simply dabble at, rather than making a commitment to something that will enrich my life. I always try...but never do.   Like Luke, I must unlearn what I have learned. Even during the l ast seven years, while fighting Metastatic Breast Cancer ; if you've been following me, for that long, you've seen me slide back into old, unhealthy habits. Habitual dabbling is a habit I formed, early in childhood; and one that I need to break. I don't want to die, any time soon! As a result of a lifetime of giving up on myself, I've developed (or I'm on the verge of developing) a number of fat...

On April 30th, I met my new Oncologist....and fired him. Actually, I didn't fire him, I just told him I was tired of doing things the conventional way. I need a break! We talked about what I had in mind to do, as far as alternative modalities, and I asked him if there was any way to monitor my progress without causing me any further anxiety or unwellness. I explained to him, that the last time I had a scan I was physically ill, the entire rest of the day; and my body doesn't seem to want any more Rx drugs. I asked him about monitoring tumor markers, and he told me that since that's not a reliably accurate system, he's reluctant to use it. He said my markers could be down, but if I have any inflammation in my body, they'll show as being elevated, when they're not. He told me the only reliable way to monitor my condition is by way of scans; I can't do those, anymore. I can't lay flat. At the end of our conversation, he said if I need him again, he's ...

My therapist said something, the other day, that turned on an interesting "light bulb" in my brain; I updated her on my current health concerns (recent diagnosis of high cholesterol), and what I had planned to do about it. And she told me that some people can manage just fine, with baby steps, while others need to go cold turkey. And then she asked me if I knew which one of those applied to me. I stopped smoking, over 15 years ago...by going cold turkey. When I lived in Knoxville, TN for a year (back in 2015), I began my vegetarian lifestyle....by going cold turkey. After I recovered from being paralyzed (while living in GA, back in 2016), I notice I started taking baby steps, back to healthy; and my health is getting worse, not better. I'm not good at baby steps. It seems that that particular approach gives me too much leeway, to drift back into old habits; and it's my old habits that are causing all these health issues! I have to be the one who goes cold tu...

My first blog of 2018!! 🎉 Wow...I am so excited, and feel incredibly blessed,  that I'm still alive! As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, back in 2012; and, according to medical science, I'm supposed to be dead. For the last 5.5 years, I've been living on borrowed time, but not really...living. For a while I've been plugging myself as "The Savvy Survivor", and I've really tried to live by that persona. Being savvy, while in the care of others, has proven to be very difficult! Most of the time, I still eat what everyone else eats; and, I still struggle with food addictions. No offense to those who love me, but I really wish they'd stop feeding me normal food! I don't want it, but I have trouble saying "no". I've even gained weight, that had previously been shed. This year, I'll have to get a little more assertive with them. I don't want to live with cancer, anymore; and I certainly d...

As we get closer to New Year's Eve, many of us are figuring out our New Year's Resolutions. What do we want to accomplish,  next year? Is there anything about ourselves that we can improve upon? Any goals we'd like to reach? I used to make Resolutions every year, and break them within a few months. Mine weren't just about losing weight, either....I used to set personal, and professional goals, year after year. In fact the last one I made was to never make another New Year's Resolution, again. I learned, about 20 years ago, I'm not good at keeping promises I make to myself; so there was no point in making them, anymore. Here's the ironic part....that one is the only one I've ever kept! If you're going to make a New Year's Resolution, which is essentially a promise to yourself, make sure it's one you know you'll stick to! Stop setting unattainable goals; stop giving up on improving the magnificence that is you! Whatever you want...go g...