Hello hello hello all... it's been quite some time since I posted but I wanted to share that my most recent scan (a couple of weeks ago) came back clean as a whistle!! I am still cancer-free!! I am currently scheduling scans every 6 months for monitoring, but as each year of remission passes, chance of recurrence gets smaller and smaller as I get closer to "cure" status at the 5-year post-chemo mark. I am proud to say I made it a year and I am finally finding some normalcy in my life... I am preparing to graduate in December (and my hair is now chin-length.. hah). I sure have come a long way and I couldn't thank each and every one of my supporters enough for being by my side through my speed bump in life. The cards, flowers, fruit baskets, gifts, balloons, hugs, words of support, prayers, and purple garb couldn't be more appreciated. Know that you helped to put me in remission and your continual support is keeping me there... thank you, thank you!!
XO Teresa
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
CANCER-to-5K
Hello friends. After being beat down from chemo, I've decided it's time to get back on my feet and move again. While I would get on the treadmill now and again since treatments ended, I wasn't really motivated annnd motivation is exactly what I needed. Miss. Amanda came through asking me to run the UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine 5K Run with her. I wasn't feeling I would be prepared to run the half or full marathon so when they announced that a 5K was added to the Pittsburgh Marathon weekend, it was a go!! Today I started The Couch-to-5K Running Plan . I personally like to call it the CANCER-to-5K Running Plan.... seems a bit more fitting for me. :) Only time will tell if it works, but let's hope so.
I mentioned how I have issues with motivation... this post is not so much to keep everyone updated on my progress, but rather motivate me as you all are now waiting to see how I do come 5K day. Heck, I got through 6 months of ABVD... I can do this!!
I mentioned how I have issues with motivation... this post is not so much to keep everyone updated on my progress, but rather motivate me as you all are now waiting to see how I do come 5K day. Heck, I got through 6 months of ABVD... I can do this!!
Look for these smiles on the finish line May 14th. :)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
THUMBS UP!!
Hello all... I just wanted to give you a quick update... a bit late.
As most of you know, my January follow-up was clean as a whistle. We had quite a time finding a vein this time for the PET/CT and bloodwork since I no longer have my port. SEVEN pokes later.. I finally was set with my IV. Anddddd after all of that, I found out in my appointment a few days later that my bloodwork was lost... poof!, gone, like it never existed. Not in the computer system or ANYTHING. SON OF A UUUGH. However, while the bloodwork is great to have, it's the scan that really matters, and it was clean. PHEW. CANCER FREE!! It quickly became a tradition that clean scans = dinner at Mallorca so off we went!! Sorry.. no dinner pics this time!! :)
My hair is growing like CRAZY. It's more curly and full than ever before. For a while, I said I wanted to embrace the pixie, but I'm really wanting something different. So...I'm going to attempt to let it grow. My biggest fear is the awkward in-between stage where it may begin morphing into a mullet. If any of you think it's looking borderline mullet, PLEASE tell me. I will not be offended in any way. I'd actually be very thankful. haha The hair growth process should be interesting to say the least.
As far as my pharmacy schooling/career goes, I plan to be done in December. Not too shabby for having cancer, eh? I'm really excited for my upcoming rotations...especially those focusing on oncology. I'd like to chalk up the whole Hodge situation and say things happen for a reason. Perhaps oncology will be a direction that I never considered before and my personal experience needed to happen to spark my interest. Only time will tell.
My next follow-up will be the week of Easter.. until then, I'll be enjoying spring and celebrating a birthday where I DON'T have to go to a fertility consult. Thank goodness!! Thanks for the continual support and prayers throughout this past year. It's been quite a journey and I'm so grateful for the normalcy that is FINALLY back in my life.
As most of you know, my January follow-up was clean as a whistle. We had quite a time finding a vein this time for the PET/CT and bloodwork since I no longer have my port. SEVEN pokes later.. I finally was set with my IV. Anddddd after all of that, I found out in my appointment a few days later that my bloodwork was lost... poof!, gone, like it never existed. Not in the computer system or ANYTHING. SON OF A UUUGH. However, while the bloodwork is great to have, it's the scan that really matters, and it was clean. PHEW. CANCER FREE!! It quickly became a tradition that clean scans = dinner at Mallorca so off we went!! Sorry.. no dinner pics this time!! :)
My hair is growing like CRAZY. It's more curly and full than ever before. For a while, I said I wanted to embrace the pixie, but I'm really wanting something different. So...I'm going to attempt to let it grow. My biggest fear is the awkward in-between stage where it may begin morphing into a mullet. If any of you think it's looking borderline mullet, PLEASE tell me. I will not be offended in any way. I'd actually be very thankful. haha The hair growth process should be interesting to say the least.
As far as my pharmacy schooling/career goes, I plan to be done in December. Not too shabby for having cancer, eh? I'm really excited for my upcoming rotations...especially those focusing on oncology. I'd like to chalk up the whole Hodge situation and say things happen for a reason. Perhaps oncology will be a direction that I never considered before and my personal experience needed to happen to spark my interest. Only time will tell.
My next follow-up will be the week of Easter.. until then, I'll be enjoying spring and celebrating a birthday where I DON'T have to go to a fertility consult. Thank goodness!! Thanks for the continual support and prayers throughout this past year. It's been quite a journey and I'm so grateful for the normalcy that is FINALLY back in my life.
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