One Year Check-up in Vancouver!

A year ago I completed my chemotherapy and started tamoxifen. I have one more year of tamoxifen. Dr. Gelmon does not want to see me until next August. She will then start me on Anastrozole for 3 years; then I'll be free and clear :)I had a great check up. We had a chat about Bev because, of course, she was Bev's doctor for 13 years. She marveled at Bev's courage and spoke about talking with Bev just days before she passed away. Sad. Bloody cancer!

After my appointment with Karen Gelmon, Jordyn and I whipped across the street to see Andrea and Sheina (plastic surgeon). Thank God I did. I slipped in for a quick hello AND I got taken in for a consult! It looks like next summer I will go under the knife. A little lipo suction here and a little tuck there . . . I cannot wait. These dog ears on my hips are gross. They are flaps of skin that I have to tuck in to my waistband. On low cut pants - it's a mushroom situation. REALLY attractive!


All is well and I am healthy! If the flaps are my biggest problem . . . it's a no brainer. Suck it up buttercup - or should I say butterball!

Metabolism Booster

I have just about completed 2 weeks of my metabolism boosting meal plan. I have lost 12 pounds and I feel energy plus! This will give me a good kick start to Clean Eating. After our trip to Vernon/Kelowna/Vancouver - our home will be using the meal plan from the Fall 2008 edition of Clean Eating. I have my food processor ready to go! There is even zucchini hummus! slurpy!

A Year Later

Last year, at this time, I finished my last chemo treatment. I am amazed at my slow recovery time. I am a buck up and get at it person, but holy moly - not this time. I had last fall off from work to recoup. I grew some hair and began to exercise. I felt great heading into the new year. I went back to teach in the second semester. I tried to exercise, but was too exhausted. Summer could not come fast enough. I was able to keep a working schedule and that was it.

This summer I have slept more than ever! A position even remotely close to horizontal has me snoring away in no time. I have had zero energy. I even had to quit jogging!

I have learned to listen to my body. I now walk, and I am exercising at a reasonable rate. If I am exhausted, I stop and rest. I am on a metabolism boosting meal plan and I have lost some weight. I am feeling better than ever. Slow and steady wins the race. I have learned to SLOW down.

TIT's Travel to Portland

In July, the TIT's went to join Chrissy and see her new world in Portland. I thought it would be a sad and heavy trip without our beloved Bev. Much to my surprise - the trip was fantastic! Bev was with us in so many ways. We even had lunch with Bev's sister, Carol. She was unable to be at Bev's funeral due to back surgery and was thrilled to hang with the TIT's. She is so Bev-like. She is in the photo below with Chrissy.

We went to Chrissy's lodge at Mt Hood and had a greeeeeat time. Just the start the TITsters need to pick up and move on.