Hello everyone, and Happy New Year.

I know it’s been a while since my last update. Apparently, living life and having cancer at the same time is a little time-consuming. We had a wonderful trip to Italy and were blessed with a beautiful holiday season spent with our kids. We are so grateful and truly blessed. ❤️

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since I first started this blog. I appreciate every one of you who has followed along, checked in, prayed, and sent good thoughts our way. We have made progress, though not as much as we would have hoped. I’ll be honest,  I’m about over having cancer. I would like to unsubscribe, cancel the membership. lol. 

Unfortunately, this is the reality we live with daily, and we must continue this journey with positivity and faith.

God has also given me a few reality checks along the way, reminders that it could always be worse. I see so much at the cancer center. As I was waiting to have my port accessed and blood drawn, I was having a little pity party for myself (no balloons, but a dramatic inner dialogue that I am very good at creating). Sitting next to me was a young woman in her twenties with her mom, surrounded by tubs and bags. My heart broke for both of them, and I was reminded once again to keep my perspective.

From September through December, I completed six more rounds of chemotherapy. It was the same drug I had been on, and we hoped it would hold back the lung tumors. Unfortunately, it wasn’t strong enough to make progress.

My scan on December 29 showed that the lung tumors did grow. They are still small, but there are numerous ones, which is what works against me. My CEA number is hovering around 10-11 so that is at least a low number. If you recall we were ecstatic when it came down to 18 in the Spring so we are being positive that it has not spiked higher. I’ve continued to feel relatively well, which has made it mentally challenging to accept the need for new treatments. However, if I was going to give this another shot, and with this chemo having about a 50 percent chance( I have been given much worse, BTW) of effectiveness, now is the time. 

On January 5, I began my next round of treatment. We added a second chemotherapy drug along with Avastin. The hope is that this combination will shrink the tumors enough to allow for radiation. With these new treatments come additional challenges, including increased fatigue and hair loss. So if you see me rocking new headwear or canceling plans, just know it’s not personal, it’s chemo. Nineteen treatments and counting is a lot to put my body through. Even so, I still have great hope and truly believe I can continue to heal.

Over the next three months, I will continue all of my alternative treatments, focus on eating well, and, like many of you in this new year, reset and commit to healthier habits.

I’m still doing many of the things I started with, though there is always something new or different to learn. I have to keep an open mind and continue doing the work. Up until now, if you passed me on the street, you wouldn’t know I have cancer, but that will likely change. Cancer has a way of eventually ignoring my desire to look “normal.”

I remind myself often that I didn’t get this sick overnight, and healing will take time.

The world we live in is full of toxins and unhealthy food. I get asked this often, so here are the top changes I would recommend to help lower your risk of developing cancer, which unfortunately will continue to rise if we don’t make changes.

First, reduce alcohol consumption. I no longer drink at all, though I know that isn’t realistic for everyone. Dave’s rule is simple: if it’s a celebration, he’ll enjoy a drink, but regular drinking isn’t good for anyone. I am grateful that he is taking his health as seriously as I take mine these days. 

Second, aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. This one is hard for me, but I’m committing to being more consistent. Consistency may look different than it did in my pre-cancer life, and that’s okay.

Third, clean up your diet. Seed oils, sugar and processed foods aren’t helping anyone. Read labels. Before going through a drive-thru, ask yourself if it’s truly the best choice and if the answer is still yes sometimes we give ourselves grace.

Fourth, reduce plastic exposure. Microplastics are a real problem. Start with simple changes like ditching plastic cutting boards, avoiding disposable water bottles, using glass containers, and never microwaving plastic. No one needs to overhaul their entire life overnight but pick one thing and go from there.

Fifth, manage stress. We live in a chaotic, fast-paced world. Pause. Breathe. Take a lunch break. Pay attention to how the people around you impact your emotional well-being. Meditate, it can make a world of difference.

Finally, prioritize sleep. Sleep is when our bodies repair and heal. Make the time, set a routine, and stick to it. I struggled deeply with sleep before getting sick, and my body was sending me warning signs I didn’t recognize at the time. I’ve been using CBD oil as part of my healing, and it has dramatically improved my sleep. It didn’t happen overnight, so be patient and stay consistent. Turns out healing, like sleep, doesn’t respond well to pressure.

Thank you again for all the prayers, love, and support. I will continue to lean on that, because it truly means more than I can express.

Dave and I have been reminded over and over this past year that this is a really crappy situation, cancer is awful, and love has been louder. We are incredibly blessed by the people in our lives who show up for us, often before we even realize we need them.

I am deeply grateful for my supportive husband and our kids. I know many people don’t have that, and I never take it for granted.

I’ll continue to update when I can. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to say, and sometimes I’m just figuring this out as we go.

With love and gratitude,

Michelle