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My treatment was six rounds of chemotherapy (to shrink the massive tumor that had spread), then a double mastectomy, then a little rest and recovery before starting six weeks of radiation, followed by some more rest and recovery, then the implant exchange, reconstruction, and ovary removal. Chemo was the most difficult part of my journey, however, it was also the most important part. I was deemed cancer-free at the time of my double mastectomy, which meant that chemo definitely worked.

I was given two chemo drugs, six rounds, and three weeks apart. I began my rounds January 7th, last one on April 24th. Funny, but you will never forget the important milestone dates, especially my five year cancer-free marker, May 24th, 2022. I had no idea what chemo would be like, I was definitely scared of the unknown, but also curious. “What would chemo feel like? I was never a ‘sick person,’ I didn’t know what that would even look like. I realized that the idea of what might happen is worse than what is actually happening. I always recommend staying as present with chemo as much as possible, slowly taking one day at a time, knowing that every day is a day closer to the end of chemo. I felt the most sick on the first five days after each round, but I was still able to work. By day seven, I would feel much better, making me so happy to feel normal. I definitely napped a lot more, I didn’t make a lot of social plans, but I did continue to do things that I loved to do, and Larry and I sometimes planned weekend getaways to break it up. The closer it got to the end, the more tired I was. And the first few days after chemo I started to feel more nauseous. There was always a little fear, “what if I never feel normal again?” But I always reassure patients, YOU WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL, just take your time, try and see chemo like a “chemo-cleanse,” and try to see chemo as medicine that is saving your life. Chemo is your friend, not your enemy, and it will help rid your body of cancer cells. Say a prayer, allowing chemo to do its job. To read more, check out this BLOG post.

I think everyone is different. And there are many stages in feeling “back to normal.” But I would guess I felt back to normal in a year, maybe a year and a half. But it’s a “new normal,” there is much more gratitude for feeling “good,” much more amazement about how the body can get so beat down and then make its way back to health, and you have much more awareness about being a superwoman. We all have this in us, to heal from within, no matter what. We just have to be patient, and hold space for our beautiful bodies to heal.

I was told by my oncologist to eat a balanced diet, and not to worry about giving up anything. During chemo, your taste buds change. I am a coffee drinker, and yet, after every round of chemo, I hated coffee. I hated the smell, and I also hated the fact that I hated it! My one morning ritual was halted, and in the beginning, I worried that my taste buds would never come back to normal. However, I am once again, a loving, coffee drinker. I am also a red wine lover. After chemo, red wine tasted SO good, like grape juice, so I really enjoyed my wine in the beginning. But then it started to change, and wine didn’t taste so great. So I listened to my body and ate what I could and passed on what turned me off. I probably “made” myself eat red meat once a week, for the iron. During chemo, I had so many sores in my mouth, so sometimes it was ice cream and popsicles, and sometimes I only wanted salty things. I told myself, “This must be like being pregnant.” I just went with what my body craved, not worrying about “following a specific, strict, diet plan.” I love greens, veggies, fish, sweet potatoes, and drinking lots of water. So I knew that once chemo was over, I would go back to my regular eating routine. I still believe a balanced diet is key, eating everything in moderation, avoiding sugar as best as you can while eating lots of greens, and enjoying a “cheat day” once in a while! There’s a great book called, HOW TO STARVE CANCER by Jane McLelland that I recommend.

Regardless of what religion you identify with, the human spirit often finds solace, strength, and healing in the profound practices of prayer and meditation. Amidst the whirlwind of medical procedures and emotional turbulence, these ancient and deeply spiritual practices become beacons of light, illuminating the path with hope and resilience. I have developed a meditation practice ever since cancer, and it’s been such an amazing tool, that I have continued to practice daily. You cannot change what is happening around you, but you can definitely change what is happening within you. My goal is always to keep the peace and love inside of me that is always there, remaining non-reactive, calm, and present, no matter what is going on around me. I have experienced the God within me. I realize now, we are all made up of this energy, Source, the Universe, and we have everything we need to exist. To know who we are is the most powerful superpower we can embrace.