When I was first diagnosed, I was going through a detailed mammogram diagnostic process as well. Mine was the 1 in 10 pulled for recall, and the tomosynthesis showed cysts, prompting a recommendation for an additional ultrasound. In the end, it was all summarized as ‘bilateral simple and complex cysts, benign.’ A relief, but in the moment, it definitely felt like waiting for the other cancer shoe to drop. I’m learning that a CLS diagnosis is a little bit like déjà vu.
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So this is what “normal” looks like.
I’m not sure where the last six months went. Well, I do know, but it surprises me that I’ve been less inclined to update here. For the year ahead, I’m setting the intention to keep this journal more current.
So what’s new? Both my Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Panel and Developmental Disorders Panel returned a ‘clean’ status on all counts. My most recent blood draw saw all my markers in the ‘normal’ range for the first time in two years, including iron and ferritin—two important markers for anyone training for longer distance races. These results are enough for my medical geneticist to want to investigate further—my clinical presentation doesn’t match my genetic profile, and that piques the interest of any researcher.
What this all means for my running is mostly good.
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Piecing together survivorship
Frustration … that’s what the last few weeks have felt like. On the one hand, my last thyroid biopsy came back benign, … breathe. My March CT scan was clear, … breathe. My genetics testing is in process and likely to confirm I have the PTEN mutation, one more piece of the puzzle falling into place … breathe.
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Genetics … the missing puzzle piece?
It turns out that even a routine referral to your periodontist can loop back to your cancer journey. Who knew? The interesting thing is that it may connect some dots. I have a ‘cobblestone’ pattern on my gums—tiny little clusters of bumps I’ve had forever—that my new dentist thought were worth evaluating ‘just to make sure.’ Cue the referral to an oral pathologist.
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On anniversaries, monitoring, and more waiting …
I’m discovering that anniversaries bring up interesting emotions. I expected to be writing about my 5k race for this post, but didn’t realize just how many feels it would create, falling as it did almost exactly a year after starting chemotherapy. And because I’ve been busy, since race day I also had my six month monitoring appointment for my thyroid nodules, with mixed results. So yeah, all the feels.
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2024 Wrapped
January is a time of reflection, and I’m no different in looking back at the year that was. It is common while you go through cancer treatment to feel like ‘it’s all a blur,’ so I’m glad my notekeeping habits let me review what happened.
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It’s been a year: Contemplating survivorship
It’s been four weeks since I wrapped my EBRT sessions—and my flu and Covid vaccine boosters were two Fridays ago. The flu shot was the thing that made me pause—because I’m no longer on active treatment. Yesterday, I saw my radiation oncologist for my first follow-up visit and I won’t see them again for six months. A whole new chapter is beginning to unfold—survivorship.
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Week 2: Radiotherapy and running
I don’t know why I’ve always been more anxious about radiotherapy than chemotherapy. Maybe it’s my embedded perceptions of radiation and the damage it can do. Like anything else, once you experience the process, it becomes less intimidating. Two weeks and 8 treatments in, I’ve gotten comfortable and developed a cadence with my Toronto Waterfront Marathon virtual race.
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New running goals and the end of life without eyebrows
Today is the Montréal Marathon and the weather gods have smiled on the crowd. 13C and sunny are lovely racing conditions, and I hope everyone toeing the line has a great race. Surprisingly, I don’t feel bad about shifting my plans and still being in my pyjamas as I write this. A leisurely Sunday morning with coffee is just fine.
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Running from hysteria 