Swinging in my 5 year cancerversary!

The 31st of August is a day that doesn’t go unnoticed for me anymore.

For 25 years this was the day of my wedding anniversary and then in 2016, it became the day of my cancer diagnosis. Of course, cancer was in me long before this date however, it was the day that it became part of my conscious awareness and a major turning point in my life.

I wasn’t fully aware of how cancer was categorized, but I knew that stage IV was not a good label to be given. At first, the diagnosis was colorectal cancer and I thought that was a lot to deal with. Then the following week after more scans and tests I found out it had spread to different organs. Suddenly something that felt initially manageable grew into a dark foreboding storm.

I didn’t dare go onto google and look up what my stage meant exactly and where it would fall in the statistical curve of life and death. I couldn’t imagine any great benefits in googling cancer stats so I stayed away from that and focused on healing my body.

Over these five years, there have been many changes in my life and in my health. I hadn’t been focused on looking five years ahead and yet, here it has arrived and I am so grateful to be writing this blog post to you all. Something in me said, “OK it’s time to take a look at the stats on 5-year outcomes with the diagnosis I had.”

One afternoon I looked it up and read that statistically, 10% of people make it to 5 years.

I took a deep breath and felt very grateful to be at this point in my life.

I was feeling great and had just got back from a trip to Tuscany when I was thinking about having a party in August to mark this beautiful occasion of how far my body had healed since that initial diagnosis in 2016.

Then in July after a general checkup, I found myself needing a string of doctor appointments including more scans, a biopsy, and consultations. Lo and behold, some of those same old tumor cells were showing up again. While this was a big surprise to me, it was not an uncommon pattern of what I’ve experienced these last few years. I was determined to continue enjoying my summer without this dampening my spirits.

I decided that every day can be a celebration of making it this far. To always give thanks for a new day and to acknowledge that each day I am beating the odds of what my illness began as. Waiting for my body to be perfectly clear of all mutant cells before I feel justified in celebrating feels like an unrealistic expectation.

Let’s not forget that most of my body is incredibly healthy and doing an amazing job to keep me that way. There are a few stray cells that need attention and so they shall get some. Meanwhile, I’m going to keep the party going and spend time doing what I love.

This summer I’ve been able to travel, ride my 3 different types of bikes, swim, paddleboard, practice Qigong, dance, start writing my book, and spend more time with family and friends. All of this is truly a gift and even in the midst of dealing with more niggly health issues; a time to be grateful and to embrace all that life offers me.

What has become evidently important to me over these five years is realizing that I am not my diagnosis. I am a much grander, wiser, and healthier human being in so many ways, more so than a diagnosis could ever define me.

What health or life challenges have you been faced with and felt like you blew the lid open on and rose beyond what you thought was possible? Please share in the comments. It’s inspiring for all of us to know the kind of courage, inspiration, and hope that lives within each of you. When one person rises to a challenge, it helps someone else rise up to theirs.

Let’s all keep rising up together!

Rob Burke, a friend and colleague I met while working in Shanghai, China has been dedicating his August bike rides on P.E.I. (that’s Prince Edward Island, Canada) to raising awareness and money for kids living with cancer in the GREATCYCLECHALLENGE.CA

I am the last one he’s riding for this year on the 31st. I asked that he dedicate his final ride to my healing cancer journey to mark my 5 year celebration. Check out his greatcyclechallenge page and consider donating to help meet his goal of $2,500.

Feel free to share this post with your friends and those you know living with cancer.