Title: Celebrating a Milestone: Cancer-Free and Moving Forward
February 21, 2024, is a date that will forever hold significance in my life. It marked the end of my four rounds of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma stage 2. It was a journey filled with uncertainty, strength, and resilience. Now, almost a year later, I am beyond grateful to share that my most recent PET scan confirmed—I am still cancer-free!
Receiving the official confirmation was a moment of relief, gratitude, and overwhelming emotion. This past year has been about healing, both physically and mentally. The battle against cancer doesn’t just stop when treatment ends; it lingers in the fears of recurrence, the adjustments to a new normal, and the continuous effort to regain strength and energy.
Through it all, I’ve learned so much about myself. I’ve discovered just how strong I truly am, how vital support from loved ones is, and how important it is to take care of myself in every way possible. This experience has changed my perspective on life—every day is a gift, and every moment with my family is precious.
However, my health journey is not over. I am still facing pitting edema in my legs, which was the first sign of my cancer diagnosis, and now I am dealing with unknown medical issues. Despite having nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, my thyroid, kidney, liver, and heart all look great according to my doctors. Recently, I gained 20 pounds in just 14 days, which my doctor attributes to water retention. I have started a new medication in hopes that it will help with some of these issues, including weight loss. If it does not work, I do have a referral in for bariatric surgery, though I would prefer to lose the weight on my own.
We are currently awaiting the results of my autoimmune lab tests to gain more insight into what may be causing these symptoms. In the process, we discovered that at some point, I had both mono and cat scratch fever—neither of which I had previously known about.
I want to take this opportunity to thank my incredible support system—my husband, Spencer, my children, KayLynn, Braydin, and Charity, my friends, and everyone who stood by me through this journey. Your encouragement, love, and unwavering support carried me through the hardest days.
Moving forward, my focus is on embracing wellness, prioritizing my health, and continuing to live life to the fullest. My battle with cancer is a chapter in my story, but it does not define me. Instead, it has given me a newfound appreciation for life, resilience, and a mission to encourage others who may be facing similar struggles.
To anyone currently fighting their own battle—please know you are not alone. Keep pushing forward, hold onto hope, and trust that brighter days are ahead.
Today, I celebrate life, health, and the promise of the future. Here’s to many more cancer-free milestones ahead!
#CancerSurvivor #CancerFree #Gratitude #HealingJourney #StrongerThanCancer
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