One year after breast cancer diagnosis, this is a day in the life of a warrior. You know, I've decided that I prefer the term warrior princess. You're welcome.
6:00am Roll over and hit the snooze button. OK. I'm lazy. So sue me. 6:10 Actually, wake up. Wake 19 year old up so that he can get ready for work. Drink a glass of lemon water. Get beautiful.
7:00am Dressed, hair done, makeup on. Make bed. Drink a glass of keifer. (During the school year, pack up work stuff . . . rolling office, computer, lessons for the day, etc). Fix a hot cup of tea or a cup of bulletproof coffee. Pack up all my meds so that I have everything ready for today's doctor appointment.
8:00am Hydrated and fed. It's med time part 1. Vitamins. I take some heavy duty vitamins every day -- vitamin Bs and Ds plus iron supplements. On Tuesdays, I administer 2 intramuscular shots of molten lava, I mean vitamin B complex and vitamin B12, into my heiney. Today, it was just oral vitamins . . . thank goodness! For the pain and inflammation associated with nerve damage and Lymphedema, Advil. Put dinner in the crock pot and wash the dishes. (During the school year, work starts. I've been working as an Instructional Design and Delivery Specialist for 2 years focusing on secondary education at our comprehensive high school and our alternative education high school sites. Next year, I will be reassigned to a K-8. I'm thinking of it as a learning experience. Since, I'll be starting my administrative credentialing program this summer, I think that it will be a good opportunity to learn about content levels that I have not yet experienced. )
9:30 - 11:00 Stop to get gas. The 65 mile drive to see my oncologist. That's this week's doctor visit. I travel to Bakersfield or Valencia about once a week for various appointments. (During the school year, I would be working. At work, I coach teachers, model teaching in the classroom, work with students in various capacities from pulling small groups for reading, writing, or math strategies to helping students with advanced projects for their Exhibition Night presentations or senior exit interviews. I do a lot of writing in the areas of Adult Curriculum for our teachers, assessments for my sites, grants, and accreditation documents. It's extremely mentally and sometimes physically taxing.) Protein shake with protein powder number 1. Yes. You read that right. Double protein. Gag!
12:30 - 2:00 The 65 mile drive home from the doctor's office. This visit went really well! I'm up to 120 pounds. This is still hard for me. I have to be honest. Putting on weight, even though I need it, freaks me out A LOT! No swelling in my arm -- only in my hand. Everything is a go for surgery next week!
2:00 Run errands. Meds part 2. Mood stabilizers. Did you know that taking hormone blockers causes extreme changes in how your brain works? Moodiness, anxiety, short term memory loss, fuzzy thinking, the loss of "words" (forgetting common words or names). Fun stuff! Plus this whole health thing is a bit stressful. Take care of medical paper work which is a never ending chore. Register with hospital for next week's surgery. Protein shake with protein powder number 2. Terribly gross protein, by the way.
3:00 Finally home. Workout with my daughter. Not only does this keep me in shape, it gives me a chance to spend time with my daughter and with my grandson. Arms day since I'm still not allowed to lift weights or run. (During the school year, I do this at 4:30 when I get off work.)
4:00 Clean my house. I'm super OCD about this. On Mondays, I vacuum. On Tuesdays, I mop. On Wednesdays, I clean bathrooms. On Thursdays, I clean glass (mirrors, windows, etc). On Fridays, I take care of my plants and patios. There are also everyday chores like cleaning counters, sweeping, dusting, and laundry. Meds part 3. Tramadol in the afternoon for the pain on my right side where my lymph nodes were removed. (During the school year, I do the house work at 7:00.)
5:30 Cook dinner. Talk to my son about his day at work while I cook. Chicken tacos tonight.
7:00 Me time. Creativity. Arts. Music. Writing. I choose how to spend my time, and I choose to make and experience beauty.
My son told me the other day that I am turning into an old lady like my grandma. He said I wear dresses, cook tons of food nobody will ever eat, and I have some craft project going all the time. I'm totally OK with being like my grandma. She was an awesome woman! She did have a penchant for taking care of crazy people. Don't get me wrong. I'm a strong advocate for mental illness and equality, but that's not what I'm talking about here. If I start hanging out with people who set themselves on fire or strip naked in trailer parks, then will someone please remind me that this is not healthy? (During the school year, I have Me Time at 9:00.)
10:00 Meds part 4. Klonapin so that I can sleep and don't have to experience anxiety associated with the hormone blockers and PTSD. The lovely Tamoxifen that makes my hair fall out, keeps me from gaining any weight, and generally makes me feel blah. I promise I'm not complaining. This is just part of life now. I'm actually very grateful for all of these lovely meds, because I am getting healthier every single day. (Those of you in secondary education understand that this time of year, you work until you fall asleep. Last week, I worked until midnight helping seniors with feedback on projects and credits two nights in a row. I have learned so much this year, but as my students know . . . learning is exhausting. I've learned how strong I really am, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I have learned how to take care of me before I take care of others. Every single day, I listen to my body and what it is capable of. If it needs a day off, I give it a day off. If it is super energetic, I use it to my advantage. I've learned that challenges are really blessings. They teach us to be the kind of people we want to be. I've learned what real love is, and it's not necessarily romantic love. It's about supporting each other, knowing when to say, "I'm sorry," unconditional affection, and empathy.)
11:00 Blessed sleep.
So, there you have it. A day in the life of a warrior princess. I hope that you have learned that even when a cancer survivor is in remission, our lives are forever changed. Just because there is not an evil mass of cancer living in my chest, doesn't mean that everything has gone back to normal. I wish it was all more exciting. Actually, it will be. As I get stronger and healthier, great things are to come. Adventure, travel, romance, passion. It's on it's way people. Stay tuned!