Cancer Takes a Back Seat
You’d think going back to school would slow things down a bit, but life has a funny way of proving you wrong. In the past 4-6 weeks, we’ve launched back into the school routine, added football, soccer, and gymnastics to the mix, and for extra fun, I’ve started up immunotherapy again. Oh, and just to keep things spicy, I got hit in the school parking lot (because why not?), received calls from the principal, and dealt with an abscessed tooth on Quinley that we are yet to pull. Plus, we had to take her in for X-rays because, of course, there’s always something. Monkey bars 1, Quinley 0. Honestly, cancer has had to take a back seat right now because life is just that wild around here.
The Best News: No Radiation Needed!
Now, the most exciting news—and the part I’ve been dying to share—is that I found out I don’t need radiation! This was an actual jump-for-joy moment. Not only does this mean I won’t have to go through the physical toll of radiation, but it also fast-tracks my second surgery, which is now scheduled for November 26. If I had needed radiation, my surgery would’ve been pushed back for another 9 months after completing radiation. That would have meant waiting even longer while radiation trashed my skin. And here’s another layer of luck: my plastic surgeon, the one who’s been with me through this whole process, is leaving her practice on November 28. If I had needed radiation, I wouldn’t have been able to have her perform the second surgery at all. So yeah, this news was a big win.
Immunotherapy Fatigue
On the health front, I’ve restarted immunotherapy and had two treatments since. The only real symptom I’m feeling from that is fatigue. It’s nothing crazy, but I’ve definitely felt it—especially after the weekends when it seems to hit hardest. Other than that, things on the medical front have been relatively smooth, and I’m grateful for that.
The Unexpected Downside of Being "Cancer-Free"
Here’s the weird part: you’d think with the “cancer-free” label and the news of no radiation, I’d be celebrating nonstop. But honestly, I’ve been feeling more down than I have this entire journey. It’s like all this time I’ve been in fight mode, running on adrenaline and sheer determination, and now that I’ve been given this break to breathe, it’s all settling in. I think part of the sadness comes from trying to figure out what “normal” even looks like anymore. I’ve been through so much change that it’s hard to know where to start. It’s like stepping off a rollercoaster and realizing the world is still spinning, even though the ride is over.
So, here’s where I’ve landed: what even is “normal” anyway? We spend so much of our lives trying to fit into a version of normal that we think we’re supposed to achieve—whether it’s with our health, our careers, or our personal lives. But cancer, and everything I’ve been through, has taught me that normal is overrated. Normal is a box we shove ourselves into to feel like we’re part of the crowd. But the truth is, our uniqueness is what makes us powerful. Our differences, our struggles, our wins, and even our losses—they shape us into something extraordinary. I may not know what my new normal is yet, but I’m okay with that. This journey has changed me, and I’m not looking back. Cancer may have stolen a lot, but what it can never take away is my will to define my life on my own terms. Fuck cancer. She’s got nothing on me.