The BIG intro
Hi everyone!
it’s time to kick this thing off and state my purpose, claim my space and update everyone - I started backwards and wrote a post in the moment before I got a chance to intro.
Also this intro is 18 months late - the actual resurgence of Glitter Every Day started officially back in May 2022.
First of all, if you want and and have interest in the full catch up, my archives of my original Glitter Every Day blog posts from Blogger are here to be read. This was from my 2010 diagnosis of breast cancer when I was 42. I loved writing them, I love the support and words of love I received from them and sometimes I love re-visiting and seeing what inspired me then, how I coped then. It’s a reminder of my strength and vulnerability during that time and also, vain though it may sound, I can be inspired by myself. I can use some of my old tools and recycle them to this era, things I forgot…and I can be proud of my growth.
Back to now and the facts. Back in May 2022, oddly the sane month and I think the same week as May 2010, I was diagnosed with a return of the same cancer, and this time it’s what known as Stage IV, or metastatic breast cancer. I’ll explain exactly what this means I’m always surprised that people don’t know, but then most people aren’t in the cancer world like I have been. Metastatic breast cancer, or any cancer, is when the original cancer comes back or resurfaces, or METASTASIZES, in a different part of the body than the original site, usually bones or an organ. Breast cancer typically metastasizes in bones, lung, brain or liver.
In my case they found that it had appeared in 3 bone areas (all left side - rear low rib, 2 lower lumbar and hip), pleural effusion which is fluid surrounding the lung in the pleural space, and a smallish collarbone lymph node/lump. It was kind of a long path to get to this, starting in March with looking into various things I was feeling, but i don’t feel like detailing that here, I am more than happy to share one on one if anyone is having concerns, but I will say, don’t ignore weird stuff. Back in 2010 I said - don’t ignore boob stuff. Same thing, bigger deal.
All i’ll say is that with all of my being I did NOT want to go down the path of seeing my oncologist and facing this reality, anything but this. The worst fear of any cancer survivor, I became my own nightmare.
What I will try and do in this space moving forward is 3 fold:
sometimes post stream of consciousness posts from my heart and current emotions as I am moved
sometimes go back to my written journals over the past 18 months and speak of the journey in the early days, the growth the learning the incredible life altering awakenings, as these are essential for me to process and to also share
and finally share some practical practices and insights and tips that work for me
My goal is to heal myself with sharing and processing to hopefully inspire and help others to heal.
Lil secret that I’ll plant right here and will expand on over the months - I’m working right now on an 8 month long certification to be a Cancer Coach through the Cancer Journey Institute, so eventually this site will be a place to also hold offerings and legit support for my community!
Oh and not to leave you all hanging….I’m doing very well. I’ve been on treatment, which is oral medications since last July. I’m on a clinical trial (again I’ll share deets of the treatment on on one or in later posts for info purposes). I’m responding very well and side effects, although annoying, are thus far tolerable. I have bloodwork monthly, and more detail bloodwork and CT scans every 3 months to check for any changes. So far no progression, the bloodwork tumor markers they check for are in the normal range, my last bone scan showed no active cancer there and I feel mostly great! I work out, I lift weights, I do yoga, I do joyful things and most excitingly i’m flying again and traveling.
I’m going to do a separate post on my mindset to get to this place of living joyfully as this one is long enough.
I love you
Nanette