Life Lessons

I have a future… ?

Last week, for the first time in over a year and a half, I was able to take the advanced version of the power yoga class that I went to almost daily until my cancer treatment, subsequent surgeries, and recovery. And there was a moment during the class when I just started to cry. Tears streaming…

Reflections On My Year As A Cancer Patient

One year ago today, I got diagnosed with triple negative, stage 2 breast cancer. For those who have followed my blog, you know that even though I had recently tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation, which increases the chance for both breast and…

The Cancer Limbo

I’m recovering really well from the double mastectomy. I’ve been up and about, working, driving, seeing friends, doing errands. I’m even doing a scene reading at my theater next week (which terrifies me shitless, but that’s a whole other blog post). And I’m actually getting used to being…

Bye Bye, Boobies… a farewell on the eve of my double mastectomy

Chemo is finished, the ultrasound showed no tumor, and I have enjoyed the past few chemo-free weeks, each day getting stronger and more energetic, and truly enjoying every moment. I never thought that getting a pedicure…

Maybe (some musings from Chemo Holly)

We all know the sayings: Everything happens for a reason! Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans! If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans!

The Upswing, and getting ready for the new round of healing.

I can’t always be the positive girl. Sometimes, I go to the dark place. I have to, because those are the emotions I am experiencing. And I refuse to suppress my emotions. Doing so creates its own kind of cancer. Getting bad…

Please Stop Telling Me That Turmeric, or Love, or (Fill in the Blank) Will Cure My Cancer… because I used to believe it would too.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve had people come to me in ways that may have intended to be from love, or…

Meet Chemo Holly (let me tell you, she’s a peach.)

Twice now, there’s this girl who has shown up for about 7 days. I’m anticipating that she’ll visit 2–4 more times. I expected her to be tired, not feel well, have low energy, and have weird things going on with her body, but I didn’t expect the emotional and psychological…

Hair, Hair Everywhere

After my first chemo, I had two rough days where I couldn’t really get out of bed, but I bounced back very quickly, and apart from an early morning ER trip on day 5, getting tired easily, and having the world’s longest and strangest period (which will most likely be the last one for a long…

They Say It’s Your Birthday

For those who can remember what it sounds like, imagine an old school cassette player, out of which the Beatles are singing “They say it’s your birthday…” and then when it’s time for the da-na-na-na-na-na, the tape breaks and it starts playing in that awful slow motion which…