Two years and 50 sticks later...the good and the heart breaking

Wow, so it's been almost five months since I updated this blog. The biggest reason why is that my cancer has been quiet and stable. In fact, I've been on Afinitor & Faslodex for two years almost exactly. This means I've had 50 butt shots (thanks for that term Shell)! But most importantly, it's working.

In the meantime, things have happened, some good some heart breaking. And many day to day in between. 

 I'll start with the good. Since that October post I went to my first in person breast cancer conference, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. There were two almost equally amazing things- the science and the people! I learned so much about treatments, pathology, diagnostics, and even a little on the microbiome. I was back to interacting with poster presenters, asking questions but also talking to them about GRASP and inviting them to participate. GRASP is an awesome organization led by two amazing people with MBC; it's goal is to connect researchers and advocates to learn from each other. Suffice it to say, my science soul was well fed. And I met so many people I'd only seen on zoom or twitter or emailed. Connecting with these amazing people and advocates was also good for my soul. Most of the work I've done in the advocate space has been since 2020 (COVID, pandemic etc.) meaning almost entirely virtual. Running into people, chatting, sharing ideas and information is just priceless. Unless we get full on virtual reality for conferences, nothing will match an in person experience for me.

Seeing family during the December holidays was wonderful! We made a quick trip to NYC to see the brother and New Mexico of course to see Will's family. Every time we head to NM we try to see a new corner of the state, and let me tell you that state is blessed with natural beauty of various and sundry types. It's amazing. We went north this time near Ojo Caliente, hiked to a mica mine, soaked up the hot springs on the solstice, and got to spend time with a former colleague and friend whose family lives near there. I had a great time traipsing through the woods with her and her husband. And just catching up. Also...the food in NM...yummmm.

 

 

 

 

 

I've been getting deeper into MBC advocacy- training as a mentor through Project Life and currently writing a monthly science column for them. The first, on hormone receptor positive breast cancer and treatments, can be found here. I applied for a breast cancer advocacy training program and was just informed I was accepted. Excited to learn more. In that same vein, I'm planning on attending some conferences this spring and summer as well. As always, not committing to much more than 3-4 months out, but there are a couple in April and May I'm going to.

 

On the heart breaking side, my friend Anne Crecelius died of MBC on February 26th. I knew Anne a little before I was diagnosed, through Joe mostly, as well as running into her at a teaching conference. But MBC brought us closer. When I was diagnosed she sent me a care package of bracelets, a comic book and a note welcoming me to this shitty club. We spent a lot of time texting about MBC, life, philosophy, and death. We shared a love of teaching and commiserated over academia. A year and a half ago we went kayaking, this past September we walked to raise money for the Karen Wellington Foundation. Anne is (ugh, I typed that but couldn't bring myself to erase it) was incredibly generous. I've found myself almost texting her several times since her death...just little things. 

In her memory I recommit to her ABCs- Adventure, yes. Bullshit, no. Cancer, fuck off. Although I'm going to add another A for myself, for advocacy. 

She was 37.

If you would like to donate in her memory, here are her requests: American Physiological Society “Anne Crecelius Memorial Fund” Click Here to donate. University of Dayton “The Professor Anne R. Crecelius Fund for Innovation in Learning and Teaching” Click Here METAvivor Click Here

I was going to type more, but that's it for now. Hug your friends and family, don't leave any good thing unsaid, and take care of yourselves.