Member Blogs

My Cancer Scare

As I sit here eating my crackers with smoked salmon and 12 year old aged cheddar cheese I realize that I have sucked at this challenge! Yoga hasn't been happening.  Eating my greens twice a day has been a failure.  Replacing my lattes with tea has been inconsistent.  Going to bed by midnight *yawn* has been harder than ever.  Thank goodness I have lost the extra weight I put thanks to the Disneyland fare.  But, I am still wavering around the same number on the scale for the past two month.Something else has drawn my focus from my resolutions and weight loss goal.  Last month I started testing for cervical cancer.  I am not going to go into details of the procedures I had to undergo, but what I can say was they were not pleasant physically or emotionally. Cancer (specifically breast cancer) runs in my family so this "scare" has been a living nightmare.  There were an estimated 3,870 deaths from cervical cancer in the United States in 2008.  It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms which is why getting routine testing is so important.  Luckily my recent biopsy came back negative.  I have my follow up tests scheduled and have been in contact with other women who have been in my shoes and have continued to live happy and healthy lives. The one thing I have really learned these past two months is that my health is so important and life is precious.  I am listening to my doctors, paying attention to what I expose myself to and savoring every minute I have with the ones I love most.  This year is my year to be happy and healthy.