Hello friends! I am embarrassed to see that my last post was in February. I have no excuses except maybe pandemic fatigue? General slacker attitude? Really, I just needed a break. I enjoyed my time off chemo through January of last year, but then those cancer cells got tricky again and I have been backContinue reading “Slacker”
Author Archives: Kristy Shannon
Loss
It was a rough week, my friends. We lost Libby, a member of The Shitty Club. Our name actually came from Libby. When she joined us last year she said, “Thanks for letting me join your shitty club.” Hence, we became The Shitty Club. I am still in denial. Logically, I know that we allContinue reading “Loss”
A Love Story
Well, friends. The chemo honeymoon is over. My latest scans showed growth in three of my tumors so it is time to go back on the drugs. Disappointing, but not surprising. Those cancer cells are tricky, and cancer continues to suck. I still feel fortunate to have a world class cancer hospital in my backyardContinue reading “A Love Story”
A Well-Deserved Break
3 months. It doesn’t sound like much time. Approximately 90 days…or 12 weeks…or 2,160 hours. Just a short moment in the game of life. Since I was diagnosed 2 years and 9 months ago (but I’m not counting)…I have measured my life in three month increments. For a cancer patient like me, my typical scheduleContinue reading “A Well-Deserved Break”
I Choose Happy
My family always laughs at me because the smallest things give me pleasure. Listening to my Lucky dog snore, a squirrel peeking in the window, the first tomatoes in my garden, my hamster of happiness button (don’t ask, just click the link)…pretty much anything! These examples are not the sole keys to lifelong fulfillment, butContinue reading “I Choose Happy”
Positive Energy
Hello friends! This is a call out to all of you to send me prayers, love, and light. I am going in Monday to have a procedure called Y-90. It is a similar process to angioplasty but instead of the heart, they will go to my liver. The plan is to put glass beads containingContinue reading “Positive Energy”
Road Trip Adventure
About ten years ago, my husband and I decided that instead of buying “things” to fill our lives, we would focus on experiences to do that. For us, the main experience became travel. We love finding out about new restaurants and events in our great city. It is amazing what you learn when you approachContinue reading “Road Trip Adventure”
The Therapy of Nature
Earth. What a magnificent place. In a week where the ugliness of humankind continues to rear its head…I look to nature for solace and guidance. I am not so naive that I think nature can cure systemic racism or social unrest, but I have often used nature to help with my mental health. The worldContinue reading “The Therapy of Nature”
Conquering Side Effects
When I first learned that I needed chemotherapy every two weeks, my brain immediately jumped to the dark side. How long was I going to live, and what impact would the side effects have on the rest of my life? I pictured myself bald, skeletal, and vomiting all day long. That’s how it is inContinue reading “Conquering Side Effects”
Hope
Tuesday was a stellar day. I don’t usually say that about my chemo appointments. The chemo was yucky and side effects nasty as usual, but my doctor’s visit was amaaaaazing! Every two to three months, I have a chest and lower abdomen CT scan. Waiting for results is excruciating. They take a long time dueContinue reading “Hope”