2 years ago...

So it was this month, two years ago I was told I had colon cancer. I was in the midst of cancer chaos. Dr. appts here and there, out patient surgery for a port so I could start chemo, radiation started immediately, Cat scans, PET scans, Chemo before Thanksgiving, out of town family at our house...it felt like a slow motion tornado, if that make any sense at all?...Like in the movies, they show someone walking in slow-mo and everthing around them is moving FAST and tornadic! I've come a long way baby! Cancer free with in a years time, and staying that way. As I look back , and in this month of giving thanksgiving, I do give thanks to ALL who helped along this journey and still continue to encourage me as I make new paths. I don't think I would have really gotten much accomplished in arts(before cancer), but as I got better my husband encouraged me to push myself, use my talents and share them with the world. I've been fortunate to be in numerous shows since Feb. of 09 and hope to continue my artistic endeavours. I hope continue my creative photography and use it in a mixed media, enter the oncology on canvas 2010, and once again apply for the 2011 Colondar!
Blessed to be alive!

"Tootin' My Horn" in more ways than one...

This post has more to do with my photographic art than my cancer but then again it is indeed part of my journey! Since being set free from the cancer chaos,I've taken hold of my artistic endeavors. I've always wanted my art to have something special to say . I've entered about 5 art shows since Feb of '09. I just recently received an "Emerging Artist" award at the Roanoke City Art Show. 370 pieces were submitted and only 50 pieces were chosen and 2 of them were mine. I was so excited! As you can see I'm posing with my picture. (It's all my hospital bands I received during my cancer journey).I used the same shot that I use for this blog . So, I'm tooting my horn for surviving and getting an award! In the future I envision a photographic series dedicated to the subject of cancer and it's statistics through my perspective and my lens of course. My hope is that the titles speak louder than the images . I want to thank all my friends and family for their support! Especially my husband, Chad in believing in me, you inspire me to "go for it"!

My Artistic Interpretation...

This weekend I attended the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It was their 25th birthday! How awesome is that!? Of all the many happenings going on at Relay, the Lumanaria Ceremony is a very poignant time. It gives you time to remember those who lost were lost, those who are in the midst of their journey and those who are living
proof of hope. I took a stroll along the campsites looking at all the lumanaria glowing in the night. As a cancer survivor of Colon cancer, I'm always finding ways to bring awareness to colon cancer. I found myself thinking, how many of these people had colon cancer? Wouldn't it be neat to have a colored bag to signify that! So Back home after a tiring night,I was reviewing some photos I had taken. And I digitally added blue, the color that represents colon cancer.
So here in this picture, is my interpretation of a colon cancer stat: 1 of 18 people will diagnosed with colon cancer. So in this shot of 50 or so lumanaries about 3 people have/had colon cancer. As an photographic artist I want my work to reach people is some way. I hope in this photo,the awareness to the cancer that I had is the 2nd leading cancer killer of America.

A Mammogram?

well, I guess this is just part of it: screening NEW territory! Having had cancer at a young age and a family history of breast cancer, my oncologist thought it would be best to get a mammogram done. I guess I'm "at risk" for getting other cancers since I already had cancer! So with that being said,I had my 1st ever base-line mammogram done this morning. What a cinch!(or should I pinch!)LOL! I wish my rectal exams were that easy and painless( I have a high pain tolerance:-) and well I don't feel the colonoscopy cause I'm out cold! I wasn't nervous ,just something to check off on my to-do list! But I did have that thought in the back of my head,what if they find something? The Colondar's, March model, recently found out she had stage 0 breast cancer and just underwent a double mastectomy! Such a strong inspiration! They gave me a pink organza pouch with a real freshwater pearl ready to string. Ooooh Aaaah! Nice gesture...What do you think they should give someone who's just had a colonoscopy?

Making of the COLONDAR...

As I was checking my Facebook e-mail the other day, I received a message from Colon Club. There was a notice telling about how they made the Colondar and how it came about,and was now on YouTube. Ericka Kratzer( of Blacksburg,Va) is the Cover model every year. She is a long term Survivor of stage IV colon cancer!She is approaching 10 years cancer free! She represents hope and inspires us ALL! It was last year when I sent in my application, only to find out that they did not choose me at that time. It was something that I so wanted to be a part of ,but realized that God has different plans for me and I believe He wanted me to wait so that I would have even more to share with the world. Going for it again later this year! Well if you have time to watch some YouTube videos check it out Here!

Scan Me !!!

My insides are like a bar code! Scan me! I partook in taking the "cancer cult Cool-aid" again!(part of a PET scan) Still cancer free...except my spleen is acting funny! So it seems there is a questionable "area"...umm like it was the very first time I had a PET scan. And by the second scan, it was cleared up! My onc isn't worried, cause it's rare to have a cancer like colon cancer to travel to the spleen. But I couldn't help thinking...Isn't it somewhat "rare" for a 30-something to have COLON CANCER!!! So I must get back on track with taking care of my body,drinking my nutritious drinks, taking the LIST of vitamins and EXERCISING! It's all good, I have no worries, unlike my dear husband. HE always says he wants to keep me here...I'm here, and "IF" it happens(recurrence) I'll still be here! You just don't die instantly from cancer(as far as I know:-) My tests may show I'm clear but I tell you, WE ALL SHOULD FIGHT AS IF WE HAVE CANCER!

Takin' the "port" out of Portnova...

Chad took this of me right before the procedure.Thumbs up!

So today I have come full circle in my cancer journey. I had my port a cath removed. For those who may not know it is where they infused chemo, took my blood and once off chemo, flushed it every 6 weeks. Before we even got to the office I was so nervous that all I could do was pee! And even when we got there I had to pee again! I just sat there in the waiting room asking God to pour his peace over me and settle my nerves. Every other procedure done to me in the past, I've been knocked out. Once the procedure started, It felt like forever for my surgeon to take it out. I was numbed really well and didn't feel a thing! I could have kept it as a souvenir but decided not to...one memory I don't mind letting go of:-) Both he and I had a chuckle over the Today Show and this man jumping out of a helicopter onto a huge marlin(in the ocean) and holding on to (it was a seriously CRAZY sight!)Later his P.A came in, and then I realized who she was. She was the one who pulled out(felt more like ripped out) my J-port tubing after my colon surgery! That hurt so bad, but she did do a good job distracting me by having me talk to the ostomy nurse at the time. WHAT A JOURNEY this has been. Now I'm port-free!