Reclaiming me and a bit of reminiscing too.....

This is my 5 th year SURVIVING Pancreatic cancer!  I am so proud and Blessed for this milestone.  It makes me tear up every time I think of the journey that I have been through.  Now that I am off chemo, it is about maintain the body that Chemo gave me.  I have found that physically.....my body was devastated with loss of muscle mass and my energy levels were okay, but needed improvement.  The lack of energy comes from lack of red blood in my body.  It is not low enough to have a transfusion, but my body has a difficult time producing red blood cells.  These are some small things that chemo did to my body.
     I have been reclaiming my body back....it has been a long but steady process.  I was just able to compete in a mini triathlon, Tri for a Cure,  I competed in the cycling portion and completed the 15 mile course.  For me, it was something that took me back to the daily chemo treatments and what your body has to endure during cancer and how this disease and it's treatments takes you to your physical and mental limits.  Every mile I rode...I reminisced on the people I have met these past 5 years, and that have made such a HUGE impact on my life.  I cried and  let those tears carry me through the cascading hills of the course.  There were times that the hills seemed to be a daunting task.  I then thought of all my fellow cancer fighter's...who lost there battle.  "I am here and I am complaining"....And I would kick my own ass into gear.  I am here to fight and conquer for all those who are not  here...I am here to be a beacon of HOPE to anyone that needs it.  Everyone needs HOPE...especially with a cancer diagnosis.  I would not let anyone take my hope and I still hold tightly to it.  I hold onto HOPE for a cure and a way to make this beast, pancreatic cancer, go away!

Maybe my success of surviving Stage 4 pancreatic cancer for this long.... there is something they could learn from me.  My HOPE would be someone to study my body and tell me what made the chemo work on such a terminal case.....Fascinating thought???

I was thinking the other day, while running, about music that inspired me during my journey through cancer.  What I realized that music has inspired me my whole life.  It seemed to take something like a cancer journey to see how much music inspired me. What music has inspired you during tough times?
A few songs that have inspired me during my cancer journey.....
1. It's Not My Time by Three Doors Down
http://www.slack-time.com/music-video-3534-3-Doors-Down-Its-Not-My-Time

2. I'm Alive by Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLgLfD3wElQ

3. Better Days by the Goo Goo Dolls
http://www.last.fm/music/Goo+Goo+Dolls/_/Better+Days

4. The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes
http://www.slack-time.com/music-video-14846-Gym-Class-Heroes-The-Fighter

5.Home by Phillip Phillips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE

Sensitive skin?Try Homemade laundry soap. It saves money too

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm
Here is something that I would love to do.... Homemade laundry detergent. .it costs roughly $0.01 a load!!!
My skin has become very sensitive since chemo.  Can anyone else relate?  Here is the recpie from thefamilyhomestead.com

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder 

~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan.  Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.  Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket.   Now add your soap mixture and stir.  Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.  Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel.  You use ½ cup per load.

**A few things to note about the soap** 

~The finished soap will not be a solid gel.  It will be more of a watery gel that has been accurately described as an "egg noodle soup" look.

There is always something to be Thankful for.....

Very thankful and truly blessed for the chance to have another day!  I know that sometimes people just say this...but I do give thanks each morning.  I have done this since I was diagnosed almost 5 years ago.  If something works, why change it.  :)  So did you wake up with a smile this morning?  It is the simplest of task to do, but everyday factors can contribute to want to throw the covers back over your head and tell the day to go away.....I have been there too.  But try something different tomorrow morning and start the day with what you are thankful for.  It an change your perspective for the entire day.

3 (of many) things Pancreatic cancer taught me...

3 (of many) things Pancreatic cancer taught me...

Have Hope, Have Faith, Love Life and all around you!

Researchers shed light on metabolic changes in pancreatic cancer cell

 This sounds like a tremendous breakthrough!  Here is an excerpt.....
     "The research team revealed that pancreatic cancer cells break down glutamine in a manner that is unique from normal cells. Furthermore, the study shows that pancreatic cancer cells are quite dependent on glutamine as a source of energy. In analyses of cells in a dish and pancreatic cancer cells implanted into mice, the researchers discovered that blocking key proteins in the cellular process by which glutamine is metabolized slowed or stopped the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Importantly, blocking this process had no effect on healthy cells from the pancreas."  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2092494039611853273#editor/target=post;postID=2661093224732001289

Did you all see Julie Weis? She is running marathons to raise money for Pancreatic cancer research. Amazing!
#curepancreaticcancer

http://www.today.com/id/51223788/ns/today-good_news/t/woman-runs-marathons-weeks-end-cancer/#.UUh4XBe-rbC