Cancer

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New Ways to Beat Cancer

I’m a health nut, pretty much always have been. I have been a vegetarian for more than thirty years and have always exercised regularly. So when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer back in November 2012, I was shocked. (If you’ve been reading the blog since then you remember all this I’m sure!) I had surgery and the cancer was the lowest grade the pathologists can give – 1A. I had chemotherapy and have been happy and healthy ever since....

My Ovarian Cancer Free 5 Year Anniversary

Five years ago I visited the doctor because of a bit of pelvic pain and bloating.  The physical exam and ultrasound quickly accelerated to an MRI, lab tests, and a referral to a gynecological oncologist.  A few days later I was scheduled for surgery and the wonderful community we are a part of rallied round by donating all the blood I needed for surgery.  I  had surgery at Hospital Cemeq, and a large 15 cm tumor was removed.  A week...

Watch “The Truth About Cancer” Documentary

All my blog readers know that I am very interested in health and wellness and that I read a lot about the topic. I watched the 9 part documentary titled The Truth About Cancer earlier this year and I highly recommend it to any of you who want to know more about holistic healing practices and natural remedies too. Visit the website to sign up and you will be sent links to see the documentaries, with viewing available starting April...

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No More Pink Ribbons Please

We have met so many lovely people through blogging. After more than eight years here in Mexico and going on ten years of blogging, our blogging friendships have become quite strong. It’s been a hard time lately for bloggers in México, though. In January, San Miguel de Allende blogger Shannon passed away from cancer. I knew Shannon and her husband Todd from their blogs although I never have met either of them in person. Shannon and I bonded a bit...

After Chemo, Mazatlán Woman Grows Second Head!

This is true.  My hairdresser, the famous and talented Deb from Tippy Toes, says so.  A couple days ago she said “This is so strange, it is like you have two heads.  The front part is pretty much like your old hair but the back….it is truly somebody else’s head.” Well, maybe somebody else’s hair? Check it out.  The front part is normal.  The back, curly and crazy.  Who knows if it will stay like this as it’s only been six...

It’s been three months since chemo…

It doesn’t seem like it could be three months since my last chemotherapy but it has!  I am feeling great and am enjoying the summer. It isn’t too hot yet and there are still a fair number of people in town to have fun with. I am jetting off on Saturday for a couple of weeks in the US.  I’ll be splitting my time between my sister and her family in Tacoma and my son and his family in Bellingham....

May is my favorite month in Mazatlan

What fun it’s been to be feeling great and able to get out and do what we want! And have we! That’s why I haven’t been blogging – I have just been having too much fun. I’m still sporting my turbans, but within a week or two I hope to feel comfortable going out with just a hat. That’s me at the top – not much hair, but some! Yesterday I put some hair gel in it and tried to...

What A Weird Winter It Was…

I started on this crazy adventure on November 12, 2012. Just about the time all our snowbird friends started arriving back in town.  And now, here we are on April 23.  All the snowbirds will be gone within the next couple of weeks.  The streets are already strangely empty. Summer is on its way. What a weird winter it’s been for Paul and me!  I was in the hospital recovering from surgery on Thanksgiving, and also on our 15th wedding...

Medicine is Personal in Mexico

I’ve had a lot of experience with health care in Mexico over the last four and a half months.  Seemingly endless tests, lab work, doctor appointments, surgery, and chemotherapy.  It’s been pretty intense, and I thought you’d be interested in why I love medical care here.  Mainly, it’s because it’s personal. All of my appointments and surgery have been at smaller clinics and hospitals.  I had my surgery at Central Médica Quirúrgica back in November, my chemotherapy at Hospital CEMSI...

Clean Cooking to Kick Cancer

I love my Mexican kitchen and the habits I have developed that make eating foods that are good for us easy and available. Maybe you’ll find some tips here that will help you incorporate more good foods into your diet. I hope so! I have a habit of making big pots of brown rice every few weeks and freezing it in serving sized batches per the blog post here on Summer Tomato. I always wanted to make brown rice but...

Being “out” about Cancer

When I first started dealing with symptoms of cancer – but before I knew I had cancer – I made a decision. That decision was to be “out” publicly about my situation. That means I wrote about it on my blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. I made this choice for a couple of reasons. The first is just because it seemed natural for me. The second was because if I came out with a positive attitude to...

Our Trip to Culiacán for Chemotherapy

We’ve made the drive to Culiacan four times for my chemotherapy appointments, and I thought you might like to see what the road between Mazatlán and Culiacán is like. When you travel this road you can’t forget that the state of Sinaloa is primarily agricultural.  We drive the cuota, or toll road – and the tolls are 216 pesos, or less than $20 US each way. What will you see on the road?  Well, to start with… check out the...

It’s winter somewhere, just not here in Mazatlán

Paul and I had a lovely quiet Christmas. We made ourselves a nice meal and spent the day Skyping and Facetiming with friends and family. It was very nice, just exactly what we felt like this year. We have been having a good time, though. At the top you’ll see a picture from Playa Norte on one of our walks along the malecon, and below you’ll see a typical scene from our table at Puesta del Sol on Stone Island...

My new world

It’s been a while since I’ve posted – don’t say I didn’t warn you!  I am doing well, though… just not spending much time on the computer these days.  I did get my hair cut, though… as you can see above.  It is a good transition between long hair and no hair and I think I’ll keep it short after this is all over.  The doctor told me to expect to lose my hair this week, so I have been...

Life is Good

Life is good here in Mazatlán.  I am feeling better every day and have been getting out and about more and more.  We have been eating out, going for walks, and going to the movies. I’ve attended a couple of meetings, met friends for knitting, and gone grocery shopping on my own.  Life feels amazingly close to normal. I do like a siesta, though. A bit of a break with my pack in the middle of the day gives me...