It’s been a little over a year now since I had my last cancer treatment. I know I haven’t been posting much lately so I just wanted to give a quick update!
My energy level is good, and my hair has grown back (I even got a haircut!) Mentally I’m doing better too. Therapy, meds, support groups – it’s taken a LOT to get me to where I am now. A year ago I was so lost.
When you’re in active treatment (chemo, radiation etc), the doctors see you regularly. The oncology nurses treat you like royalty. Friends and family check in often. You have a plan. A course of action. You just do it.
After treatment? It’s lonely. Terrifying. Overwhelming.
One thing that has really helped me is that I started following @TheCancerPatient on Instagram, which I highly recommend. It’s funny memes, dark humor about cancer, but it’s also a really supportive community of AYA cancer patients and survivors (AYA= Adolescent and Young Adult, and although I don’t feel young 😂, technically I qualify because I was diagnosed under 40).
I’ve been busy lately, which is helping me as well. I recently started subbing at Ben’s elementary school a few days a week while Ellie is in preschool. It’s been good for so many reasons. A year ago I couldn’t even take a short trip to the store without then coming home to take a nap. Now I can teach all day, on my feet for 6 hours. Am I exhausted when I get home? You bet. But it’s a good feeling. To be exhausted because I worked hard all day – not just because I walked around Target for 15 minutes. The school where I’m subbing also happens to be the same school where I taught a few years ago as a reading tutor. So I know a bunch of the teachers fairly well from working there, and now that Ben is a student there too, I feel even more connected. Being back there has been really nice!
I just celebrated my 38th birthday this weekend. Many thanks to Eric, my parents, and the kids for making it a special day! 🎈 🧁
Sally Kicks Cancer 