A Book and Blooms
I am feeling really great lately. Much more positive and hopeful about my next scan again. I’ve been staying busy and living life one day at a time. It probably helps that my sister was visiting. She went to the floral arranging class at the Wellness House with me, and there was a cancellation, so she got to make a floral arrangement with us! It was my first time at the Wellness House, and everyone was soooo nice and soooo welcoming. It was beautiful and peaceful and a place where you just felt like you mattered and you belonged. It was nice to be with other cancer patients who are also just living life with this diagnosis. We created, we learned, we laughed. It was a really nice time, and I’m looking forward to going back for more classes and activities. I was really impressed with the Wellness House and the staff members. The flower arranging class was great. About a dozen of us all used the same flowers in our arrangements, but every bouquet turned out differently! The woman next to me said she never knew floral arranging could be so exhausting! We were on the same page! So, it was fun to be able to joke about what we are going through (so much fatigue!). We understood each other, and laughter is always the best medicine!
While I was there, I picked up a cookbook that was being provided for Wellness House members. It is full of recipes (mostly, if not all, gluten free, too! – woo hoo!) that pertain to radiation or chemo or post-surgery, and they state what side effects they are good for. I am so excited to try some of the recipes this week! So, I was so thankful for the group that came to teach us about floral arranging, the Wellness House and the author of my new cookbook! Between a high school friend’s visit to DC last week, and my sister’s visit this week, I am reminded that no matter what happens in the future, I have great support all around me, all of you! My friend was one who I last saw when she came out to visit when I was first diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, and she reminded me of how well I am doing, and I feel truly blessed to be here still, three years later. Thank you God, Aunt Carol and Aunt Deb in Heaven; I know you’re looking out for me from Up There.
I was also introduced to a wonderful company that cares about producing products that reduce chemical exposure and are hormone-safe, Hugh & Grace. The face and body serums are so nice, I feel like I am having a little self-care session every morning and evening when I use them, and the Lip Mask is the most hydrating and silky-smooth lip product I’ve ever used. But the best part is that when I use the Cleansing Bar, the Lip Mask and all the other Hugh & Grace products, I know I am using safer products on my body. You all know how important I think toxin-free products are. So, I became an Advocate for Hugh and Grace because I want to share great products that I use and believe in as just one precaution I can take to keep cancer away. Again, could be myth, but I’m going to do everything I can to keep toxins out of my body. Even if toxins don’t cause or contribute to cancer, I don’t think they’re good for us, and we use way too many of them on our bodies. So, if you are interested in any of the Hugh & Grace products, I’d appreciate it if you’d order from my site: https://kellywalsh.hughandgrace.com/
I have tried to do everything I can on my end to fight cancer, even though I know it’s not truly in my power, but the one thing I haven’t changed is my diet. I don’t eat a lot of sugar, and I eat and cook mostly all-natural products. But I haven’t cut anything out or added anything like green smoothies or juices to my diet since my original diagnosis in 2015. So, I am really excited to try some of the super nutritious recipes in my new cookbook! I’ll let you know what I think of them in a future post.
I have chemo this Wednesday. Gosh, two weeks went by fast this time! And my next scan was scheduled for 11/11. That happens to be my favorite number – a time I always seem to look at the clock. So, I hope it is a lucky day for me, and I get another clear scan!!?? I was feeling like I must have cancer back; it’s been so long since a scan (since May), and I was freaking out a little. But I am feeling positive and hopeful again. Still trying to drink my pomegranate juice and take my daily Claritin to keep this immunotherapy working for as long as possible! I read an article today about a trial where they’re trying to see if a daily Aspirin combined with immunotherapy has any benefit for triple negative breast cancer. Skimmed over the article because it didn’t seem to apply to my situation exactly, but it maybe I’ll be adding Aspirin to the mix someday, too?? Hearing about new trials every day, so I’m staying hopeful. And I am lucky to have an oncologist who seems to really stay up to date on studies and the latest and greatest. I am happy that my oncologist will be moving his office to the building where I have chemo. It will make things more convenient, and I like knowing he’s in the building if something were to ever happen at chemo. But, for now, I am on a good routine and a good dosage, and everything is going really well, so I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing. Will write again from chemo in a couple of days. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
My first Fall floral arrangement!