This week was all about follow-up appointments after receiving the incredible news that no malignant cells were found in my breast. Even now, saying that out loud still feels surreal. I made the quiet morning drive to Mayo, letting the stillness sink in, and as always, I was greeted with warm smiles from the two special ladies who never fail to brighten my day.
After checking in, it was time for labs—and if you guessed my lab results were abnormal, you’d be correct. At this point, my labs staying “on brand” is almost expected. I had some time to kill before meeting with my oncologist, so I stopped by the bistro for a Baja Bowl. It didn’t quite hit my taste buds the way it used to, but it was still good. My taste keeps shifting—one day things are flavorful, the next day everything feels muted. I’ve been experimenting with different seasonings, trying to find my balance again. Hopefully soon, my taste buds and I will get back on the same team.
When I finally sat with my oncologist, he reiterated something that washed over me like a calm wave: I’m in remission. My body responded well to the treatments. Hearing that word—remission—felt like a door cracking open to a new chapter.
He also told me about a blood test called Signatera, which monitors for early signs of cancer recurrence. Honestly, he barely finished explaining before I was already nodding and agreeing. If it helps keep an eye on things, I’m in. He also submitted the order for my chemo port to be removed. Now that feels symbolic. A step forward. A signal that this season of my life is truly shifting.
The appointment was short, simple, and sweet. On the ride home, I found myself thinking about my future self—the version of me who gets to fully live beyond all of this.
Reclaiming My Body
I’ve returned to intermittent fasting, and surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I expected. My mindset is truly in a place of healing—physically, mentally, spiritually. I’m giving my body what it needs, and fasting has always helped me feel more grounded and energized.
It’s been 14 days since I restarted, and I’ve already dropped 6.7 pounds. I know some of that is water weight and inflammation leaving my body, but the direction I’m heading feels right. Slow and steady—one pound at a time.
My body composition is shifting too. According to my scale, I’ve officially reached my muscle goal in pounds, which shocked me in the best way. So moving forward, don’t be surprised if you see more updates on my health, wellness, and weight-loss journey sprinkled into my posts.
For now, that’s where I’ll leave things.
A week of follow-ups. A week of progress. A week of quiet victories.
And I’m grateful for every single one of them.
