Rainy Night in Chicago.

Night is falling.  Black rain clouds are close outside my windows.  The thunderstorms and lightning are dancing along the lake.   This morning was beautiful as we rode our bikes.  I have worked up from riding my bike 40 miles the first two weeks I was back on the bike to between 80-90 miles each of the last two weeks.  This morning we rode up the Chicago lakefront north almost 20 miles and then back.  Just about three hours with pit stops.  I am tired and my legs are sore (in a good way). 

I still have local pain and discomfort from my chest surgeries.  And doctors visits every few weeks or month but it is manageable.  The nerve damage may last up to two years.  I have decided there is no sense dwelling on it.

C, a survivor friend, summed up better than I could my current thoughts about my cancer, "I may get cancer again.  I can't help that.  But I'll know that I did everything I could to prevent it."  That is my current strategy.

I have been reading a book she suggested, a book called AntiCancer, A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servan-Scheiber.  It talks about how we should live and eat.  I almost wrote, "with cancer" but it really talks about how we should live and eat all the time.  More variety of fruits and vegetables (organic if possible).  Organic dairy.  Little meat.  Wild Fish.  Green tea.  Pomegranate juice.  Oh and for good stuff, dark chocolate with a minimum of 70% cocoa.  Little or no white sugar.  No hydrogenated oils.  Little white flour.  If you are interested I'd say read the book.  It is a great read.

I have been adapting my diet to incorporate these healthy and cancer fighting foods and eliminate the things that don't have a positive impact.  For those who know me, they know I usually eat pretty well.  I have watched my diet for 4 or 5 years.  But this has required extra concentration and effort for me.  I haven't had coffee since last Wednesday. 


I'm eating right.  Exercising.  I am adding my yoga back this week.  And keeping cancer at bay.  

Thank you for sharing my cancer journey.  I'm signing off this blog for now.  I will be preparing for the Apple Cider Century, a 100 mile bike ride the end of September.   I will be working on other writing projects and I am back to work full time.  I appreciate all of the prayers, support, suggestions and cheering throughout the last 8 months.  It was an enormous comfort to me as I wrote that I knew you were all there waiting, listening and caring.   I wouldn't have made it so easily without you.

I am looking forward...