Just another July day

Hi everyone, it's just another July day, spend grading papers and speeches and getting ready for my move to Minneapolis. I had a couple of thoughts strike me today, which have all been keeping me thinking.

Cancer came up in my class today - I had never intended to share this information, but I was talking with another student about health issues and felt like since she had confided in me, I needed to reciprocate back and share with her. As other students filed in, they heard bits and pieces and started asking about it. It was actually a great talk, as we often dont talk about this and as young adults, dont often find ourselves facing this problem. Ialso feel like I have a duty as a "survivor story" to share, especially since the sad truth is that cancer doens't have nearly as many of those as they should.

Since cancer seemed to be the topic of the day, it only seemed fitting that while watching the first 5 mintues of CSI New York they discovered the victim had thyroid cancer. This has been the second television show to bring this up in the last few months (the other was Grey's Anatomy). I find it interesting since it is not one of the more common cancers. I am guessing it is because the survival rate is so high, but who knows.

This Friday is the Relay for Life of Blue Earth County. Some of us MSU folks are going to go and help "Rock the Relay" and scope out new ideas for next year. It breaks my heart to know I will not be able to help with next years relay, but I am so proud of the group and confident in their abilities they will do nothing less than shine and put on a fantastic night for everyone. I am so excited to go back and check it out! Hopefully we will get great pictures next week to post!

round 2

well folks, just a quick cancer update - I guess it is important to do those once in awhile also! It's really not a cancer update, more of a medication update. I went in for my first 6 week bloodtest to see if my meds are right. Turns out, i have a good reason for taking naps, being tired, and not losing wieght. I was still hypo, which is what we dont want to be. My dr. needs me to stay hyperthyoridic so that the thyroid cells dont grow back (which can increase the return of the cancer). So we wait and see once again! I was hoping to have this all figured out before I left Mankato, but it looks like I will be making a trip back for stuff early in august. Not a huge deal, but i was looking forward to putting everything in the past until the first 6 month check. Not to mention I apparenlty have stubborn veins, it only took three times to get blood before they tried the front of my hand. Ouch!

On another note, I attended the St Peter Relay for the free survivor t-shirt and the need to expose myself to those positive messages. It was a little awkward after I registered, they were asking people how long they had been survivors for. I had a bunch of older woman in front of me, most of them surviving some sort of breast cancer for 5 or more years. When I was asked, my response was 6 weeks. The lady looked at me a bit funny, but did not ask questions (for which I was thankful) I often forget how much people dont expect young people to be going through this (since the percentage is much lower if you are under 40, only 6% of all cancer cases). I left before the actual survivor lap (it was a little harder than I anticipated) but am still glad I got to enjoy the speakers and donate to the cause.

I can't believe it is July 1! I wore a sweathshirt, socks, long pants and taught in a sweater today. You know when you are in MN when..... Now I just need to keep motivated and get packing for the big move in a few weeks! I cant believe I will be leaving Mankato so soon!