Cancer: The Cliffs Notes
Here's a condensed visual history of my wrestling match with Cancer:
March 2006: strong as an ox. I was 115 pounds of rock solid muscle.
October 2006: weak as a kitten. This was me at my very sickest, when I had just started chemo but the cancer was still active so I was getting my ass whupped from two sides at once. I dropped down to a scary 94 pounds, mostly from muscle loss due to the catabolic drugs. Words can't begin to describe how utterly crappy I felt.
December 2006: hairy as a Xoloitzcuintli. The tumors had shrunk but now the chemo had me pinned to the floor.
March 2007: healthy as a horse! Two months after chemo ended. This is me today after spending an hour at the gym biking, slow jogging, and lifting some light weights. I weigh 110 pounds, but adipose tissue has replaced the lost muscle. I have a long way to go to rebuild my strength and stamina, but it's ok, I'm feeling happy as a lark.
Though if I don't knock it off with the damn animal similes, I may have to start seeing a veterinarian soon.
March 2006: strong as an ox. I was 115 pounds of rock solid muscle.
October 2006: weak as a kitten. This was me at my very sickest, when I had just started chemo but the cancer was still active so I was getting my ass whupped from two sides at once. I dropped down to a scary 94 pounds, mostly from muscle loss due to the catabolic drugs. Words can't begin to describe how utterly crappy I felt.
December 2006: hairy as a Xoloitzcuintli. The tumors had shrunk but now the chemo had me pinned to the floor.
March 2007: healthy as a horse! Two months after chemo ended. This is me today after spending an hour at the gym biking, slow jogging, and lifting some light weights. I weigh 110 pounds, but adipose tissue has replaced the lost muscle. I have a long way to go to rebuild my strength and stamina, but it's ok, I'm feeling happy as a lark.
Though if I don't knock it off with the damn animal similes, I may have to start seeing a veterinarian soon.
posted by Lymphopo at Tuesday, March 06, 2007
13 Comments:
I'm really happy for you, Liz. It's been a real privilege to be allowed to follow your progress to hell and back. Thank you.
You are a Wonder Woman and an inspiration to us.
Thank you for sharing your trials and your wonderful sense of the absurd.
G
Liz,
Hurray! Those of us who know you only from the blogosphere are cheering like banshees! I hope you can hear the "cyberholler!" It's been amazing to follow your story and to be able to holler for joy at your success.
Huzzah! I'm so happy for you!
LX
You look amazing. I can't believe that chemo only ended for you two months ago.
you're looking fantastic Liz. you'll be back to your ox-strong self in no time.
You could take that vet ON! You are looking great! I wish that I had been able to read your blog through more of your struggle... You have made it so easy to understand...
I love your blog!
~rachel
Hurrah!
Gym visits! Weights! Jogging! Exclamation marks!
Seriously, it's all good. As I scrolled down to your last photo I expected to see progress, but I was stunned to see you looking so well. You look so much better already, it's amazing :-)
I'm very, very happy for you.
You say you're not ox-strong, but you could whip my lardass in 3 seconds! You look great, still smiling, and with a fuzzy blonde head. Tell me, are you Susan Powter in disguise? What a blessing to read about the upside for a change.
You look radiant! I'm so happy that your body gives you joy again.
Hi Liz, I just found your blog and now I'm hooked on it. I love the way you have kept your positive focus through the most intense challenges. I'm going to link to your blog from mine if that's ok with you.
In your latest pic at least the sparkle is coming back to your eyes. Are you finished with treatment now?
Welcome aboard, sara, and link away!
I finished the worst or my treatment, the R-CHOP chemotherapy. Now, unless there's a relapse, I'll be on maintenance Rituxan only, which I'll receive every six months for two years. It's a targeted monoclonal antibody so it will only attack the bad lymphoma cells, leaving my hair and digestive tract intact.
Liz,
Would you mind if I used one of your "hardbody" photos on my blog? I'm just writing a little post about getting in shape and want to show a picture of the type of bod I want, and well, yours pretty much fits the bill! I like the one you posted in this post, but I also loved some of the ones you had posted on your old blogs ( I remember one where you had a side view of your killer glutes - sadly, my ass is a pancake - glutes are something I'm desperate for!) You're a real inspiration. I didn't want to use anything without asking, though. If you don't want to respond here, you can e-mail me at ampogue2 at yahoo.com. If you're not comfortable with photos of you floating over the blogosphere, I totally understand.
I'm thrilled you kicked cancer's ass and am glad to see you already getting back into shape BTW. Makes me realize I have no good reason for not doing it myself. Good luck with everything!
Thanks!
Amy
Hi, Amy--
Thanks! And sure, feel free to snag pics. But check back in a few months, I guarantee I'll be looking a hell of a lot better by then.
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