Goodbye March!

March has been SUCH a crazy month and it apparently didn’t want to go out without just one or two more things.  So far this week I have successfully clamped my flat iron down on my finger causing a nice burn and my fridge/freezer went out costing me about $250 worth of food. The saving grace of the month is the fact that it just *barely* snowed [and lets face it that is just about a miracle for Michigan in March!] and today as I drove home it was an absolutely fantabulous 78^F on my car thermometer!  Lovin’ the gorgeous weather so, SO much! 

So as we prepare to enter into the month of my birth [and we all remember what age I'm supposed to be again, right?], I’m taking tonight to try to catch up on a few things, pamper myself a little bit, and get into a new mindset for a new month.  Maybe some ice cream and a 3 Day PediCure is in order? What’s that, you say? Well let me tell you!  When training for the 3 Day, you really should not get a pedicure.  While pedicures make your feet look pretty, they also scrape away those precious calluses that your feet will depend on so much when walking 20+miles every day.  Trust me, you do not want to get a full pedicure.  Just say no, ok?  Your feet will thank you. 

So my 3 Day PediCure… it consists of a foot soak, a nail trim, some yummy smelling lotion, and some pretty [PINK] polish on my nails. That’s it.  No scraping or buffing here ladies.  Not only does it make your feet look semi-pretty, it can also lift your spirits as you remember what you are building your calluses and blisters for.

And if that doesn’t lift your spirits, maybe you should check out this post: What Are We Training For? for some more inspiration and blister pride!

Prayers, Prayers, Prayers

3 Aunts that all need as many prayers as possible...

1 I mentioned in an earlier post, she is scheduled for a Galactogram today.
1 Had a mammo last week and got called back for today because of "something they didn't like"
1 Has had some symptoms that could be related to "the change" or could be signs of uterine cancer and is getting checked out Wed.

Too many loved ones and never enough prayers! Please add them to your list the next couple of days.

Grandparents are Funny

Grandpa K making headlines in Florida - too funny! (he's the one in the green shirt w/ his back to the camera)

Video: 'Oldies from Palmetto' serenade city commission - The Bradenton Times - Bradenton, FL and Manatee County

Shoes

Shoes seem to be a big topic of conversation these days… from what to wear to my cousin’s wedding to how the heck to pick out a 3 Day shoe!  Well for me the wedding shoe is still being debated among the bridesmaids but the 3 Day shoe is all taken care of! 

So how do you pick a 3 day shoe?

The absolute must for me is to get fitted by someone who knows shoes.  Most New Balance stores have just such people but if you aren’t sure that the New Balance brand is the best for your feet, I suggest heading to a running specialty store (ex: Gazelle Sports or Striders).  I have always worn New Balance for the 3 Day but I have a couple friends that swear by Asics.

This year I went to Gazelle’s and told the sales guy that I was walking 60 miles in 3 Days and will be doing approximately 500 miles in training – to which he said I would definitely need to replace the shoes halfway through (note: shoes have a lifespan of about 200-300 miles) – and then he watched me walk and brought out the shoes.  He brought me 4 pairs all different brands and I had to try them on and walk around the store.  Only 3 of the 4 felt decent and only 2 of those pairs were really comfortable and only 1 of those pairs offered stability AND flexibility so I could stretch my feet when needed.  It just so happened that it was New Balance once again AND happened to be a model that came in the Lace Up for the Cure colors! (note: my love of pink did not factor into my shoe choice, the guy was supersmart and brought all the shoes out in blue to start) 

Soooo without further ado, I introduce you to my new 3 Day shoes!

Thyroid Cancer a Public Threat?

I’ve had so much going on lately that I haven’t had a chance to post anything about the USA Today article from a week ago discussing how radioactive thyroid cancer patients are a threat.  You didn’t know I was public enemy #1 now did you?

The article talks about a congressional report stating that the NRC’s relaxed guidelines regarding thyca patients has created a public health threat.  Currently a thyroid cancer survivor (and former NRC lawyer) is trying to get the rules changed.  In the US, you can and most likely will be sent home with as much as 200mCi’s of RAI floating around  in your system whereas in Germany for example you are hospitalized for anything over 8mCi’s.  (If you are getting lost with all my acronyms and abbreviations read THIS)  There was also a link to an article from 2008 with the title “It Kills Thyroid Cancer, but is Radiation Safe?”  The title of this article [as well as several comments posted] upset me because no, radiation isn’t really safe but its the ONLY treatment available to thyroid cancer patients!  What do you expect us to do, just wait to die?!  Sorry, not ready for that yet!

If you have been reading this blog since day 1, you know that my radiation journey was anything but pleasant.  I was extremely sick and wished I had been under closer medical care during my isolation period.  Every other cancer patient gets help from their doctor or nurses when they are so nauseated they can’t move, why are thyca patients different?  Oh yeah, because we are public health threat and no one, not even the doctors and nurses, want to be anywhere near us while we are emitting radiation. 

Going through thyroid cancer RAI is an extremely lonely experience during an already lonely and depressing time.  Learning you have possibly endangered a child while radioactive is even worse.  I’m glad there are people out there standing up for thyca patients and for the public at large.  Maybe we will see some advancements in treatment or new options.  We have to do something, especially when the RAI shortage isn’t letting up.   We need options and we need to be recognized as “real” cancer patients, not just the ones with the “good cancer”!