Mesothelioma Awareness Day

Yesterday I received an awesome email from the husband of a cancer survivor that follows my blog. She is a REAL rockstar!!!!!!!!!! His wife is a rare survivor of mesothelioma. 

September 26 is Mesothelioma Awareness Day  and they have a campaign with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance that is trying to get 7200 voices talking and sharing about this rare cancer, to represent the 7200 hours that the average mesothelioma patient has to live. 

So...let's do it! Check out this amazing woman's story here: mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness

Project REMISSION

After weeks of anticipation and five days of waiting and worrying (and golfing, being a yogi, masters student, and a runner to keep my mind busy), I received a CLEAN Bill of Health!!! I am cancer-free and in remission.
It is amazing to literally receive your life back in one day...in one minute, actually. 

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 will always be one of the best days of my life. It took me 12 chemos, lots of tests, patience, and a ton of support and love to get here.  My cancer battle took almost a year, but my experience with cancer in my family consumed me for over three years. 
....My mom battled cancer for two years and lost her battle April 2012.
....My dad battled for a year and is now cancer-free!

They say "if you have your health, you have it all." You have NO idea how true that is. The last three years have taught me to celebrate life and be thankful for every moment.  I learned gratitude, faith, hope and love. I learned things I will never forget. 

I would like to share what I have learned during my experience with cancer to help fighters with their battle. I would like to help caregivers and and friends of fighters. What I learned transformed my life forever...it can transform yours too!  This blog will provide insight to help you get through cancer the positive way...please email me at ginagolfer@gmail.com if you have any questions :)

XOXO,
Gina Marie

No more wiggin out

I've been wearing a wig since the holidays. Enough is enough. Cancer tried to strip me, but a more confident "me" powered back. Always wanted a faux hawk!!!

Shout outs

This year has been tough. I lost my mom and best friend to cancer. While grieving and four months after her death, I found a lump on my neck. It was cancer. Hodgkin's stage three. I persevered and had a great support system to get me through 6 cycles of chemo. Thank you to my boyfriend, girlfriends, dad, grandma, cancer sister, family and friends. Your support was and is priceless xoxo

Haven't posted in a while

Hi Everyone!! On March 12, 2013 I beat cancer. Sorry I haven't been posting--I've been busy celebrating and trying to get my health back. Thank you so much for all the positive vibes, prayers and hugs!

9 down, 3 to go!

Yesterday was my 9th chemo! This means only 3 more treatments for me. My goodness am I excited.

My neutrophils and white blood counts were critically low and will be in the negatives this weekend. Yikes! I can't believe they gave me chemo, but in
not asking any questions...I want to be done ASAP! I have to lay really low this weekend and next week too. I basically have no immune system versus my usual extremely compromised immune system.

Thank you to all my family, best friends, boyfriend, co workers and golf buddies for all the support during this time! It's almost over and you got my through it. Your positivity and kind spirt means the world and is part of my healing process. Xoxo, Gina Marie

Down to one hand aka 5 more chemos!

I had chemo about a week ago. It was less than 14 days since my previous treatment, so everyone thought my counts would be too low for treatment. Yay... somehow they were not! Now I'm down to 5 treatments, so I am on track to a March 2013 treatment completion!!!! Still trying to manage side effects, but they will be gone before I know it!!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my family, friends, followers, supporters, fellow fighters, and survivors!

2012 has been extremely rough for me as I lost my mom (and BFF) to cancer, a close friend to cancer, and am coping with my own cancer diagnosis.

I cannot wait for tons of positivity in 2013. My treatment will be completed in March or April, so I'll be celebrating a new year then :) (In the mean time check out my pink wig my friend got me!!!)

Thanks to everyone for all the support, kind words, and thoughts you have been sending my way! They keep me going...xoxo

Happy Holidays from a happy girl

I am wishing all of my friends, family, and blog followers a very happy holiday and new year! I found out there are some HL patients that follow me. I am not providing medical advice, but some helpful hints to get patients through the holidays (and all the fancy meals) in a great way based on my experiences!

- exercise! Don't let the holidays stop you...even a 30 minute walk is great to keep you moving! This will also help with fatigue (ask your dr or nurse to confirm you can exercise)
- eat! This is a great time of the year with yummy food...enjoy :). Something I'm still learning and tell friends with cancer is to eat bland. I've had to go back to basics with food and every time I eat something fancy or rich I don't don't feel well.
- be thankful. Even though we are fighting a battle this holiday season,we still have a lot to be thankful for. God is good.

December Update

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. It is getting a little crazy with the holidays.I received great news two weeks ago: I am Hodgkin's lymphoma free!!!! I have to complete the chemo regimen though through March. This is a wonderful Christmas present! My doctor said that people are usually cured after 90 days, but 60 days is outstanding. God is good!!!

Great Bloodwork!

I went in for chemo Friday after being neutropenic for a week...and got great results! All of my blood levels were in range. Yay, I was able to get treated. My body was a week extra off of the prednisone pre meds, so it really hit me! I was super hyper and could not sleep well for two days...at least I had my best friends bday to celebrate and another bf in town from New Zealand.

In less political news...me

So, we have a new president...or re-elected president! Political stuff is all over the news, all over Facebook statuses, and really every where you go today.

I am also in the news. Yes...little ole me! 

Check out this article:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-light-1107-20121107,0,3082351.story

If you are in the Palm Beach County area, please join me in the 2012 Leukemia and Lymphoma Light the Night Walk.

It is from 5-8pm at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in West Boca Raton, Florida. I will be with TEAM GEO Group.

Let's Light the Night, Keep Calm, and Beat Cancer!!!!

Treatment #3

Wahoo! My counts were up so I was allowed to receive chemo yesterday. I got really sick all week from my counts being so drastically low. My neutrophils were .1 and now they are 5 thanks to four days of Neupogen shots.

Now I know why they tell you not to get sick...it's hard to shake! But, part of the chemo regimen is prednisone, which really makes you feel better. Unfortunately it also makes sleeping very challenging! I am looking forward to this weekend! Staying home in bed for a week made me stir crazy. And one of my best friends is in town from Hawaii. Here she is....xoxoxo

Weekend

What a great weekend I had! I walked in the Livestrong cancer walk thanks to my boss that put together team Gina's Groupies! Thank you to all my best friends that came.

I cooked a vegan dinner of zucchini pasta, carrot & sweet potato soup, superfoods salad, and cauliflower crust pizza. These are all cancer fighting recipes; I will post them on the recipes tab.

I redid my room...It now is really comfy and promotes healing.

Tomorrow it is back to work for this cancer caddie. Work is followed by a gym sesh with galpals and then a HEAD SHAVING PARTY. It's not right that cancer is slowly taking my hair and I have to watch... TAKE IT stupid c word.

One month follow up

I had a successful one month follow up with my oncologist: my counts are down and my lymph nodes are smaller! I have chemo day 30 on Friday! Then I will be in the single digits with 9 treatments left until I am cancer free!!

Update

Hi everyone! So my second chemo is approaching Friday. Is it weird I'm looking forward to it? Why you might ask? I am one session closer to being cancer free. Also, it makes me my usual spunky self thanks to prednisone for two days.

Here's how cycle 1 has been treating me: Days 1-2 awesome. Days 3-5 I was nauseous, dizzy and felt loopy. Day 6-present I have leg cramps and fatigue. Days 9-hopefully not much longer MAJOR fatigue set in. This is tough for me because I'm so active and really have to slow down. Day 15 is my cycle 2 of chemo. There are ten more to go after this! Getting closer. I just want to thank my family and friends for being so understanding and supportive right now. Means the world. I'm thinking of my mom right now...here she is.

Chemo day 1

I'm at my first day of chemo! En route to becoming cancer free. Ok, so they used my port for the first time...ow! Just felt like a bee sting. Not that I have ever been stung by a bee before ;). I am grateful for friends and family here to support me. Love you all.

Alternative Medicine!

I am a vegetarian that is sometimes vegan. I told my oncologist that during treatment I will be following a CLEAN EATING and VEGAN lifestyle. He said that is fine! Also, there aren't any food restrictions. I told my doc I not really into medicine and chemo in my body makes me a bit nervous...

He is setting my up with the University's alternative medicine/holistic MD. He is going to assess my diet and I am super excited!! I think he also covers aroma and plant therapy, as well as natural supplements. Ask your oncologist if the program you're on offers a nutrition or alternative program that you can supplement with chemo! More to come on this...

Chemo for the caddie

Treatment for HL is pretty streamlined. ABVD is the chemo treatment I will be undergoing for the next six months en route to being CANCER FREE. For all my fellow cancer conquerors, ask your doctors about this treatment. You get chemo via IV day 1 and day 15 for six months. I do not need radiation, and I hope you don't either :).