Journal entry by Michelle Campbell —
Hello family and friends! I hope everyone is enjoying a fun summer - we are loving the lazier mornings, sunny days at the pool, meals from the grill, dancing to reggae music and lots of quality family time ❤️.
As you know, I continue to get regular infusion treatments every three weeks. Last week, we reviewed my most recent PET-CT scan with my oncologist. Due to some new active “spots” in my liver and bones, we are changing up the medications in my infusion and this new treatment protocol begins tomorrow. While I didn’t want to have to change meds (or need treatment anymore!), this new drug has produced good results for many patients with the same type of cancer. All of my health and wellness professionals agree this is the right thing to do, so we will embrace it and watch it work!
Many are surprised I still need regular treatment when they see me and I’m feeling so great. Well, stage 4 metastatic cancer is persistent and likes to change things up on us, so we need to persevere and try to stay at least one step ahead. That strategy relies in large part on having an anti-cancer lifestyle that supports an anti-cancer environment in your body. (You’ve got to read “Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life” by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber!) When thinking about the last 6 months, I’ve been able to identify a few key things that may have weakened my system and, to a degree, my resolve: my mom passed away, causing deep emotional and mental stress; I had to help my kids get through the grieving process; and I had a severe ankle sprain which got in the way of regular exercise for 2 months. Life happens, and sometimes things happen all at once to create a perfect storm and an environment where cancer can gain some momentum. I believe that as I turn things around in terms of my emotional, mental and physical health through therapy, meditation and exercise, my system will get strong again and I will heal myself of this cancer. Stay tuned, everyone, I’m determined and I will get this done!
Life has its ups and downs. Every song has its highs and lows. But no matter what, we have to move forward - fine-tuning things when necessary - and we will continue to rock on! This year, Mike has taken me to some great concerts and I have really enjoyed those nights out, dancing like no one was watching. We have always enjoyed music together - from mixed tapes to playlists - and we love to share our love of music with our kids. Music helps us communicate and can also inspire or motivate us. So I’ll close this post out with lyrics from one of my favorite songs, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and The Wailers:
Rise up this morning...smiled with the rising sun
Three little birds pitch by my doorstep
Singing sweet songs of melodies pure and true
Sayin’ “This is my message to you...”
Singin’ “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing is gonna be all right!”
I ask for your prayers for complete healing, please.....thank you! Here we go!
XOXO
Michelle
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