Today is my 5 year Cancerversary. It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since I first heard those life-changing words. Five years of fighting an inherently unfair battle. So much has changed in five years. I remember how optimistic I was five years ago, determined to work the treatment plan, get rid of the cancer, and move on living as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately, I've never been able to make it to even a year with no evidence of disease, and it feels like the reoccurrences just keep getting closer together. Something has changed in me these last five years. While I haven't given up the fight, I do acknowledge that my initial optimism has been replaced with gratitude. I've accepted that no matter how hard I fight, this is a battle I may never win. Instead, I'm grateful for the last five years I've been able to watch my kids grow, spend time with friends and family, travel, and do the things I love. Having cancer has definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things. I try hard to cling to a positive attitude, but I definitely have my down days. I'm so grateful to be home from the hospital, but recovery from this most recent surgery has been slow, and difficult. I go next week to have the last of my surgical stents removed, along with the 45+ staples that make up my abdominal railroad tracks. I will also meet with Radiation Oncology to develop a treatment plan for the cancer in my lung. I'm still seeking out a time machine to fast forward through the next few months. Let me know if you have any leads. 😉