Healthiest Sick Person

I recently had my quarterly visit to my oncologist. These visits are always a bit nerve-wracking with multiple cancers, including blood cancer. I often feel like I’m playing the slots in Vegas, as I never know what the outcome will be.

As I was sitting there anxiously waiting, I reflected on my two cancer diagnoses, now eight years ago.

Just a regular annual check-up

When I my doctor for an annual check-up in 2016, I thought I was healthy. As a competitive runner for over forty years, I felt like I had exercise covered. Other than my adoration for gummy bears and red licorice, I usually ate rather nutritiously. I had never smoked, and other than an occasional margarita (I am in Texas, after all), I rarely drank. When my results came back, my provider observed that all my blood levels were elevated, and it caught his attention.

Soon afterward, a hematologist diagnosed me with polycythemia vera or PV. As I found out, this rather rare blood cancer affects the bone marrow. Basically, my bone marrow makes too many red blood cells, and this makes my blood as thick as syrup. This affects my body’s ability to move the blood through my circulatory system. Which increases the potential of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.

Thinking back, I guess there were a few signs; occasional headaches, excessive tiredness, early satiety (always feeling full), lightheadedness, or just a sense of feeling of being off. However, I always dismissed it, thinking it was just my busy schedule or old age creeping up on me.

I thought I was healthy

Despite all my blood levels being elevated, the oncologist decided to “wait and see” for three months before providing any treatments. Unfortunately, two months later, the doctors diagnosed me with a second cancer, which was invasive ductal carcinoma, or breast cancer. So much for my illusion of being a “healthy person.”

How did I, someone who was relatively healthy, wind up with not one, but two cancers? Still, to this day, I’m perplexed.

I went through breast cancer treatment and surgeries in 2016-2017, then started medication for the PV in 2018.

Even though the foot pain of undetermined origin (likely from the inflammation caused by the PV) brought my running to a complete halt, I could still walk. And walk I did…and still do almost every day. I have a goal on my Fitbit of 12,000 steps daily, and I’m borderline obsessive in my attempt to meet this arbitrary goal.

One of the first things I did was started being even more conscious of what I was eating (see my PV Diet article) trying to avoid sugar (much to my dismay), processed foods and limit red meats. Essentially I focused on eating on a Mediterranean diet with lots of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

I started spending my free time playing my guitar, writing songs, and singing. This likely helped me with the stress of dealing with all that was going wrong with me physically.

Things are looking up

Thankfully, the visit went well. My blood levels, which sometimes are elevated because of the PV, were close to normal. My cholesterol triglycerides were good. No new breast lumps to be concerned about. The young medical technician was impressed with my blood pressure, and I am happy that my weight is exactly where I’d like it to be. As he looked at my results, my oncologist said you’re one of the healthiest patients I’ve seen. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.

As I left the oncology office this morning, I felt like belting out a song from Katrina and the Waves. I’m walking on sunshine, woooah. And don’t it feel good!!