2013 Ouray Trip - Day II - Yankee Boy Basin

On Monday morning, we woke up early and headed out for a day of four-wheeling (not four-wheelering).  On the Friday before we left, we bought a new Nissan Xterra.  For forty years we had driven Ford Broncos, Chevy Blazers and even Jeeps, but we really enjoyed hitting the trails in our New Xterra.  The ride was comfortable and it never failed us although we didn't go on any really serious trails.

We started out on our favorite trail - Yankee Boy Basin.  It is an easy trail to some old gold mines, but it it notorious for the flowers the grow in the valleys.  Although there were not many flowers blooming in August it was still filled with breath-taking views.

The we went to the ghost town of Ironton.  We spent some time trying to scout out the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable (and old narrow gauge railroad turntable) but couldn't find it (we thought we had printed this blog post & brought it along, but hadn't).

Then we returned to Ouray and had dinner at Maggie's Kitchen - a place which boasted it had "the best burger in Ouray".  They definitely were the most expensive burgers in Ouray (around $9).  I had a Patty Melt and could only eat half of it.  My husband had a regular burger & we shared French Fries and Cole Slaw.  The burgers were good, but the decor left a lot to be desired.

2013 Ouray Trip - Day I

In August, we took a week long trip to Southwestern Colorado. One of our favorite places in Southern Colorado is a quaint little town name after the Indian Chief Ouray. Both of us had been there as children, and we spent a few day there on our Honeymoon. Through the years, we have enjoyed the beauty of the San Juan Mountains, the Hot Springs Pool, the souvenir shops and restaurants and the many four wheel drive trails & Ghost Town the area has to offer.  Ouray, Colorado is known as "the Switzerland of America". We always take a picture of the sign above the quaint little town.

Ouray

Sign outside Ouray

We stayed at the Ouray Chalet Inn, which was a very nice moderately priced place across from the historic Beaumont Hotel.

Ouray Chalet

View of Beaumont Hotel from our Balcony

We stayed in Ouray for 6 nights.  Each day we took a different four-wheel drive trail and each evening we ate at a different restaurant.

On the way to Ouray, we stopped at Glenwood Springs and ate at a restaurant where my husband had eaten on a business trip.  It was called "Juicy Lucy's".  I was skeptical because I thought the name was rather strange, but I had the most wonderful Classic Reuben sandwich with a delicious side salad and my husband had the Seventh Street Salad with grilled chicken.

 Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse

 Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse interior

RMCRI

Today was my first workout at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute.  Cancer survivors can experience 3 months of physical rehab free at the instutitute which is "presently the only facility of it's kind in the country and is recognized as a frontrunner in cancer rehabilitation".

Picture of me on the Brain Bike

Although I'm struggling with having to go over there 3 times each week, I am looking forward to getting stronger and hopefully through exercise and improved nutrition I will not have a recurrence of cancer.

The End of the Microwave

Since I had cancer I am making some dietary changes in the hope that the cancer does not recur. Some of the changes are limiting white sugar, eating whole grains, avoiding processed foods and eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

On Friday, I gave up my microwave.  Instead of giving you a bunch of links to reasons for not using a microwave, I will let you do your own research and make your own decision.  I don't really use the microwave for cooking, I just use it every morning to heat up my milk for my coffee and during the day I use it to heat water for my green tea (which I drink at least 3 times a day).

Well, I found out that I actually use the microwave more than I thought.  On Saturday evening we were going to have nachos (you know the kind when you sprinkle cheese over tortillas chips & microwave them until the cheese melts) and I had to use the broiler.  On Sunday night we had leftover pizza - we found out that the pizza actually tastes better reheated in the oven instead of the microwave.  And I love the sound of the tea kettle whistling to let me know my water for tea is ready!!

Things To Say (or Not To Say) To A Cancer Patient

1.  Please don't call cancer the "C" word.  If you can't say, imagine how I feel - I'm living with it.

2.  Please don't tell me to "think positive".  Most of the time I am positive, but sometimes when I talk to someone, I let my guard down and I cry.  That doesn't mean I mope around all the time.  AND there is no proof that positive thinking actually helps.  Don't make a cancer patient feel like they are lessening their chance of survival because they aren't positive 100 % of the time!!!

3.  Please don't ask too many questions about my cancer.  I had uterine cancer, but that is a still a hard word to spit out in polite company.  And don't ask me what stage or grade my cancer was, or how big the tumor was - it's really none of your business!

4.  I had none of the risk factors for my cancer - there was no reason I should have gotten it!!  I've always made quite healthy lifestyle choices.  That's just the way cancer is - you never know when, where or why it will strike, so don't ask why!

5.  And yes, I have to have frequent check-ups for the next 5 years.  Please don't act shocked.  Yes!  They got all my cancer!  No!  It didn't spread to the lymph nodes! But there is a chance it will come back!!!  You're shocked?  Imagine how I feel!!!!

6. Oh! And, please don't say stuff like - why did it take you so long to go to the Doctor! I had a sneaking suspicion that I had cancer, but I really didn't want to find out the answer and that's why I waited so long. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have waited. Duh!

7.  Last of all, (and I know this sounds contradictory) but please don't ignore the whole thing.  I'm a cancer survivor and proud of it, but I still like to hear something uplifting - my youngest daughter often tells me what a strong woman woman I have been - I don't really agree with her, but it is nice to hear.  Tell me you're glad I came through the surgery well, that you're glad I'm well - it's just nice to know someone remembers what I went through!!!

The Big "C" - Part II (My Cancer Story)

Although I had suspected cancer for some time (and kept putting off a visit to the Doctor) I was numb after hearing the news from my Doctor.

Early on the morning of December 14, 2012, I went in for a CT scan.  When I returned home, the news of the Sandy Hook School shootings was just beginning to be televised.  I watched in horror as details of the 20 sweet little lives that were lost and the heroics of the adults who were killed trying to protect them emerged.  Watching this tragedy unfold helped suppress my own feelings of  "why me" - after all, I had lived 60 years and these precious little one's lives were just starting.  In the next few weeks, every time I started to ask "why me", I just remembered the Newtown parents coping with their grief over losing their children and I thanked God for the blessing of a full life.

With Christmas approaching, I decided to wait until after the holidays to tell my 3 daughters about my cancer and my upcoming surgery.  Somehow, I managed to get through the holidays and on December 31, decided to tell my daughters.  Telling them was one of the hardest things I've ever done - it isn't often that we are truly faced with our own mortality.  I was very frightened that I might not make it through the surgery itself and I was also afraid the cancer may have spread to my lymph nodes.

My Radical Hysterectomy took place on Friday, January 4, 2013, and I stayed in the hospital until Monday, January 7th.

Dr. S called me on Thursday, January 10th to let me know that my cancer was Stage II (it had not spread to the lymph nodes) and she recommended Chemotherapy.

I took it in stride that I might need Chemo.  I bought several hats on clearance and ordered an inexpensive wig.  I spent quite a bit of time reading about Chemotherapy on the Internet and was afraid the harsh chemicals might have severe reactions in a person as sensitive as I am, so I was very thrilled when I visited my Oncologist and he told me that he only recommended Radiation Therapy.  He told me that I would probably have treatments five days per week for five weeks of External Radiation and then several Internal Radiation treatments called Brachytherapy.

A few weeks later when I visited the Radiation Oncologist, he recommended 6 treatments of Brachytherapy three days per week over a two-week period.  The treatments ended on March 8 and I have had virtually no side effects, although quite serious side effects from Radiation Treatments can appear even several years after treatment.

No person can go through cancer and remain unchanged.  I never asked God to spare my life, but I am very grateful that God gave me a new life spiritually 40 years ago and gave me a new chance at life after cancer!  I now start each day with gratitude to my Creator and strive to make a difference for Him!

The Big "C" - Part I (My Cancer Story)

On December 11, 2012, I received the long awaited phone call from my Doctor.

A week before I had a trans-vaginal ultrasound in which a mass was visible in my uterus. That day as I waited for the Doctor to come into the Examination Room I could hear him talking to a colleague outside the door..."cancer...blah, blah, blah...cancer...or it could be a polyp..."  As they were talking, all I could think was "how unprofessional" - shouldn't they be having this conversation somewhere else?  Some place where I didn't have to overhear it.  I was quite certain that I had cancer, but at this point I wasn't ready to accept the harsh reality and certainly didn't want to hear the Doctor discussing it so impartially.

The message on the answering machine said, "This is Dr. B.  I have the results of your biopsy.  Call me at 000-000-0000."  I hadn't recognized the phone number on the digital display, so I hadn't answered the call.  With shaking fingers, I returned Dr. B's call.  He wasn't available, so I left a message with his nurse.  About a half hour later, she returned my call.  "Dr. B wants you to come in to the Office."

I almost dropped the phone.  I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.  I knew the reason he wanted me to come in to the Office was to tell me in person that I had cancer.

I drove to Dr. B's Office and rode the elevator to the third floor.  I had to wait about fifteen minutes for him to come in to the Examination Room where the nurse had told me to wait.

"The Pathologist bungled your biopsy," Dr. B. said.  "Does that mean I need another biopsy?"  I thought to myself.  "They redid it and that's what took so long," he continued; "Squamous cells are present. You need a Radical Hysterectomy.  Nobody in Northern Colorado does that kind of surgery.  You'll have to go to Denver.  Here's the phone number for Dr. D." (he chuckled because the Doctor to whom he was referring  had the same last name as me).  Dr. B also said he would order a CT Scan because I needed one before the appointment with Dr. D.  I'm sure I asked him some pertinent questions, but I can't remember what I said.  I do remember him saying he would do my follow-up after the surgery.

I drove home and thought, "That's it?  I have cancer and that's all the Doctor says...  Shouldn't I be referred to some kind of Cancer Support Group?  Shouldn't the Doctor kind of... ummm...care?"