Ahhh remission. So elusive. What does remission mean, really. Well, the dictionary says: “a diminution of the seriousness or intensity of disease or pain; a temporary recovery.” Temporary recovery! What?!

Many people have asked if I’m in remission. The answer is: I don’t know. I last met with my oncologist in November 2014. I asked him if I could say that I’m in remission. He told me that he didn’t know for sure. I asked him if there were annual scans to see if the cancer had come back. He said that I would know based on symptoms and other signs that the cancer had metastasized to another part of my body before a scan would. This was a very depressing conversation for me. No doubt a needed conversation but very depressing. He stated that if I were to get cancer again, the treatments wouldn’t work as well. Breast cancer typically metastasizes to the bone, brain, liver or lungs.

After wallowing in the sadness for a few days (among other sad events in November – see previous posts), I started to do some research to determine alternative methods for preventing cancer. I read that I will have to significantly change my diet in order to survive.

The first thing that I learned was that sugar feeds cancer. I LOVE processed sugar. I love candy, treats, white bread, pastries, etc. I am in the process of removing processed sugar from my diet. This is quite a task because processed sugar seems to be in everything. I typically break down at the end of the day and have a little treat…with the exception of that one weekend when I ate a bag of Peanut M&M’s (and I’m not talking about the candy bar size). The second thing I will have to give up is Diet Coke. I will miss you, Diet Coke. 😦

Other changes I’m looking at are exercise, supplements, homeopathic medicine, yoga, etc. There will be other lifestyle changes that I will make. I will need to conquer processed sugar and Diet Coke first. Yet another Long and Winding Road for 2015.