Tag Archives: chemotherapy

Life’s Qualities

Posted on January 5, 2022 by susanmsink@gmail.com

Quality of life is something one talks and thinks about a lot with cancer. Most of the time it’s an easy conversation with oneself: Is it worth it to undergo this treatment, that might be difficult and will certainly have … Continue reading →

Posted in Benedictine monastery, cancer, COVID-19, food, prairie, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Trial

Posted on October 23, 2021 by susanmsink@gmail.com

About a minute after I found out I had Stage IV ovarian cancer, back in February 2016, I learned the word immunotherapy. For at least a year, and occasionally since then, people sent me links to videos and articles about … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Drought

Posted on August 15, 2021 by susanmsink@gmail.com

Every year of this cancer journey, I’ve found a reflection of my physical state in the life of my garden. I have always seen the cancer as akin to a noxious weed, something that just keeps coming back and which … Continue reading →

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In the Garden

Posted on April 10, 2020 by susanmsink@gmail.com

It is Maundy Thursday, and my evening didn’t go as planned. I wanted to make a feast and had planned to wash my husband’s feet, if he would let me, which is doubtful. I think it would have been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Benedictine monastery, cancer, religion | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Recurrence 1

Posted on January 5, 2019 by susanmsink@gmail.com

Today was my first day of chemo to treat a recurrence of Stage IV ovarian cancer. We first saw signs of a recurrence back in March, when a small nodule and “signs of additional nodularity” appeared between the lobes of … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Secret Music

Posted on December 3, 2016 by susanmsink@gmail.com

I have good news. Very good news. I have finished my cancer treatment. It consisted of eighteen weeks of chemotherapy beginning March 1 and ending July 6. Major abdominal “debulking” surgery on September 7 and six more weeks of chemotherapy that … Continue reading →

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Fragility 2

Posted on November 19, 2016 by susanmsink@gmail.com

All day today I’ve been grappling. I guess I’ve been grappling for a week now. Finally I stood still and formed the question I’m grappling with: “How long after the last treatment do you know it’s the last treatment?” I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Limping to the Finish Line

Posted on November 7, 2016 by susanmsink@gmail.com

I feel the need to post something to get that owl off my front page, but it is tough. I had a hard weekend with the effects of the chemotherapy. I had to drag myself out of bed for five … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, the Farm | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Good News

Posted on October 14, 2016 by susanmsink@gmail.com

Good news. I didn’t think the day I went back to chemotherapy would be a good day, but it really was. I had a PET scan, the first post-surgery, on Wednesday. Also checked my blood again and the CA-125 marker … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Hope

Posted on September 30, 2016 by susanmsink@gmail.com

My sister has been staying with me the past ten days as I recover from surgery (three weeks ago). It’s been a really great time of visiting and she has leant her strength where I don’t have it. She has … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, film | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments