Crunching With Cancer

Episode 2: The Horrors Persist, but so do I to tell you about Blue Heat Takis

(March 27, 2025)

Well, it's only my second update and I've already lost my pace. But that's because big things happened this week! I went back to work (from the comfort of my bed, mostly).

On Monday, I got my drain removed AND I put real pants on.

On Tuesday, I got to enjoy the sunshine. I went on my longest walk yet...and perhaps was motivated by one too many coffees than someone in my state should have.

On Wednesday, I took my first real shower and got off antibiotics. I put a shirt on over my head. I had a martini. My god, it was so good. I will never take real showers or martinis for granted ever again. We also had a tornado warning. In Seattle. Truly end times.

Today, I sat at my desk for almost four hours on camera for an ITIA Rules Committee meeting, and I felt like I ran a marathon after the fact (though that's probably not just because I'm recovering from surgery).

I was supposed to get my drain out the previous Friday, but I was "doing too much" and that was generating excess fluid. I was scolded, but I'm pretty sure I just move my arms a lot when I sleep.

I also got a call this week from my surgeon with the pathology results from tissue and lymph node biopsies. A mixed bag, because while my lymph nodes are clear (yay!) which means the lighter chemo, the tissue from the tumor went right up against my subcutaneous fat - which means I have to have another surgery after chemo for them to take additional tissue and confirm the cancer cells are all out. FUN.

With all of the achievements, this last week has been hard. Trevor headed back to BC on Sunday until my next procedure. I have perhaps cried more on the phone with insurance trying to understand coverage and procedure codes than I have about the actual cancer. I think I screamed a scream trying to manage all of this, wondering if I went back to work too soon (realizing I still need to do my taxes?!) that I am shocked a neighbor didn't call the cops. I have had a lot of referred pain in my shoulder. I miss exercising and I'm tired of feeling like a dead puffer fish languishing on the beach. I don't feel like I look like myself anymore (one boob for sure doesn't, anyways). All of this takes a toll on my mental health, but that's certainly been helped by all of your continued support - some of you I know have been through cancer treatment yourselves and kind enough to share your experiences with me. For those of you here that don't know, we have an incredible player on the Tour named Gaby who was diagnosed with breast cancer around this time last year. She won an Olympic medal AND the Finals Championship in doubles. She's been sharing how she's coping with hormone suppressants and TBH I'm in awe of her playing through all of this. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/26/sport/gaby-dabrowski-breast-cancer-tennis-spt-intl/index.html. I am grateful to know her.

Next up: a litany of doctor's appointments and fertility treatment. If I am a real jerk (more so than normal) for the next two weeks, you'll know why. I still am waiting for the PT green light and can't keep my arm up long enough to drive to the doctor so I'm still at the whim of my patient friends and family.

Because I couldn't get my shit together, here's A TWOFER:

First up: Blue Heat Takis.

These were leftovers from the financial literacy fair at Indian Wells to no one's surprise. I said that I think they gave me another cancer. Trevor thought that was pretty funny (look I've been told that people who dabble in dark humor are intelligent and without any data I'll stand by that fact).

Taste: 3/10. Better than I expected, but I'd rather eat flaming hot cheetos if I want to feel like my snack was made in Chernobyl.

Crunch: 5/10. Hard to discern through the blue powder.

Value (chip vs. air ratio): N/A. I would have preferred air.

Next: Aye dinnae ye worry, we had some Guinness Chips for St. Patrick's Day:

Taste: 6/10. Prefer the real thing with a side of last week's air fried kettle chips.

Crunch: 8/10. Solid crunch.

Value (air to bag ratio): 7/10.

Thanks to lots of you, I have been snacking like royalty, and I promise there's good chips coming. Also, to everyone who has brought a meal THANK YOU; they've all been delicious and fortunately loaded with fiber.

Why yes, there is a copy of Wonderland by Annie Liebowitz for decor in the plastic surgery office. Comforting? Hardly:

Until next time…

Slainte.