One thing I’ve learned thus far, with cancer treatment, is how rewarding it can be to just focus on one small thing that you can accomplish.

For example, I nursed this tiny aloe plant — which my kiddo picked up in after-school care, a few months ago — back to health. When I first saw it, it was totally brown, and basically appeared to be dead. I moved it into a new pot with different soil, and I have been periodically watering it (taking care not to over-water).

Now, I’m pleased to see that all the brown has been replaced by green, and a new leaf is appearing.

Admittedly, this is a little thing. But for me, it means a lot. I take a few moments with this plant every day, and I just appreciate it. I look at it as a symbol of my own cancer treatment journey. This would be one small piece of advice I can offer to others starting out on treatment for cancer, or other big scary diseases: find a little thing to feel good about.

Quick notes on my current status:

• I’m not really feeling the effects of the oral chemo (capecitabine) any longer; the mental fog has cleared!
• The radiation side effects are persisting, and in some ways, getting worse — which is what my radiation care team explained is common, in the week or two after radiation ends. For me, this means bowel movements are frequent (I got very little sleep, last night, due to constant trips to the bathroom), and painful. I continue to manage this pain with ibuprofen.
• My port placement will occur next Monday (July 8). If you’re curious what this entails, at Fred Hutch — these are the details.
• I do not yet know when chemo will begin (late July or early Aug) but hope to get those details soon.