Happy New Year everyone!

We kicked off this new year with a 10 1/2 hour day at Dana Farber last week complete with scans, waiting  and good news. My cancer continues to remain stabilized and my first line of treatment continues to work! Let’s hope that I continue down this path for the remainder of the year.

I am personally in a really weird place with my cancer. The appointments at DFCI are becoming very routine. I am on a first name basis with certain nurses and techs at the center. I am starting to recognize some of the other patients that are on the same schedule as I am. Things are getting a little too “normal” for me. This past appointment, while waiting patiently for my appointment, I met a woman who had Metastatic Breast Cancer like me. She had been in remission for 11 years only to have her cancer come back this past May. We got to chatting and when she had found out that I was diagnosed almost TWO years ago, was on the same treatment as her and was feeling pretty good. She told me that I gave her hope …….so awesome but so weird. I remember turning to Sarah and Trevor and saying, “I cannot believe that this is my life”. I can’t. Some days I still think that this is some kind of weird test and someone eventually is going to say “JUST KIDDING” you were tested, you passed and now you can move on and live your life…..a long life. Unfortunately, I know that will not happen, but wouldn’t it be nice!

I also cannot believe that I am almost at the two year mark. It’s weird now b/c a lot of people know about my situation but I continue to meet new people….mainly through my kids and the activities that they are in. I struggle with- Do I tell these new friends right off the bat what is going on? Do I wait for a good time- but is there ever really a good time? It’s funny b/c having cancer is not something that generally comes up naturally in conversation.  I find myself very unnaturally blurting it out at the most inappropriate time. Kind of funny when I look back on the situations where this happened but also just plain sad and makes me feel very self conscience. I hope that I am given the time to get comfortable with this and how to share my story better.

After surviving the holidays, frozen pipes, a flooded finished basement, snow storms and cancer scans, the Cabral family is headed to warmer grounds (well we hope it is warmer by the time we get there) to make some Disney magic!!

We hope that 2018 is wonderful for all of our friends and family and that you are brought much happiness and good times.

XO