Tom Brady Retired

Okay, so I knew there was a very real possibility Tom Brady would soon retire....again. But I was still really sad to hear the news this morning. 

I love Tom Brady, AKA My Tommy, but man....it's like he's just trying to ruin my Birthday...AGAIN?! My BD is February 4th...like he couldn't wait a few more days to make me sad???

I'm sure this will sound silly to many of you, but I credit Tom Brady for helping me through some tough times since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer.

I grew up in GA but was never a fan of NFL football. Ray and I attended one Atlanta Falcons game in the early 80s when we were given free tickets for the Falcons Clubhouse, complete with unlimited free drinks and food! Fuzzy Navels made the evening fun, but I don't think I watched a single play of the actual game! 

Even though my son played football from the age of 6 until he graduated college, and I attended the games, I never learned the rules of the game and didn't know what was going on most of the time. When asked what position Nick played, I would say, "I don't know, but he looks adorable in his uniform!" LOL

While living in CT, my family became New England Patriots fans, and I would occasionally sit and watch a Pats game with them. I did enjoy watching Brady, Gronk, Edelman, and a few other players. Still, I usually found something more interesting to do!

EMBRACING FOOTBALL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Then, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and started my chemo treatments in early October 2016, just when football season was heating up.

I was housebound most of that time because chemo treatments left me so immunocompromised, and I would get pretty bored while Ray and Conor watched football all day on Sunday. And along with the boredom came too much time to think and stress over breast cancer!

So, one Sunday afternoon, I was just so bored that I decided to join the guys in watching a Patriots game, and it was actually pretty exciting!

I actually started to look forward to gamedays! Pretty soon, I even understood the game! And I was becoming a big Patriots fan!

WEARING MY PATS HAT ON CHEMO DAY

It didn't take me long to become a rabid Tom Brady fan! I learned that Tom's Mom was also undergoing breast cancer treatments then. He often spoke about his Mom with such love and concern during that time, making me like him even more.

OLD??

I kept hearing people talk about how Tom was just SOOOO old, and they constantly speculated on how long he could continue to play at his "advanced old age?" Man, that really pissed me off! Good grief! If he was old...what the heck did that make me??

I've never known what it feels like to be a real athlete, but I used to run (and I use the term 'run' very loosely) marathons. 

Once when discussing my running with a doctor, he looked at me and said, "Let's say you are an old used car with limited mileage left. Would you want to use those miles up by running marathons??" WTH?? Did he just call me an old used car?? Every time I crossed a finish line after that conversation, I would yell, "F U stupid doctor!" 

So no, I don't know what it feels like to be an athlete, especially one who is the GOAT! But I know what it feels like to be told you should give up doing something you love simply because of your age. 

At some point, my mantra became...."We, old guys, are gonna keep going! We are gonna keep winning! We are not done yet! We have a lot more left to do! We've GOT THIS!"

At the end of each season, I say, "C'mon, Tom, you HAVE to keep fighting, playing, and winning! I  need you to come back for another season!" 

So, I guess Tom's hanging in there with football, and my hanging in there with my breast cancer treatments possibly became a bit entangled in my head! But what can I say? It was an emotional time! 

BRADY FAN FOREVER

I loved Brady when he played for the Patriots, and I continued to support him when he moved to Tampa Bay. Heck, I named my puppy Brady! 
I am still a Patriots fan, but first and foremost, no matter which jersey he wears, I am a Brady fan!

    
 
BUCKET LIST EVENT
 
I never thought I would see Brady play a game in person, but Ray and I were able to attend a Bucs vs. Falcons game in Atlanta last year! It was definitely a huge bucket list event for me! We had great seats and just a wonderful time all around!


                          

Brady and Gronk

                                                            

My Selfie With TB12!

So, I was sad to hear the retirement announcement, and I will miss seeing Brady on the football field.
 
I was talking to my BBF Deb this morning about the announcement and how important watching Tom play became to me during such a difficult time. I told her, "It's almost as if  God sent me comfort when I needed it most....in the form of Tom Brady and football!" Yeah, weird, I know, but God works in mysterious ways!

PS. Dear, Tom-You can always change your mind. Again! PLEASE????!! 

               

National Cheese Lover's Day-Cholesterol

Did Y'all know today is National Cheese Lover's Day?? Any fellow cheese addicts here?? 

I feel like I need to celebrate this, yet there is that matter of my cholesterol. I haven't mentioned that little matter?? Hmmm....this might be the perfect time to talk about it!

These were my numbers when I had my yearly checkup with my PCP recently-

Total Cholesterol-     291

HDL Cholesterol-     107

LDL Cholesterol-     161

Triglycerides-           112

My doc was not pleased with these numbers. I told her that when the oncologist prescribed Letrozole a few years back, he told me my cholesterol would be elevated. He said it wasn't a matter of "if" my cholesterol would go up but "how much."

My total cholesterol always hovered just above 200, but my LDL was always low, and my HDL was higher, so my doctors were never too concerned. However, after being on Letrozole for a while, my numbers increased quite a bit, and the LDL vs. HDL flip-flopped.

On 6/29/21 my numbers were-

Total Cholesterol-    252

HDL Cholesterol-      93

LDL Cholesterol-     143

Triglycerides-             67

I don't have the exact numbers before the 2021 labs, but the total cholesterol was something like 203. So as you can see, there has been a significant upward trend, and that's not good! 

I told my PCP that I'm no longer taking Letrozole but am now on Verzenio. Since she wasn't sure if this drug would also affect my cholesterol levels, she wanted me to check with Dr. Saker. If he said it affects cholesterol levels similarly, we would need to discuss medication. 

Dr. Saker said that Verzenio should not be causing an increase in the numbers. So, do I want to go on a statin or some other cholesterol-lowering drug?? Not without trying to control the numbers first through lifestyle changes. 

So, I have until April 21st to see how much I can get those numbers down without meds. Then, if I can't do it, I must seriously consider medication. 

TIME TO GET SERIOUS

Here are some tips I have gathered to help lower cholesterol without drugs.

1. Avoid trans and saturated fats

The American Heart Association recommends reducing the amount of saturated fat intake to less than 6 percent of our daily calories. Saturated fat is found in foods such as-

• butter, lard, palm, and coconut oils
• fatty cuts of meat
• cured meats such as salami, and chorizo
• cakes, biscuits, pastries, and croissants
• cheese, ice cream, sour cream, and milk
• chocolate, and chocolate spreads

2. Eat A Lot of Soluble Fiber 

Upping daily intake of soluble fiber can help decrease LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. LDL is known as the bad cholesterol. Foods with soluble fiber include-

• oatmeal
• Cheerios
• fruits
• vegetables, whole grains, and legumes

3. Limit Alcohol

When we drink alcohol, the liver breaks it down into cholesterol and triglycerides. Consuming alcohol can also raise our blood pressure and make it more challenging to reach or maintain a healthy weight. 

4. Exercise

When we are overweight, our chance of having high cholesterol increases. Exercises such as walking, running, swimming, or biking are just some exercises that can help lower cholesterol, especially if we do them three times a week or more. Any cardio workout can help keep our weight in a healthy range and boost our heart health.

IT AIN'T EASY

So, I'm working on that lifestyle change. I'm working on my diet. I'm trying to eat less and pay attention to the amount of fats and cholesterol in the foods I eat. I'm also trying to get in more daily exercise. 

Alcohol isn't much of an issue for me, other than the occasional Margarita. 

I'll admit it's not easy, especially for someone who loves to eat and does a lot of stress eating. This whole cancer thing can be a bit stressful!

It's also not easy when you are a cheese addict like myself!

Did I mention that today is National Cheese Lover's Day??? Lord, give me strength!!

Rod Stewart Turned 78?!

Hey, Y'all!

I originally had a different idea for my post, but then I realized that today is Rod Stewart's 78th birthday, and I just had to give him a shoutout! I've been a huge fan of Rod Stewart and his music for so long, all the way back to the early years of "Maggie May"...

I have attended many of his concerts over the years. I even met him at an Atlanta nightclub many years ago. When I greeted him, Rod kissed my hand and bowed to me. He was such a gentleman!

CANCER SURVIVOR

I want to mention that Rod is not only a great talent but also a two-time cancer survivor. He battled thyroid cancer in 2000 and temporarily lost his ability to sing as a result. It took him 9 months to regain his singing ability after the surgery to remove the cancer.

Rod said once in an interview--

"No chemotherapy was required – which, in turn, meant there was no risk that I'd lose my hair. And let’s face it: if we're ranking threats to the survival of my career, losing my hair would be second only to losing my voice."

In 2016, Rod was diagnosed with prostate cancer, around the same time I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After over two years, he finally got the "all-clear" from his doctor. These days, Rod is making the most of his time by doing what he loves, such as performing, touring, and recording, and bringing joy to his fans. 

Like I said, I have loved Rod's music for a long time, and it has helped me dance, sing, and smile through some really tough times.

When I was initially diagnosed with breast cancer, I discovered that Rod's music really lifted my spirits. It still has the same effect as I undergo treatment again. Whenever I'm feeling down or dealing with medication side effects, I turn to my all-time favorite artist for comfort. His music continues to make me smile, sing, and occasionally do a little dancing!

Maybe my dance moves aren't quite the same as during my earlier Limelight disco days, but I'm still dancing. I'm genuinely grateful to Sir Rod for that!

Sir Roderick Stewart, you may be getting older like the rest of us; however...........

YOU WEAR IT WELL! Happy 78th Birthday!

THIS AIN'T MY FIRST PINK RODEO

Hey Y'all! I’m Pam, welcome to my new blog! Some of you might remember that I’ve had a few blogs in the past. I used to write about my adventures in running, especially marathons. Can you believe it? I used to tackle those long distances! I might not have been the fastest, but I did my best!

In October 2016, I faced a major life challenge when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. To document my journey through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, I started a blog. I also shared my experiences dealing with moments of "chemo brain."

Once I completed my treatments, I attempted to create a new blog covering various random topics. However, that blog eventually died due to neglect. 

During the pandemic, I had plenty of time to write, but I wasn't going anywhere or doing anything other than watching TV and eating, so I didn't have anything worth sharing in a blog. I suppose I could have written about the countless times I sought comfort food in the kitchen!

2020

2020 was an incredibly stressful year due to the pandemic and quarantine. To make matters worse, I received a diagnosis of cancer recurrence.

I got my second diagnosis in early November 2020. After discussing my new treatment plan with my oncologist, a nurse handed me a card and told me to call the number on it to schedule an appointment for my husband and me to attend a Cancer Orientation class with an oncology nurse. A what? Seriously, do you think I need a lesson on how to have cancer??

The nurse was great, but this was old news, other than what side effects I could expect from my new meds. I just felt like screaming....."EXCUSE ME...THIS AIN'T MY FIRST PINK RODEO!" 

ON THE BLOG AGAIN?

So, why am I starting to blog again now? Well, I have more to write about these days. But do I have anything meaningful to contribute to the blogging world? I'm definitely not a professional writer; my grammar could use some improvement, and with my ongoing struggles from chemo brain, I find it challenging to construct a coherent sentence.

Despite these challenges, I feel compelled to blog. Two years after my second cancer diagnosis, I believe I might have insights that could help someone else on their breast cancer journey.

NEW BLOG?

After considering whether to revive one of my old blogs, I've decided to start a new one instead, believing that a fresh start is the best approach. 

While I plan to cover a variety of topics, my primary focus will be sharing my experiences with cancer for the second time. Although I’ve never been to an actual rodeo, I thought it would be fitting to name my blog: 

**THIS AIN'T MY FIRST PINK RODEO**

This new blog is still a work in progress, and I appreciate you stopping by. I’ll be back soon with my first official post!