Remember the TV Adds 10 pounds!

Last week I was able to be part of an interview with the local news station regarding the new Snake River Cancer Alliance. The alliance is a non-profit group designed to assist cancer patients with needs not tradionally met by their health care providers.

Here is the online blurb about it:

Eye on Idaho
YouNewsTV™
Story Published: Oct 22, 2007 at 9:48 AM MST
Story Updated: Nov 13, 2007 at 8:08 AM MST
By Steve Cannon
Eye on Idaho, A half-hour program featuring subjects and people involved in the issues and activities of importance to Channel 3 viewers. Produced and Hosted by television veteran Steve Cannon. If you have a story idea for an Eye On Idaho segment, email Steve Cannon

Sunday, November 18th - Cancer...a word that brings fear and anxiety to everyone. When you're diagnosed with this deadly disease, where can you turn for support? Join Steve as he welcomes members of the Snake River Cancer Alliance to Eye on Idaho. Learn more about this newly formed cancer support group and find out how you can help!ONLY on Channel 3 Eyewitness News-Watching Out for You!!

I think we were able to get the word out to people here in Easter Idaho about the importance of support for cancer patients and their loved ones. It feels good to be apart of something I feel so passionate about. I think a lot of good can be done and I am excited to have a small part in it.

Just remember...the TV adds 10 pounds :)

Amazing Women

Tonight my heart is deeply saddened by the passing of a dear friend who helped me through my own journey through cancer. Lori Miller from Califorina died October 27nd from cancer. Lori was an amazing woman who inspired and encourged many with her openness and candor through her battle. My deepest condolences to her loving husband Cary in his time of such great loss and sorrow. Lori, you will be missed! http://toosexyformyhair.com/

My heart goes out to those battleing this wicked disease. My deepest sympathies reach to those who have lost loved ones to cancer. Wendi Bridges, at age 38 has also passed from this life at the young age of 38 after losing her battle with metitastic breast cancer. A woman I did not know personally, but shared very similar circumstances with.

As I reflect on these courageous woman I once again am reminded that each day truely is a gift. Each minute I spend with my beautiful girls and wonderful husband are just that...gifts. I want to make a difference and help those who are facing this disease. But, mostly I just want to live each day to the fullest and get from it the things I need to learn. Hopefully giving back.

Another Biopsy...Blaa

Hi Again, it has been a while since I last blogged. So much has happened....so much. My health is good, at least right this minute. I have had quite a summer though. I was in the ER a month ago with diverticulitis. Now I have to go in for a colonoscopy....bummer huh!

I also had to have another biopsy last week. This one was a surgical biopsy. Luckily my surgeon was able to do it in the office as an outpatient procedure! I went in for my scheduled mammogram and they found changes in my breast tissue. I knew something was wrong when they took too long reading the films. Then they came in and said they wanted to do an ultrasound. I tried not to freak out. They scheduled a needle biopsy. Then the day of the biopsy, my oncologist called and said the radiologist wanted to do a surgical biopsy instead of a needle one. It was upsetting and emotionally draining. I wish I could just "roll with it" a little better, but the fear takes over. It is all consuming. I did get the results back very quickly and they were all negative for cancer!! YEAH!!

A dear friend of mine said something that made me look at all this health crap in a little different light. She said, "Maybe God is blessing you by letting you look inside your body and not finding cancer". It has been a great relief to have to get so many scans and surgeries and have not have anything comeback abnormal. That really is a blessing!

I do believe all the chemo I had to do has caused havoc on my organs. Things just don't work the same. I am learning (slowly) to take better care of myself and treat my body like is should be treated. It has been a long, long process. I am facing these health changes with baby steps, instead of this all-or-nothing mentality. I am grateful I have the time to learn the lessons I haven't quiet gotten yet! I am still here learning.

Since it is October, which Breast Cancer Awareness Month...I want to put my plug in there, especially for those young women who might be concerned. I had yet another friend under age 40 diagnosed with breast cancer this past month. She had a similar story to mine in which she kept going to her doctor and was put off until it was too late. The cancer had spread to her lymph system and further treatment is now necessary. Ladies, you KNOW your bodies! If your doctors put you off and treat you like a "whiney woman"...find someone who will listen! Get to the bottom of it~

To Stress, Or Not To Stress...There Is No Question.

I was ornery and stressed out tonight. My girls were overtired and would not go to bed. It was like herding cats trying to get them inside. They were in their swimming suits (which they have worn daily all summer) with little chocolate covered faces from the cremecicles the neighbor offered them right before bed.

The whining and screaming seemed unbearable tonight. I told (more like demanded) my husband put them to bed...I was taking a shower. I even shaved my legs to make it last a little longer.

Of course, they were still awake and whining when I got out of the shower. I tried to be loving and patient. I laid by my youngest in attempts to get her to go to sleep. I even sang lullabies...didn't work. Finally, I got up and left. My six year old was screaming she was scared. I started screaming there was nothing to be scared of. Although I was thinking..."if you don't quit crying, it's me you had better be scared of".

I went to sit in the living room to read (my own little time out). My six year old came in and continued to cry about being scared. I saw the pleading in her eyes. Something inside me said..."hold her". It clicked inside me, "this time will pass and I will never get it back again". I told her to come and sit on my lap. I held her and told her I loved her. I told her I was proud of her and I was proud to be her Mom. I told her I was sorry for yelling at her. She said, "it's okay Mom, I love you too...and I am glad to be your favorite six year old ever". Something amazing happened. As I calmed down, she calmed down.

I rocked her to sleep and ran my fingers through her hair. I thought to myself how much I missed holding her. Why don't I get it? I have had cancer and I still don't get it. I can never go back and I will never have this moment again. Tears rolled down my face as I thought of all the things I let slide by without enjoying them as much as I could. Stressing over stupid stuff that really does not matter.

This life is limited, I could be gone tomorrow. Would my life really matter if my girls could only remember an ornery, yelling mom? I want them to remember a mom who rocks them to sleep and tells them how much they are loved. I had one of those "cancer reality checks" tonight. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

The "Gall" of Some People

Here I am again recovering from surgery. I had my gallbladder removed a couple of weeks ago. Apparently I had chronic inflammation of my gallbladder and a gallstone the size of Texas. Okay, the size of a marble, but it felt like Texas! I am still on the mend, but doing much better! I keep getting these "old people diseases". I mean "come on already"!

A few weeks ago I called my oncology office and told them I was having pain on my right side, up under my ribs. They referred me to have my gallbladder ruled out as the problem. I went in for an ultrasound. The gallstone was very apparent. My Oncologist called with the results. He said "no wonder you've been in pain you have a 1.5 cm stone in there"..."you could have that huge rock set". It made me laugh.

I was incredibly relieved to hear it was JUST my gallbladder!! Especially since the pain was coming from the area of my liver. I was terrified it was the cancer gone to my liver. My husband tells everyone I am the only person he knows who was happy to get their gallbladder out!

I went to my surgeon Dr. Judy Jones. She is wonderful and very thorough! She had not seen me for about a year and still remembered minuet details about my health and body. Now that is a good doctor.

I do have to say, having surgery this time of year kind of freaked me out! This is the exact time I was diagnosed. I even had the same nurses. It was a little too reminiscent of two years ago! I fully expected a call from Dr. Jones with a bad pathology report...but it all came back clear for cancer!

I had my three month check up this week with my fab Dr. Shull. Things are still looking good and there doesn't seem to be a worry about anything particular at the moment (THANK GOODNESS).

My back pain has dissipated considerably! Apparently the gallbladder issue can cause a radiating pain to the back. Go figure~ I also went in for my post-op appointment and everything looked to be healing how it is suppose to. I was told to take it easier and rest...yeah, how do you do that with little kids?? I threw my baby a Strawberry Shortcake Birthday party for her 4th birthday. It went fabulous...thanks to my dear friend Carrie!!! She put it together before my surgery so I didn't have to worry about it! What a friend!

I have been enjoying my girls this summer. They are growing and changing at an incredible rate. I constantly reflect on the miracles in my life. I am grateful for each day I have with my family. Life is still difficult. I still have my trials, my temptations, and my hang-ups. But, I am still here to work on them…and that is what I am doing. Grateful to be here~

I'm Famous

Okay...maybe not famous, famous...but I am in an awesome magazine article for breast cancer survivors! It's called Beyond: Live & Thrive After Breast Cancer. It is the Spring/Summer 2007 issue. You can find it at Walmart and other fine retailers :)


I'm in the first article called "Recording the Journey" (found on page 12). I'm in the paragraph under EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION...yes, that's me... Dana Hyer Whiting, the 33 year old mother who battled breast cancer! The article is about journaling and emotional healing. The article sites my blog (after all, that is how I was discovered:) and how I used it to get through cancer.

I was thrilled with the article and the message it gave. You will have to check it out if you get a chance. Feel free to cut it out, laminate it, and put it in a very safe place (ha ha). The magazine has some very interesting articles...but mine is the best!

I am doing well. My health appears to be stable at the moment! For that I am grateful! The other morning I was awake early, lying in bed. It was about 5 am and I could hear the birds chirping and I could smell the fresh spring air. I was cuddled next to my wonderful husband and I started crying. It hit again me how lucky I am to be alive! Statistics say I should probably be dead, but I'm not! At that moment I realized how truly blessed I am!

It really is the little things in life that matter. Watching your kid's facial expressions as they watch their favorite cartoon. Your cat cuddled up next to you purring. A good laugh with a girlfriend. An afternoon nap. A Diet Coke with lemon. A husband who cooks dinner when you're too tired. When your child gives you a kiss and says "you're the best Mom ever". Really, does it get better than that?

So, She's a Miracle

This has been an interesting and emotional week. I went into my 3-month oncology appointment. I was somewhat nervous to go since I have been having some back pain that has not let up. Somewhere I was told if you are having symptoms, the rule of thumbs is 10 days, then you need to report them to your oncologist. Bone mets are a common form of metastasis’s...so needless to say the anxiety level was up just a tad.

I went in to my appointment. My wonderful Dr. Shull got "call up to serve his country" and is now in California for the next 90 days. He has a different doctor who joined his practice, and it was my first visit with him. My husband and I were waiting for this new doctor to come in and we could hear the nurse practitioner telling the doctor about my case and my cancer information. I could hear his reply, which was something like..."so it's a miracle she is here". Those words have echoed through my head all weekend. I truly do believe in miracles. I have felt very weepy and emotional today. It has made me reflect on that miracle.


I did have to go in for yet again another MRI on my spinal column and have the bone pain checked out. As much as I need to "know" what is going on and I feel so grateful for such measures they have to check for cancer growth...it is very stressful and terrifying. This "round" felt particularly scary and anxiety provoking. I also had my breast cancer tumor markers drawn.

I tried to put it out of my mind until my appointment to review the tests results on Monday. My gracious Nurse Practitioner who works with my Oncologist called me on Saturday afternoon. She said she was doing some dictating and came across my test results and the finding of my MRI. She reported they were all within normal limits and the scan showed no sign of metastasis.

I can't begin to tell you the emotional let down that happened. I was so grateful she had called and given me the results knowing how difficult it is to wait for something like that. I immediately started bawling and went and told my husband. I then got on my knees and thanked my Father in Heaven for giving me yet more time to raise my children and work at being a better person. My five year old had a difficult time that I was crying and happy at the same time. I tried to explain that Mommy was crying tears of joy and relief...happy tears. On and off al weekend I have been teary...and she'll say, "Mom, are those Happy Tears?"

I have reflected much about this journey I started nearly 2 years ago. I bore my testimony at church today about the power of healing and of miracles. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in healing. And I believe I have more to do on this earth, I need to raise my girls, I need to make my marriage even stronger, and I need to overcome many things that will make me stronger and wiser. For that time...I am grateful. After having had cancer, I do feel a sense of urgency to my life...not fear...just a sense of getting things done, telling people you love them, making things right, enjoying the small and simple day to day things. Getting organized.
Some days I like to just forget and live "normally"...but that really is no longer an option. I am changed. BUT…just for today…I DO NOT HAVE CANCER.

I'm Back to Blogging

It has been a very long time and I didn't think I would return to blogging...especially about my experiences with breast cancer and being a survivor. But, sometimes writing is the only way for me to "get it out of my head". I worry about this dread disease. It is overwhelming and depressing at times. Talking to others about my day to day fears and concerns is quit a conversation killer. Let's face it...who wants to hear about cancer all the time. There are days I can block it out and even long stretches of time where I try and live in the here and now. Then I am sucked back into the vortex of despair.


My back has been hurting and I fear telling my oncologist next week at my three-month check up. I hate going through all the tests and terror of wondering..."is IT back"? My thoughts lately have been. WHY? WHY ME? Why did I feel like having children was so important and so right...when I may never get to raise them? If I got cancer again, chances are they won't even remember me. My influence may never remain with them. That is such a sad and depressing thought that crashes over me with such intensity.


I have a mental list of all the things I want to take care of should I meet an early demise. One of those things was getting my portraits done with my family. I have never had my picture taken with my beautiful girls...mostly because I have gained weight the past several years. I kept thinking..."when I lose the weight I will do it". Truth is...it doesn't matter what I look like...it matters I have something for my girls to remember me by. So we did it...and they turned out beautifully. They are a treasure to me. A daily reminder of how blessed I am.

Another change I have made is, I quit my job and I stay home with my girls full-time. It has been an adjustment, but I feel so lucky to be with them. I realized I might never get this time back with my kids. Nothing else matters. It was a leap of faith for me because of the decrease in income, but we have been blessed and my girls are doing so well. The other day I was asking my 5 year old what her favorite part of the day was. She said "it was when I got off the bus and I saw it was you picking me up Mom". That makes it all worth it right there.

Another change has happened. I have been facing the diet demon. My oncologist told me there is new research on my specific cancer that says by decreasing my fat intake to below 20% per day can actually decrease my chances of reoccurrence by almost 60%. It was like a brick hit me on the head. For the last month or so, I have been eating a very low-fat, healthy, balanced diet. I also exercise several times a week and I have lost eleven pounds to date. Last year, I wasn't physically or mentally to do what I needed to do to get my health back. But now, I am in a completely different frame of mind. I am motivated to increase my chances of living and fighting cancer...simply by what I put in my mouth. I also feel better. Amazing...Duh Dana!

My parents came and visited this week. It was so good to visit with them. They are such an inspiration to me and such amazing role models of stable, righteous people. They are wise and caring people. I love them to be around my children who don't get to see them much due to distance. It warms my heart when I see them interacting with my girls and loving them like I do. I am so grateful for them...for good family. For laughter.