Welcome!

Today I am beginning a new chapter in my life.  A chapter filled with good food, good friends, and good family.  It's time to kick start things around here, and this is just the time to do it!

In March of 2012, I noticed enlarged lymph nodes in my right groin.  Knowing this could be nothing - a minor infection, irritation, whatever, - I took note but figured I'd ask my gyn when I went for my annual in May if they were still there.  In May they were, so I asked, and she said yup, go get them checked out.  She ordered an endometrial biopsy and ultrasound on her side, both of which came back normal except for a rupturing cyst in my right ovary, which was thought to be nothing of importance.  I went to my primary care and she suggested a general surgeon to do a biopsy.  I had that done in June. 

On Thursday, June 21, 2012, I got the phone call that would change my life.  My biopsy came back positive for cancer.  Now here's the thing.  I knew it would at that point.  Lymph nodes don't stay enlarged for 3 months for no reason.  But what he told me would rock me to the core. Metastatic carcinoma, but they can't tell the origin.  I've been officially diagnosed with cancer of an unknown primary with a GI focus.  The cancer is in my lymphatic system, clearly, and the blood stream, but there is no tumor present anywhere in my body.  The cancer seems to have broken up from wherever the original location was and is now floating around my body.  So there is no surgery and there is no radiation.  Because the cancer cells aren't taking a specific shape of any one type of cancer (lymphoma looks one way, leukemia another, tumors another), it's hard to tell what kind of cancer it is.  The pathology says it's most likely GI - pancreas, stomach, esophagus, possibly colon.  From many scans and biopsies, every organ looks normal and has no cancer in it.  My blood work is all normal.  No cancer markers.  Nothing.  But the pathology reports still said GI.  So I went through an aggressive chemotherapy plan.  Three different drugs, every three weeks, for 12 weeks.  Carboplatin, Docetaxel, and 5-FU (fluorouricil).  Not an easy trip, but I'll spare you the details.  I finished my last round with a scan on March 8th showing no measurable disease, and it has stayed that way with two scans since. 

With my clear scan in May, I decided to adopt a plant heavy diet.  I'm doing everything I can to keep the beast tamed!  I bought Kris Carr's book, Crazy Sexy Kitchen, watched her documentary as well as Forks Over Knives, and set on my way.  On these pages I hope to share recipes, tips, and stories, and I hope to hear from anyone out there reading with suggestions and stories of your own! 

I'll start you off with something small - my daily juice.  It's delicious!  I juice every day now, packing a ton of nutrients into one glass.  I highly recommend it.  You'll get boat loads of energy!

Morning Greens

One cucumber
2 stalks celery
One green apple
Cup o' greens (I use whatever is in the fridge.  This week is kale.)
Handful o' parsley (you could use mint or whatever leafy herb you enjoy)

Wash, juice and enjoy!


We have a busy two weeks coming up.  We're moving next week and then I go back to work the following for the first time in a year.  I'm definitely going to need some plant energy to stay ready and focused!  So stay tuned for more goodies!  Now go enjoy your weekend!!