Michele's Cancer Blog
Cancer Blog Entries Archived by Date
2019 (6)
August (2)
It Was Definitely Worth It: It’s been a long time since inability to sleep has plagued me. Usually it is the constant churning...
From Somewhere Up Above: I have been missing my bestie, Laurie, as of late. I always miss her. This however is extra and beyo...
July (2)
Isn't That What We Are Here For After All?: Have you ever bumped into someone you know well, but from your distant past at a completely odd plac...
Somewhere In The Wake: I haven’t posted in a while. There is this thing called “life” that can take over your very e...
February (1)
Palliative Care...Can I Have Some Please?: I am a nine year survivor of stage IV anal cancer. I have endured surgeries and various rounds of tr...
January (1)
Don't Wake Me: Life has been such a whirl wind lately. I feel like taking care of myself, in all my “long term s...
2018 (6)
October (1)
That's What It's All About: As you know from a previous post, the long term side effects of pelvic radiation continue to arise i...
September (2)
The Desires of my Heart: When I was diagnosed with stage IV anal cancer at the tender age of 47, approaching 9 years ago now,...
What's Really Important!: I know many of you have been waiting on an update from me on one of my lung “unmentionables”. S...
May (1)
My Unmentionables : So much has happened this past month and it is high time I free it from my mind so I can have some p...
March (2)
This Doesn't Sound Fun, Does It: An answer came yesterday afternoon from a radiologist unknown to me. Someone who reads for one of th...
The Wee Hours: It’s 1:30 AM and I am up. I am awake, because ambien, neurotin, a muscle relaxant and prescription...
2017 (7)
December (1)
Writing Helps: I will never tire of writing the story of me and my experiences as a seven, soon to be eight, year s...
August (1)
When Words Won't Come: This blog is long over due. I often forget that the people that follow my blog do not necessarily fo...
June (3)
We Have a Plan: I saw the pulmonologist on Monday. She looked at the scan itself with her own eyes (not the written ...
In a Snapshot: Monday was a surreal day for me last week. The reason I say that is because the day was completely n...
Chaos Into My Order: I am not sure what is going to be in this post as I begin it. So many things are going on inside of ...
March (1)
A Tiny Glimpse: Yesterday I had an experience that I feel compelled to extract from my body via trembling fingers ta...
January (1)
Nothing Humbles a Girl Like....: I pooped my pants a couple of nights ago. Are you shocked? I was. It had been a while since this had...
2016 (14)
December (2)
Dream a Little Dream..: The mind is an enigma. It is known to exaggerate details and suppress the unpleasant. Whether a memo...
Bitter Sweet Happiness: Hello my friends! I am well...really well! Saw my oncologist today. I remain, according to my CT, NE...
November (2)
The Loss of Another Warrior: It is with a heavy heart that I let everyone know that Tammie Hine passed away in her sleep last nig...
It will be okay...honey.: Writing is cathartic to me and just as my cancer diagnosis opened this avenue of expression in me cr...
September (2)
Underwear Update: I have written about my underwear plenty of times over the last six plus years. They started out ...
A Disaster of Epic Proportions: I have had a very hectic work week. This girl is tired. So much so that this girl decided not to go ...
August (1)
Chin up, my ass!: Recently I have had several of my “virtual” anal cancer sorority sisters have either recurrence...
July (2)
Any one in Dallas?:
Hi All,
Anybody on here from the Dallas area?
...
Here It Is: Anal Cancer in Newsweek!: Amen!
http://www.newsweek.com/2016/07/29/anal-cancer-stigma-482063.html
...
June (2)
The Results Are In...: I remain NED! More later on this incredible feat. I gotta call my mom!
...
The Wait: Like many people my cancer check ups are on a set time frame. For example, right now, my CT scans ar...
May (1)
People Still Get Hurt: A few months back one of my virtual anal cancer sorority sisters passed away. She and I had been in ...
February (1)
All the Love!: My whole life I have always felt, in general, that my birthday was no big deal. But in light of almo...
January (1)
Just Standing in My Kitchen: Each year we host a Christmas party at our home on the last day of classes for my husband’s entire...
2015 (25)
December (1)
Technically I don't Belong: It’s been over a month now. I’m not talking of the last of my writings here, for that has been w...
November (1)
In other news :): I'll keep this brief because I am still at MD Anderson and only have my iPad. My PET scan reveals th...
September (1)
Will You Bury Me?: I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a funeral. You know, the one I would like to have? Yeah, tha...
August (2)
Peace Anyone?: So far this month I have been to a wedding and a funeral. Both of the services were for fellow paris...
Tune in!: If you like yourself some Dr. Radio (Sirius XM 81) tune in today at 10:00 EST (that's 9:00 CST). I a...
July (2)
The Poster Child of Hope: A few weeks ago I spent some time in Houston, as you know. My routine check-ups every ninety days or...
The Theory: It is the early morning hours of Sunday morning. My typical Sunday consists of waking up to the smel...
June (1)
Who Says You Can't Take It With You?!: I think it is interesting how thoughts link together. I was on call a couple of weekends back and si...
May (1)
I Think I Will Stay: I made a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes but this one was pretty enormous as far as mistakes go. N...
April (3)
He Really Loves Me!: I love my husband and he loves me. I have been married for going on 28 years now. I’ve been really...
My Husband....the best in the World!: This is my husband speaking out about how my anal cancer effected him and the care I have received a...
The Next Chapter: A couple of posts back I wrote about my “AB-normal” mammogram and the frenzied followup, complet...
March (5)
St. Teresa? I know her!: Are you familiar with the life and story of St. Therese of the Little Flower? According to The Socie...
For those wondering: For those wondering, no MRI required for my "red herring" mammogram. My oncologist said it was not w...
Only If He Says So: I had my screening mammogram this month. My oncology team of doctors say that despite my PET scans e...
Brought it all up, brought it all out....:
My time on Via Christi Life Matters
Except for not being able to say the word "anal" because it...
All The Wrong Things: I have done plenty of reading over the last few years surrounding what not to say to someone who has...
February (5)
Scan Results Are In: I had my appointments in Houston this past week. PET/CT and lab work. I really need to blog about it...
Popcorn at Midnight: I overindulged yesterday. I ate too much...waaay too much. Things started out innocently enough, a f...
My Interview Link: http://ksn.com/2015/02/04/michele-longabaugh-talks-about-her-survivor-story/
Here is the link to th...
Discovered: Forgotten Writing From the New Year: The holidays have come an gone and just as expected the new year arrived. With it's predictable arri...
It's All About You: February 4th is World Cancer Day. This year February 4th is my five year "cancerversaary". On this d...
January (3)
War of Words: Within me lies of war of words that I cannot seem to get out. Some call it writers block. My hope is...
I'll take it!: My procto was uneventful with my favorite colorectal surgeon! I took him a dozen cookies from a lo...
Ugh!: Time for a procto exam. I believe that speaks for itself...ugh!
See you on the flip side :)
...
2014 (25)
December (3)
Medical Professional/Scientific Meeting:
I usually shy away from “advertising” anything, but this meeting is vital to the community. ...
I Have Already Won: Many people have wondered these days what is up with me. Feelings generally flow freely from my fing...
Carry On: As the holidays roar into full swing one can almost palpate the tension humming in the air. People a...
November (1)
...like me!: The holidays are upon us and as is typical with the last gasps of Fall's balmy days coming to a clos...
October (4)
My Face: I am home from my trip to Houston where I received the incredible news that I remain an outlier...No...
News Flash!:
I received the results of my PET scan today ( a rare thing to get same day results) and I remain...
A Mountain Out of a Molehill: I am six days away from my PET scan, tests and doctors appointments. This is generally the time peri...
The Power of Pink: The first day of October is over. It exploded on to the scene with the subtlety of a peptobismal nuc...
September (1)
Ever and ever...: It was Thursday. I decided I needed to find an old picture from my Facebook archives to display on m...
August (2)
The Other Shoe: The world of NED (no evidence of disease) can be exciting and disconcerting at the same time. Let me...
Never a Question in My Mind: Just recently I found myself home alone on a Saturday. My husband was out for the day. He had slippe...
July (2)
An Arm and a Leg: As many of you know, I was in Houston this week getting scanned and poked in order to define my curr...
Cancer Can't Talk: I should be used to it by now. All the whispers. The talking behind my back or worse, referring to m...
June (1)
So I won't...: When I was diagnosed with pneumonia a few weeks back I went through something emotionally. It's not ...
May (2)
I Am an Anal Cancer Survivor: When people learn that I have cancer they usually appear saddened and offer me encouragement often a...
I am Alive!: I have gotten much more philosophical about life and my stage 4 anal cancer over the last four years...
April (2)
My Never-Ending Story: I've been feeling different this past few weeks. Ever since I returned from MDA and saw my local onc...
It Feels Like an Epidemic: Having had a rare cancer for more than four years now I have gotten used to the fact that there are ...
March (2)
My Wounded Soul: I don't know where to begin. I know that is probably hard for many of you to believe that read my wo...
Petrification : I awoke with a headache this morning. It’s the third day in a row. I also recalled instantly upon ...
February (1)
Past Tense: It is rare and surprising to me when I meet someone like myself. Let me explain what I mean. I am no...
January (4)
I Just Didn't See It Before: Last Friday I had an idea. It's one of those kind of ideas that won't leave your brain. It won't lea...
Guilty As Charged: I'm alive. I'm alive and doing well. This is so amazing, right? I mean who, in a million years, woul...
It Means the World to Me: I received a belated holiday card from my oncologist at MD Anderson. "So what?" you perhaps are thin...
Definitely Without Hesitation: I have had this little blog crashing around in my brain and struggling to get out since before Chris...
2013 (31)
December (2)
Drink It All Up!: I have to say that this most recent trip to Houston was fast and furious! What with leaving mid-afte...
Bravery or Courage?: I have had this post crashing around in my head for several weeks now. My biggest internal struggle ...
October (2)
Maybe It's Not About Me...: Those of you who follow my blog know that I had to spend a few weeks in Houston to receive my radiat...
X Marks theSpot!: My stay in Houston is half over as I just completed my fith of ten radiation treatments at MD Anders...
September (2)
You're Never Going to Believe This!: I have said in the past that cancer is like a rollercoaster ride in the dark. My most recent visit t...
The Only Way Out is Through: It's 5 AM. Being awake this early has nothing to do with insomnia and everything to do with needing ...
August (3)
Just Catching My Breath: When the kids were young we always took a lake vacation. We pack up the boat, stuff the car full of ...
Bounce Back: As a kid I lived across the street from a Bible College. We called it "Bible School Park". It was a ...
Finally Breathing: My sister arrived this last week. This has been our "disaster plan" for the last three years. It was...
July (6)
Position 2 :): In my mind, toilet seats have 3 possible positions. Position 1, which happens to be my daughter's fa...
Rhetorical Question: It is surreal, yet totally expected, to be starting chemotherapy again for my beast of a cancer. I h...
Just the Pep Talk We Needed: Being home in Wichita, sleeping in my own bed, and safe within the security of my familiar surroundi...
Only for a Minute: I know you all have been anxiously waiting for "part 2" of my visit to MD Anderson. I will try to ke...
Just maybe....:
MD Anderson part 1 of 2 faithful readers. Don't get your hopes up though, chemotherapy is starting ...
White Noise: When my eyes cracked opened on Independence Day (July 4th) it felt like sand was coating them as my ...
June (3)
For now I tread on...: My phone rang late in the afternoon on Wednesday with a hospital number indicated on the caller ID....
I'm Not Every Other Woman, Now am I: “Everybody else’s mom is letting them go!” If you are a mom there is no doubt you have heard t...
A Different Kind of "Not Knowing": I had a PET scan on Thursday last week and have been waiting in angst ever since for the results. To...
May (4)
True Grit: My daughter just graduated with an Associate's Degree from one of our local community colleges. She ...
The Happy Ending is Optional: The interesting thing about twitter is that you don't have to follow anyone you don't want to but de...
4 Mother's Days Back: In 2010 I wrote a blog about my Mother's Day experience, called "Being Back" (link not allowed on Bl...
A Little Bit of "Deja Puke": <p>I am not good at throwing up. I have never been a good barfer. I hate being nauseated but w...
April (2)
I Am the Pollyanna of Stage 4 Cancer: I have a good attitude about life. I see the silver lining and the good in everything including my s...
Love Gets Up at 4:30 in the Morning: Right before I left on vacation I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with my daughter running...
March (3)
The Unspeakable: I've been on vacation this week relaxing on the shores of Florida...the Atlantic side. We went with ...
I'm Sitting in a Coffee Shop: I am sitting in a coffee shop right now. I think it is helping my writing. I have a lot inside me th...
Money Well Spent: I have wondered, lately, if I am really helping making an impact with my awareness~slash~support cam...
January (4)
Willy Wonka Would Have Forgiven Me!: "You stole fizzy lifting drinks!" Remember that scene from the 70's movie version of Willy Wonka and...
The Ultimate Time Bandit: As many of you know a few weekends ago I made a fabulous trip to Las Vegas with my Besties. The trip...
It's Cancer's Move: The return of my cancer has been a much different experience than my initial diagnosis. The flurry o...
The Precious Time I am Granted!: Do you remember the show "Thirty Something"? It ran in the late 80's, maybe early 90's. It kind of h...
2012 (31)
December (4)
A Chrismas to Remember!: I am starting a new project. I know this doesn't surprise you. I am going to start doing some self p...
Truth in Whispers: This is one of those entries that is made in retrospect after an epiphany that went something like t...
Those Days Are Gone I Guess: Up until about 10 days ago I had been having a pretty steady recovery from my surgery. A 'remarkable...
Home for the Holiday: As painful as my surgery was and as awful as I felt even with all my tubes and wires removed, I want...
November (5)
Ugh...I'm allergic to tape :(: I am allergic to tape. This is a fact plain and simple. I have been this way as long as I can rememb...
The New 10: When the dust had settled a few hours after my visit with the cardiothoracic surgeon it was decided ...
- Not Likely: There are many things in my life that I am very comfortable with. Give me a pacemaker implant proced...
Speechless...: With the start of November I noticed a familar change in the "status posts" on facebook. On the very...
Simply Peace: This has been a rough week. I have had a lot of distraction from wallowing over the annoying spot ...
October (4)
The Waiting Game: When my kids were little I used to play a game with them called "The Quiet Game". The rules were sim...
I'd Buy a Case if I Could!: I was making a grocery list for this week and because I have a butt doctor visit in my near future I...
Ignorance is Bliss!: It's been a month now. A month since the offending spot was identified lurking in my right lung. It...
Much Needed Hats: I have been adjusting to this most recent discovery of a "concerning spot" in my lung. No more "cr...
September (6)
A Bit of Cancer "Scripture": I received a text a few nights ago from my daughter, Maggie. We text each other a lot, especially wh...
One Blessed Girl!: As a result of my compultion to share my entire anal cancer journey with the world on my many blogs...
It's On the Tip of My Brain: I am positive that you all have heard of "chemo fog". The Internet describes it as "the mental cloud...
How Am I Doing?: How am I doing? A lot of folks that care about me have been asking me how I am doing for the last fe...
Now You Know the Rest of the Story: Before you begin to read this entry I want to warn you that it is quite long so you may want to get ...
All By Myself, Like a Big Girl!: Whew! With the Labor Day weekend behind me I finally have some time to sit and blog about all that h...
August (6)
No Worries...Everything is Going to be Okay!: I am back from my wonderful vacation that I took with my daughter to go see my sissy, my parents, br...
You Have No Idea: My husband and I went mattress shopping last week. Not for our room but for the guest room in our ba...
Flip Flops: Many of you know I spent last weekend getting some intense, much needed "lake therapy". After the st...
Safe is a Better Word: I got the results of my MRI. The good news is it is not tumor regrowth. The other good news is I don...
What's Really Bothering Me: Yesterday was my dad's birthday. I forgot to call him. I had been planning on calling him and had th...
A Pain in My A**: I've been struggling with sciatica. This isn't news. I have been dealing with butt and leg pain inte...
July (2)
It's Just the Right Thing to Do: As I am preparing the opening remarks I am going to be giving at our upcoming Relay for Life event (...
The Lost Blogs: I have been blogging for about two and a half years now about this crazy cancer journey that I am on...
June (2)
You Can't Quit Cancer: Things have been running a pretty even keel for me this last few weeks. I have had a wonderful summe...
I Will Never Be the Same Again: I had a book signing last week in Hillsboro, Kansas. Hillsboro is a little town nestled in the softl...
May (2)
Hairy Knees: I noticed a small amount of peach fuzz on my knees yesterday. Big deal, right? Well, it's just that ...
Home Page: Check out my home page :)...
January 31, 1963 - June 10, 2020
Vital Info
October 3, 2011
January 31, 1963
June 10
Cancer Info
February 5, 2010
2.1 - 3.0 cm
Grade 3
No
As much as possible
Proceeds from my published blog donated monthly
It is a thief
You have to live every day of your life and stay positive :)
Donate $$ to the anal cancer foundation. Raising awareness saves lives!
Bone, lung recurrence 9/20/2012
Cancer Center of Kansas, MD Anderson
Bland diet, sitz baths, take your drugs...nobody gets extra credit for suffering.
Talk, talk, talk to somebody. I chose to write.
April 20, 2010
September 20, 2010
Rectal bleeding, itching, sciatic pain. (thought my hemorhoid was acting up)
My blog has been published and proceeds go to The HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation. http://tinyurl.com/72bjjfp
Stats
Posts: 145
Photos: 4
Events: 0
Supporters: 214
Friends: 366
Comments:
-Made: 217
-Received: 2127
Views:
-Posts: 469613
-Photos: 10854
Memorial
January 31, 1963 - June 10, 2020
 by Ann | by Denise | by Denise |
| by Valerie | you will be missed Michele by Liane | Rest In Peace Michele, you earned it. by Unsure |
