Living Like Tomorrow Isn’t Promised

Finding joy, gratitude, and purpose between cancer scans and finish lines.

The third breast cancer diagnosis I got was in October 2023. That was two years, 8 months ago. It was about that time that I upped my engagement with living each day as if it could be my last. This choice to approach daily living as if it could be my last day increased my joy and sense of wonder and gratitude to be alive in this body at this moment. This moment as the moments come and go each day. 

Aromatase Inhibitor, is it doing any good?

Going on letrozole, the anti-estrogen drug that was to eliminate the hormone estrogen in my body, had many negative side effects. Note – all 3 of my cancers are estrogen receptor positive cancers. In an effort to extend my life and halt the cancer spread, I agreed to go on letrozole in late October 2023. 

Letrozole is a very hard drug. I experienced so many difficult side effects,  I often wondered if I might die of bone deep exhaustion and never ending aches and pains in every joint of my body. 

After much deliberation and soul searching I made the decision in January 2026 to go off letrozole as it was unclear if it was doing anything helpful in terms of cancer reduction. I was certain it was causing brain fog and endless pain. I was willing to take the risk of going off it. My oncologist agreed. Part of the agreement we made was that I’d come back for an ultrasound on my chest wall in late June to see if the one cancer nodule had grown. If it had, then perhaps I’d have another dreaded PET scan. Dreaded because I’m allergic to the PET scan drugs. Go figure. 

Since going off the letrozole, my brain fog, the endless exhaustion and the deep joint/bone/muscle aches have all stopped. It took just over 3 months for my body to recalibrate, and it finally did. I feel much better, much healthier and more engaged. It takes less effort for me to feel and experience joy and daily wonder. I count that as a win. 

Cancer status

The question remains, what’s the status of the cancer in my body? Currently I don’t have metastatic breast cancer. In January, I had only one small cancer nodule on my chest wall. Cancer showed up nowhere else on the PET scan. I feel healthy. Nothing hurts excessively in my body. 

And sadly cancer is sneaky. 

I go in for the ultrasound on my 45th diaversary, June 26. Yes, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on June 26, 1981. I find out the results of the ultrasound on the same day that I have it. Thankfully, I have a therapy session just a few hours after I have the exam and get the results. I’m glad I will give myself a moment to feel and process my emotional response to the results. I will keep you posted as I know more.

Racing fun in Duluth

In the meantime, I’m racing in what will be my fourth Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon on Saturday, June 20th.

I am approaching this 2026 race if it’s my last Garry Bjorklund. After all, who knows. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. I plan to enjoy the big lake, Lake Superior, the breezes, the fellow runners, and being in Duluth at Jaime’s house for the three nights she hosts the five of us. 

I will notice how beautiful it is to be Up North in Duluth. The lilacs, the columbines, the light reflecting on the big lake. I will notice how wonderful it is to eat all my meals with friends for a few days in a row. I will pay attention to and notice how strong and capable my body feels on the days before the race and on race day. I’ve done the training to get here, now I will enjoy it. Thank you Run Minnesota for helping this body be ready for this race.

As I’m running, I will feel my body and I will keep my mantras front and center. I will breathe deeply and thank this body for allowing me to run this race for the fourth time. 

My number is 23247. Follow along should you be so inclined!

I wrote my race plan for this race in 2022 and I will follow nearly everything from that race plan four years ago. There are a few adjustments. One big one is that we are going up on Thursday and we are staying at my friend Jaime’s house. She graciously lets us stay with her! Super fun!

I set my Race Goals for this 2026 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Here they are:

1. Enjoy it all. Breathe it in. All of if.
2. Run it in 2:40 or under.
3. Feel it as I run, no matter what it is, feel it. Appreciate that I can feel.

Thanks for reading the post today. I greatly appreciate it. 

How do you live as if today matters? Thanks for telling me here in the comments. As always, I love reading your words.