After reading my last post I figured a follow up was in order. Firstly, I finished my twenty page paper on time and rather well done I believe. The procrastination, thus far, was for naught. My blood work came back almost perfect (my white blood cells have been running low). If there were any indications of illness, the blood work is the first place it shows up. All of the worrying and stress was self induced and unnecessary. However, to be candid, the menopause worries might actually be real. Chemotherapy can actually cause early menopause and/or make a patient feel the symptoms of menopause. I’m an unmarried twenty five year old woman. Fertility is not exactly on my radar at the moment but the possibility of the loss of fertility has really forced me to think about my future. As young, and even not so young, college students it’s common to get lost in the moment of things. As a student we can put blinders on to what can happen fifteen years down the line. All I have been thinking about, other than my health, has been accomplishing my academic goals. I now realize that I want so, so much more down the line. I would love to have a family of my own one day. My education is the first step in providing for my family but it cannot be the only preparation I make for the future. It is time to prepare in other ways too. It’s easy to take the easy way out in college. Fast food, cancelling exercise, self induced stress, and binge drinking are all unhealthy habits that seem to be synonymous with the college life. It is time to put these habits to rest. Some of them I have a harder time giving up than the others (sometimes a 900 am spin class really is Satan’s work) but I have come too far to stop trying now. My future is my end goal and in order to safe keep this picture of my future, whatever that may look like, I have to start taking steps and making changes in my life now. These steps are not easy but they will be so worth it in the long run. “Fighting” cancer was only part of the battle. The next part, for me is to stay above the fray and start keeping up with a healthy, active lifestyle. Maybe it’s time for you to consider that too? At any rate, I’ll let this blog hold be responsible to that healthy lifestyle commitment.