This month is full of national days. Per nationaldaycalendar.com, November National Days include –
November 1: National Vinegar Day
November 3: National Men Make Dinner Day (Must Cook. No BBQ Allowed!)
November 6: National Nachos Day
November 11: Veterans Day
November 18: Mickey Mouse Birthday
And there are national days that are related to our upcoming national holiday Thanksgiving which falls on November 24; these days include –
November 25: Black Friday
November 26: Small Business Saturday
November 28: Cyber Monday
If you are interested in viewing all the days of November National Days, click this National Day Calendar link to take you to their website.
There are some interesting and some important November National Days. Thanksgiving has importance for me this year: I will write about this importance in upcoming posts. I do have another day that I consider important in November – that day is today, November 4.
You may remember 3 weeks ago, my 2nd week of my 3rd cycle of chemotherapy was cancelled due to my low white blood count. Last Friday, I met with my Oncologist Dr. D. prior to chemotherapy and it was decided the missed chemotherapy session would not be made up. So, last Friday was the 1st week of my 4th and final cycle.
Today’s November National Day is not important to me – instead it is a November Personal Day for me.
Today I am receiving my last treatment of chemotherapy.
I recognize the importance of this day, but also keep in mind this journey is not over. No, it is far from being over; there is much more to come to complete this journey, this chapter of my life. In the immediately upcoming weeks prior to Thanksgiving, there will be additional doctor’s appointments, more tests, and further diagnoses.
But wait – before all those upcoming activities, I sit today in my last treatment of chemotherapy and reflect. I reflect on these past 12 weeks, I reflect on cancer, I reflect on my life and I reflect on the upcoming holidays, I reflect on cancer and the significance it has on me. It is in me in my life for a reason – I believe everything happens for a reason. I may not know the reason for cancer in my life, but I feel I know how I can grow because of it. Cancer is significant to me right now in my life, and because this blog is about my life – there are more posts about cancer and this journey that will come.
But there are other posts also, so for today, I want to conclude this post with words I wrote in August when I started chemotherapy. In my post ‘those around me‘, I concluded with the following –
I sit, I wait, I watch, I ponder, I accept, I acknowledge and then I realize cancer does not discriminate.
There are black, white, young and old; a man wearing a dress shirt and tie, the stately woman and the tougher looking guy. Then there is the woman with the pink hair, the majestic woman needing a little extra help, the chatty lady next to me and the young man across from me.
Today I sit for hours taking in those around me. Today I sit for hours viewing those near to me. Today I sit for hours receiving chemotherapy amongst others; those around me.
‘All things have a reason a reason for all things’ my Granny would say ….. this is not the end, dear friend but it is a milestone. At the end of this treatment you have completed the Chemotherapy. It has been tough, very tough and it is only a man as generous and humble as you that would finish a post on such a momentous Personal Day with the words you gave us at the start. Each one of you receiving Cancer is different. This disease has no boundaries. Each of you has a story. That you recognise it is humbling to those of us that read your words. Take care and hear the loud cheer from up here that you have reached this milestone in one piece.
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Thank you Osyth for your kind words, as I continue to sit here for several more hours, I find a little emotion taking place within me. As you indicated I have reached a milestone in one piece. Happy Friday my dearest friends! 🙂
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It’s an ordinary day for me made extraordinary by what you are going through. Let that emotion flow …. its barely surprising and it probably helps those little Chemo Warriors do their kicking stuff on the Cancer!!
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🙂
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Looking great by the way! 😉 Happy end of treatment day!
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Thank you Franck, I appreciate you and your support my friend. Be safe and have a great weekend. 🙂
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I’m glad you’ve made it to today! The journey may not be over, but you’ve at least gotten through a difficult part of it!
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Thank you Sarah, this is a step in the journey of more to come. I appreciate you coming along on this journey with me. Happy Friday! 🙂
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Happy Friday to you, too!
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Holding space for you on this very personal day! Lots of hugs!!!!
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Thank you Alexis, I appreciate you! Hope all is well with you and your weekend is happy! 🙂
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Yay 🎼 Happy for you.
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Thank you very much – and Happy Friday to you! 🙂
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Celebrating this milestone with you and celebrating YOU on this day!!!
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Thank you Jodi, we are a celebrating! 🙂
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You are extremely brave. I too believe whatever happens is for a reason, we may not know why these things happen but they do. You take care, you are positive.
Love reading all “The National Days” very interesting indeed. Here in England we have nothing like that, perhaps we would be better off if we did.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, I appreciate your support. Here in the US, we like to celebrate everything – and ‘The National Days’ let us all know what the celebration is for. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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You too, have a good weekend, stay safe.
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Love ❤️ that smile you have though…
Keep smiling.. because it’s way out of your control..
and you are doing everything needed to try to fix it..
I do think 💭 you are going to beat it..
and your positive attitude is the first step to success
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Thank you very much for your encouraging words – I will keep smiling! I appreciate you stopping by to read and comment – have a great day. 🙂
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Please try to.. Yourself..
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An important milestone; and I feel sure you will be marking many more (positive) milestones to come. Kia Kaha my friend.
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Thank you Su, I am optimistic for positive milestones as well. Have a great weekend. 🙂
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Congrats Terry. I admire the positive attitude you have been able to cultivate over the last few trying weeks. I know it hasn’t been easy but I have appreciated the honesty you have shared in your posts. 🍻 cheers to the milestone 😊
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Thank you, you are very kind – cheers to milestones! Have a happy weekend. 🙂
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You too 😊
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Congratulations on reaching this stage in your recovery. All the dosages are arbitrary to some extent and you have to rely on your doctor’s experience and how you feel. Like all things, you have to play it by ear. It’s really Mickey Mouse’s birthday??? 🐭
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Yes, more to come on the results of the treatment in the near future. And I guess Mickey’s birthday is this month – hum, I wonder how old he is? 🙂
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Mickey is certainly older than us – wasn’t he born in the 30s? 🐭
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1928! 🙂
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He is as old as my mother in law was!
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One step closer of knowing if you’ll need surgery in the future. Happy Friday and Sunshine Hugs!
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Yes, Cheryl, one step closer! Happy Friday and Sunshine Hugs to you as well. 🙂
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Yay to finishing it with a smile. 🙂 Hugs to you.
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Thank you very much, I appreciate you very much. 🙂
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It seems to have gone by so fast, but I’m guessing not fast enough for you☺️ You have such a strong spirit and it shines through everything’s you write. It’s lovely to see your smiling face. You’re over this major hurdle and I hope you have time to take a breath and celebrate before facing the next. Have a good weekend – we are preparing ourselves for Hurricane Fremily hitting landfall about lunchtime tomorrow in the form of our two toddler grandchildren! I’ll hopefully put my head back above the parapet on Monday 😂
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Thank you Chris for stopping by, I appreciate your kind words. Stay safe this weekend! 🙂
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Congrats on reaching such as significant milestone in your journey and from your photo you are looking great! Loved reading about the different national days. National Nacho day sounds good to me!
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I am with you – I like the National Nacho Day also! Thanks for your comment and words of encouragement. Have a great weekend. 🙂
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I am glad this phase of your treatment is over Terry! My thoughts are with you!
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Thank you very much dear, I always look forward to seeing you. Have a great weekend. 🙂
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You too Terry!!!
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So many people are focused on Election Day on Tuesday, but my main focus that day is the that is the day I get the horrible pin through my finger out, and get this confangled contraption device off! So that will be my personal holiday!! Take care Terry I hope this last round treats you well…
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Kathryn, I will certainly be thinking of you this Tuesday! My last round is over and the next few days will be to recover. I hope the remover of the pin is painless, but I know you are looking forward to it being out. Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by. 🙂
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Sorry I was not able to connect last night. My computer was playing tricks on me. I thought of you often though.
Wow! Time has flown. I can’t believe 12 weeks have gone by. It must be such a relief that that is now over. I know this whole journey is not over, and I know you still have so much more to get through. Just know I am with you and thinking of you. Hugs my friend. Hoping you are feeling rested. Happy Saturday 🙂
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Lynne, you are a sweetheart – please never apologize, as I know there are things that keep us from being online, it happens to me also. I appreciate you very much and seeing you online brightens my day. The past 12 weeks have flown by and there is much more to look forward to – one day at a time, right? Happy Saturday to you as well as. 🙂
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🙂 thank you.
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I know this isn’t over yet, but I sincerely hope the worst has passed. Will you have to undergo radiation, or do you know yet? I pray the chemo was totally successful. That picture is great! Love to see you smile!
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Paula, at this point I have no idea what to expect. I have imaging tests in the next couple of weeks followed by doctor appointments – then I should know more. I will have upcoming posts with more details. Happy Weekend! 🙂
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I hope it went well
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Thank you Derrick, all is well. Have a happy weekend my friend! 🙂
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Terry, I think this is one of the best posts you have written, especially restating your words from August. You are an inspiration to every cancer patient! Best to you, my friend.
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Aww, thank you Jennie for the special comment – I appreciate it, truly I do. I hope during my journey there may be others that can benefit from it. Have a happy weekend! 🙂
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You’re the best!
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What a fantastic feeling…..to be done with the beginning of the journey…..as we all know, there’s a beginning a middle and an end to all journeys before coming out a better person….so onto the middle….unfortunately it will be full of hurry and waits also…..but we are moving onto the next part….you are doing great….you look fabulous…and know sit back and let the chemo kick ass!! hope your having a wonderful weekend…cloudy here, but I see the sun trying to peek through…lots of energy sending your way…..xxxkat
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Thanks kat for your wonderful words of support – yes the beginning is done, now wait and see for awhile. And how fortunate I am to have you with me on this journey to always provide encouragement. Thank you dear for being here for me. Happy Weekend! 🙂
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thanks for letting us all chime in our opinions….LOL xxkat
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🙂
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You are one tough person! So proud of you Terry! Xxxx
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Thank you Lynn, I thank you for always being here each and everyday. You are a great importance to me. 🙂
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Thanks dear, I was away taking care of those precious boys so I am behind but cannot miss you my friend xxx
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Thank you again Lynn. 🙂
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xxx
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Congratulations, Terry! That´s a big milestone on your journey, and I´m still in awe at how you handled it all so far! With so much positive thinking and strength! It´s so good to know that your chemo is over! Hooray! 😀
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Thank you Sarah, yes one milestone over and more to come – all is good. Thank you dear for taking the time to stop by – I truly appreciate it. 🙂
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😀 xxxxx
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Congratulations on this important milestone in your journey! You’re looking good. 🙂
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Thank you Steph, I feel good – more to come in the weeks ahead – thanks dear! 🙂
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