Resources That Changed My Outcome
Updated: 4 days ago
Spring has sprung, and I’m sending a blessing—that our bodies, too, may rise from the weight of recovery into a new season of renewal.
Each season brings something new, but spring carries a particular promise—growth and the strength to emerge, like something once buried in darkness, held beneath the soil,
slowly nourished until, one day, it breaks through—
and a blossom unfolds.
Sharing two resources that helped me—one during surgery, and one after.
DURING SURGERY: Ask about fluorescent dye (often called tumor-targeting dye). It’s administered before surgery and can cause cancer cells to “light up,” helping surgeons see affected tissue more clearly. This can support more precise margins—important when preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
In my case, I asked my team to be as conservative as safely possible, given this technology. It’s always worth having that conversation and understanding your options.
AFTER SURGERY: Another resource I found helpful was tumor-informed DNA testing. Instead of relying only on traditional scans (which can come with risks), this approach analyzes the DNA of your specific tumor. From there, blood tests can be used over time to monitor for signs of recurrence based on that exact tumor profile. I chose this method for several years in place of routine scans. It worked for me—but everyone’s situation is different, so it’s important to explore what’s right for you with your care team.
All my best to each of you and all the love your way,
Angilee
Angilee, thank you so much for your helpful resources. I struggle to eat healthy because it’s so hard to find anything premade that doesn’t have red or black pepper in it (which I cannot tolerate) and I’m sick of my bean soup- so I’ll be looking forward to some of your recipes!
~The tougle I purchased is just perfect!!