skin cancer

Hurdles

Thyroid Disgnosis & Another Biopsy

Motivation Monday: “I’m not losing weight, I’m getting rid of it. I have no intention of finding it again.”

Hi little bunnies, I’ve missed you!

I took a much needed week off after a very overwhelming doctors visit. Last week I went to my appointment to go over my lab work results with my doctor. Fortunately I do not have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Unfortunately I do have hypothyroid. Luckily hypothyroid is something that is easy to regulate with medication, and my doctor is hoping that I will start feeling a little better within 2-3 weeks. I am crossing my fingers on that one. I’m happy that I have finally figured out what is probably the main culprit of my depression, hair loss, weight gain, and lethargy. I’m just hoping and wishing that I will gradually see changes with all of my symptoms after my thyroid gets all leveled out. It’s probably going to take time and more blood tests to get everything regulated perfectly, but I am looking forward to it. I cannot explain how drastically different I feel physically and mentally compared to last fall. I can’t believe that one little gland can cause so many different issues in the body. I just want to feel like myself again!

As I was leaving my doctor’s office, I received a phone call from my dermatologist’s office. The nurse informed me that the biopsy results came back from my second incision (right foot, pinky toe) and that it was abnormal. She scheduled me for another appointment this Thursday for a second biopsy and to talk more about the biopsy results and about possibly scheduling a surgery. Ummm surgery? You’ve got to be kidding me. I hung up the phone and sat in my car crying at a stop sign. I could not imagine having another surgery and once again be set back another couple of weeks with crutches. Oh and not to mention the pain, I was luck I got the best CBD oil for pain. After I got my stitches out from my first surgery, the incision split open and has taken so long to heal. The surgery on my left foot was on August 16th and I can still barely walk. I’m going to my dermatologist on Thursday to learn more about my biopsy results. Since I only talked to the nurse, I have no idea if it’s cancerous or what is going on. All I know is that my poor foot is going to get cut up again! The timing couldn’t be worse as I am going to an out of town wedding next week! I really can’t process all of this right now.

After my cry session, I made a detour to the mall for some retail therapy to hunt for a dress to wear to my friend’s wedding. This dress might be accessorized with some chic bandages and shiny crutches. Stylin’.

While I was at the mall, a parking attendant asked me what happened to my foot. I explained that I had a mole removed from my foot to be biopsied. I think that everyone is surprised when I tell them, because they are expecting a sprained ankle or stubbed toe. He said “good thing you had it removed, Bob Marley died of skin cancer.” I had no clue that was how he died, so of course when I got home I took to the fabulous world wide web to learn more. I stumbled upon a story that Bob Marley died of skin cancer that was found on his toe! Naturally I started freaking out because my bad biopsy came from my toe! Googling “Bob Marley skin cancer” quickly turned into searching WebMD to assess the issue. OMG why do I do these things? WebMD should be illegal! Literally the worst thing you can do. All of the sudden a headache turns into the self-diagnosis of a brain tumor after 1 minute of being on that site. Never a good idea!

Are you guilty of going on WebMD when something is wrong?

In all of the bad news that I received last week, I’m so thankful that my thyroid condition is curable, and that my dermatologist caught my mole sooner than later.
I apologize if I’m a bit MIA this week, I’m just going to say it straight up: I’m having a bad week. Boooo. I really want to start a juice reboot, but I don’t think that is a great idea right now. Maybe when I get my thyroid stuff figured out and am feeling a little better!

My friend tagged me in the most adorable photo on Instagram that I just had to share with you guys.
Oh no big deal, just grocery shopping for some rabbit food for his bunny teeth!


I die over this picture! How freaking cute is that mini shopping cart? I wonder who took this! haha

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Hurdles

Stitches Out & Skin Cancer Awareness

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your support regarding my last post about my recent health issues! I get my lab results back next Friday, so I will let you guys know what is going on in the health department at that time. Your comments and stories of similar health issues have been so inspiring and I am trying my best to keep my head up and keep moving forward.

Sorry I’ve been a little MIA for the past couple of days. I have not been feeling well at all. Still pouring over here in Catherine’s world! Ugh. I just got home from the dermatologist and I have a foot update:


Good News: Stitches are out!
Not Good News: My skin biopsy came back showing abnormal cells. It wasn’t melanoma, but it wasn’t normal or “ok” either. This means that if I left the mole and didn’t have it removed, it had a potential to turn into melanoma. Luckily my doctor removed the surrounding borders of the mole so I don’t have to have another surgery. All of the bad parts are gone! I am so thankful!
Bad News: Since my biopsy came back abnormal, my dermatologist wanted to check the soles/pads of my hands and feet for other suspicious moles. He saw another dark oddly shaped mole on the opposite foot and insisted that he remove it and have it biopsied. My eyes started to tear up. Was this really happening? I kept it together and thought about the reality, I would rather suck it up and deal with the pain, crutches, or even a wheelchair than leaving a possibly cancerous mole.

Skin cancer is something that runs in my family, so it’s important to check my skin (you should too!) for new and changing moles frequently. Three years ago I felt a bump on my scalp while combing my hair. At first I thought it was an ingrown hair, but a month later it was still there. I made an appointment with my dermatologist to check it out. While observing the bump on my scalp, he also noticed a strangely shaped flat light brown mole about an inch down. He decided to biopsy both moles since one had irregular borders and one was raised. When my biopsy came back, I was informed that the flat mole was pre-melanoma. I went in for another appointment to remove the mole and surrounding borders completely which left me with a little bald spot on the crown of my head. Missing a little patch of hair didn’t even matter, I was so happy to have that spot removed! Better safe than sorry! Ever since then, I have been more cautious of new and abnormal looking moles.

This summer I noticed that a once tiny small dot of the pad of my left foot had turned into a triangular shaped blurry spot about the size of a pencil eraser. I already had an appointment with my dermatologist since I was experiencing breakouts, and decided to show him my foot. The instant he saw it, he said “this needs to come out, this has three different colors and a fuzzy border.” He also explained that moles should not be found on the soles/pads of feet or hands, which is a big red flag. There is a very serious kind of skin cancer called Acral Lentiginous Melanoma that is found in these spots. I am so glad that my doctor decided to schedule a surgery and remove the mole because it definitely needed to go.

I don’t want to fill my food blog with disturbing photos of skin cancer, but I think it’s an important subject to address. A couple of my family members have had melanoma and basal cell carcinoma which have luckily been removed in time, but we have also lost friends from skin cancer. Of all the cancers that humans can get, skin cancer is the most common, but when caught early, skin cancer has a 98% cure rate.

ABCs of Skin Cancer
Asymmetric:  If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match.
Border:  The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.
Color:  Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, blue or some other color.
Diameter:  Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.
Evolving:  Any change — in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting — points to danger.
–Source

“1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer. Don’t be the 1.” –The American Academy of Dermatology

My Motto: When in doubt, cut it out!
Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, it doesn’t matter how dark or tan you are. If you see anything suspicious, make an appointment with your dermatologist and get that sucker removed!

After I got home from the dermatologist I was super excited to see this book waiting for me! My grandma dropped it off while I was at my appointment, thanks Grammy! So excited to have something to look at since I’ll be back on the couch haha

I was even more excited to receive this gorgeous little box in the mail. One of my best friends from college asked if I would be her bridesmaid! FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!!! I am soooo excited and honored. She is going to be the most gorgeous bride and I cannot wait for her big day!



Although I had a little setback today with my  foot feet, things are looking up. I have the most amazing friends and family in the world! I can’t wait to get back on my feet and start posting some recipes again!

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Hurdles, Obsessions, Tips

Birthday Week & Pre Surgery

Hi everybunny!

You may have noticed my lack of a new blog post on Monday. I actually got anxiety over it throughout the day. At every appointment, I couldn’t help but think that all I wanted to do was post a new recipe for you guys! True Life: I’m addicted to blogging. No worries, I am back in action! Over the weekend I have become a packing and shipping professional, and shipped a bajillion (omg do you remember saying that word when you were little? who am I kidding, I still use it) Eat More Rabbit Food shirts. I cannot believe how many shirts were purchased within the first couple of days, my little bunnies are so amazing! I am loving all of your Instagram and Twitter photos of you guys wearing your shirts, SO CUTE! I have had a problem viewing and commenting on some of your Instagram photos because some accounts are private, but I do get to see a little thumbnail and that makes me so happy!

Drumroll pleaseeeee: Wednesday, August 15th is my 23rd Birthday! This birthday doesn’t seem too magical. I’m usually so into birthdays. I’m like the birthday queen ova hurrrr, but not so much this year. Blink 182 totally called it in their song “What’s My Age Again“… Nobody likes you when your 23. You’ll hear it right at the 27 second mark of their video. So nostalgic, I love Blink 182! I’ll be blasting this song at midnight on my birthday, feel free to sing along with me haha

Louder drumroll pleaseeee: Thursday I will be having a minor surgery (no anesthesia or anything like that) on my foot to remove a possibly but hopefully not cancerous mole. Happy Birthday Catherine, enjoy your surgery! BOOOO! Skin Cancer runs in my family and I have had a cancerous mole before, so cross your fingers that this one is not! Skin cancer does not discriminate, you guys. It doesn’t matter how tan or dark you are. Since I will have stitches and crutches I probably won’t be able to do too much standing or cooking, so I am thinking of some other fun things to write about towards the end of the week. I’m thinking about being super obnoxious and quizzing my Dermatologist about skin and skin cancer during my surgery. That would be some fun times, right? Orrr maybe RFFMBT Q&A Part 2? Then I can get nice ‘n’ comfy on the couch, prop my foot up, and type away!
If you have any questions for the Q&A you can leave them in a comment on this post, or via Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #RFFMBTQA2
It can be anything from health & fitness, to beauty!

 The incredible Heather from For the Love of Kale wore my EAT MORE RABBIT FOOD SHIRT in her latest vlog! Umm how amaze does she look?! Total celeb status! Heather, I want a hair tutorial next! haha


I don’t know if it’s just me, but recently I have not been motivated to run. Great timing since I am having surgery on my foot, right? I’m in such a running rut that I cannot even lace my shoes up. Maybe it’s the heat? Maybe not actually, because I cannot even get myself to run indoors on a treadmill. There are times where I get obsessed with an exercise and do it almost every day for months straight and then get super sick of it, but running and The Bar Method have been my two favorites for quite some time now. The combination of Bar Method classes and running seem to be a perfect match for me and my schedule but lately I’m so over running. I don’t even know how I am saying this because I usually look forward to going on a run since it is usually a way for me to get things off of my mind and relax. Recently it just seems like more of a chore than something I look forward to. That’s definitely not how working out should be. If you feel this way, Join me as I try to get out of my exercise rut! Don’t forget, there are so many options, there is something out there for everyone to enjoy.

When I have been in previous workout ruts, I usually have a go to list to get myself motivated again, so here I am again with my list!
1. Make a new running playlist
2. Pick a new route to explore
3. Put together some cute/stylish running outfits
4. Get a new pair of running shoes

Sometimes my workout routines just get well… too routine, which leads to boredom. I always try to change up my playlist and route to keep from getting bored, and it is definitely time to shake things up. When I am really stuck in a workout rut, I will sometimes treat myself to some new workout swag to get myself pumped up again. This usually does the trick for me, because I’m a total girly girl and I love a new outfit! This time I think I need a little gifty for myself and a goal to work towards to keep me motivated. I really want to try a pair of Vibram FiveFingers! I took to my Facebook and Twitter to ask if anyone had a pair, and if so what they thought about them. I got some great responses that got me totally excited to try them out! Did you hear that, I got excited to run again, woo! Baby steps here! I’ve heard that it takes some time to get used to them since they are so different than normal running shoes (they have individual toes), and you have to gradually work up towards running 100% in them. This seems like a fun and interesting challenge for me. Viola, have I solved my running rut with a new running shoe challenge? I hope so! It’s time to set a new FitFluential goal! #FitFluential

Question: Have you ever been in a workout rut? How did you get through it?

On a higher note: One of my best friends, Behnaz brought me back a little treat from her trip to Israel this summer! She brought me a Milk Chocolate Bar with Popping Candy. It’s literally a chocolate bar with pop rocks in it! This is probably the most genius chocolate bar ever invented. Willy Wonka, you’re my man, but you’re seriously lagging in this department. Every time you take a bite, you get the flavor of creamy milky chocolate, and the popping sensation of pop rocks. It really makes you slow down and be aware of how much chocolate you are consuming because those things are pop pop popping the entire time! Touché to this chocolate company for making me stop and think before inhaling the entire bar haha and thank you Behnaz for the awesome treat!


On a completely different note: I use way too many exclamation marks!!!!! I can’t help it, I’m always so excited when I talk about these things! If you know me, you totally understand! EXCLAMATION MARK!

Don’t forget to submit your questions about health, fitness, and beauty for the RFFMBT Q&A at the end of the week and check back on Wednesday for my Birthday post! xo

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