September 17, 2025

There’s something special about reaching milestones in life. You may have reached several in your life, like age-related milestones, high school, college or beyond graduation, or promotions at work. As a baby, the milestones are as simple as taking your first step and eating solid foods.

I reached a milestone yesterday of a different sort, but one definitely worth celebrating. I was at my oncologist and she announced that I am finished with every six-month check-ups!

Most who have had cancer know the drill of every 3 or 6-month check-ups for a certain time after treatment or surgery. For me, I had every six-month check-ups for five years. As a three time cancer survivor, I remember when my oncologist announced that I would have to have these every six-month appointments. I was crushed. I felt like I was just returning to “normal” after my two other cancer battles, and with cancer #3, it was “here we go again.” I don’t know why the announcement of these check-ups hit me hard, but they did.

Emotions with cancer can take you all over the place. You just need to ride it out.

Anyway, when I went to the oncologist yesterday, I thought it was my second to the last six-month check-up, as I don’t reach being five-years cancer-free until December. But things have been going well and they released me early. I don’t have another appointment with my oncologist until next year! Milestone reached!!

Annual visits to doctors seem normal – and this makes me “normal” again. I don’t feel like a cancer patient or a victim or any of that. I’ve returned to real life!

So, today, I celebrate reaching this milestone. Now, I have a new goal: to be the most boring patient ever! No surprises, no more cancer, just good health, God-willing.

What about you? Do you have something to celebrate today? Please share.

Let’s encourage one another.