Editor's Note: NewsChannel 2 anchor Wendy Chioji is grateful to all of the viewers who have expressed their best wishes as she wages her fight against breast cancer.

Chioji has chosen to use NewsChannel2000.com as her way of keeping the public updated on her health. New diary entries will be posted every Friday.

BREAST CANCER INFORMATION Four Steps Promote Early Detection WENDY'S DIARY Oct. 31: Ride For The Roses Oct. 24: Another Cycling Weekend Oct. 18: An Emotional Finish Oct. 17: Singin' In The Rain Oct 16: Rally In Indianapolis Oct. 15: Chilling In Arkansas Oct. 14: Monster Crosswinds Oct. 13: Tailwind To Texas Oct. 12: An Uphill Climb Oct. 11: The Race Begins Previous Diary Entries WEB LINKS Florida Hospital mammography locations Complete Guide For Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Decision Guide Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation National Breast Cancer Coalition American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Coalition INTERACTIVE Breast Cancer Survivors: Share Your Experiences Meet Other Breast Cancer Survivors

I've been catching up on everything I didn't do when I was in Salt Lake City.

There's a lot to catch up on when you're out of town for two weeks. One of the things I did was call Nona, my friend from the Monday chemo group, and the news wasn't good.

Her husband died of emphysema about a month or a month-and-a-half ago. While I was gone, Nona went into the hospital. Her tumor has started growing again; the chemo isn't helping anymore.

When I called, she was meeting with a hospice chaplain. She said all the doctors can do now is make her comfortable. It makes me feel like I have a heavy weight on my chest. I knew there was always this possibility, but still, it's a reminder of our mortality.

Like I've said before, even though I've had cancer, I never really have considered death an option. This news is an ugly reminder that it's always out there.

Meanwhile, I keep plugging away at getting my strength, endurance, and speed back. I ran the Run for the Pines 5k last weekend, and got a respectable time. I was really happy. At many points during and after chemo, I wasn't sure I would ever be fast again. Now, I'm starting to suspect I might be.

I've also started training with long bike rides, getting ready for Lance Armstrong's Ride for the Roses. Five weeks to go. We went out for 53 miles last Sunday in the hills and winds of Windermere. We'll do 60 miles this weekend. It will take just under four hours, hopefully.

The coolest thing happened last week. I got an e-mail from Joni Rodgers, the author of "Bald in the Land of Big Hair." I wrote about that book right after my cancer diagnosis. I said it was a wonderful, optimistic, but realistic description of what Joni Rodgers went through with cancer. Well, Joni was apparently surfing the Web, found this diary, and decided to write. She said hello and best wishes, and she just made my day. What a great surprise.

Tomorrow, I'm going to Supercross out at the Daytona International Speedway. I haven't been over for Bike Week since I was a night reporter, so this should be lots of fun. Maybe I'll come back with a new tattoo.

Wendy
March 8, 2002

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