Editor's Note: NewsChannel 2 anchorwoman 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 spent a while talking with a woman who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer Friday. It's a friend of a friend who asked that I call, which I was glad to do.

I was able to give her a preview of what might be to come with chemotherapy and dealing with work issues and stuff like that. It seems like a lifetime ago when I went through everything, and as impossible as it would have seemed at the time, I've forgotten some details.

I can't really remember the chronology of some of the procedures and doctor's diagnoses. It's the strangest thing. (Kelly would disagree. He thinks I have no short-term memory, period. What was I saying?)

Anyway, I was telling her that the treatment time would be over before she knew it. One lesson chemotherapy taught me was about taking one day at a time ... sometimes one hour at a time. It's hard to plan for next week when you can't even get out of bed without help. This time last year, I was still in the Adriamycin-Cytoxan phase. Ugh.

One question she asked me was about oncologists. How do you pick a person to entrust with your life and your entire future? It was easy for me with Dr. Dave, but my conversation with this friend of a friend made me really think about that doctor-me relationship.

I was really lucky to have the ability to choose a doctor who had already been my friend (and a running partner) for more than a year. Truthfully, that occasionally made for some uncomfortable doctor visits :-), but overall, it was a real blessing.

He continued to run with me, slow as I was, through the chemo, falling back from the rest of the group when I was too winded to run faster, and taking walk breaks when I needed to (but always saying it was him). He was a great support, a great doctor, and a great friend. I think I'll tell him.

I went to Washington, DC, (my hometown) this week, to cover a couple of really cool events. First, a Volusia County woman named Linda Gregory won one of five national Jefferson Awards for Greatest Public Service. Her husband, a Seminole County sheriff's deputy, was shot and killed by a man with a mental illness.

She teamed up with the sister of her husband's killer to fight for services for the mentally ill. She figures if the killer had had help, he might not have been a killer. She is an incredible woman. Her sons drove up from Florida to be with her as she was honored by senators, CEOs, and the media. It was very special be with her and her family at this time.

Then, I got to cover the President announcing his initiative to push Americans to get active and get healthy. I thought this was a perfect assignment for me. Gold medal Olympians Derek Parra and Dot Richardson were there, and I got to interview them again. Plus, I got to shoot a story on the White House South Lawn. That was very cool.

Of course, out-of-town assignments always require long hours of work and lots of running around (which I never mind), and I am glad, glad, glad, that it's the weekend!

Wendy
June 21, 2002

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