BOSTON -- Spring has finally arrived in New England with all sorts of signs of new life around us. I am so grateful to emerge from my own dark winter. I even have some new "shrubbery" appearing on my head. I'm no Chia Pet yet, but any hair sprouting is worth getting excited about these days.

I'm also excited about being done with my first three months of chemotherapy. I survived what I expect to be the toughest part of my treatment. I had my surgery and endured the four difficult A/C infusions. I'm grateful to see the weeks and months fly by on the calendar and know each day gets me closer to completing treatment. I did my best to keep as positive an attitude as possible during the A/C treatment. For me, the best thing was to keep moving. I walked at least three times a week and stayed active with the children. I didn't always feel great physically or mentally, but I was not incapacitated by the chemo either. I just tried to power through it without letting the uncertainty of the treatment's effects overshadow my life. I did manage (with the help of the anti-nausea drugs) to get through the 12 weeks with no vomiting or major stomach problems. That was probably not the case for most people a few years ago. I think the anti-nausea drugs are really amazing.

A lot of people ask me how I deal with the fatigue. I have two small children, a job, a husband, etc, so I am always tired. For years I have accepted fatigue as a constant part of my life. (I think most parents with young children do the same!) I have found the chemotherapy fatigue to be manageable for the most part. I know it's different for everyone.

I have also been able to continue working during a lot of the treatment, so far. I took four weeks off post surgery and then returned to work four days a week. I will admit I have not kept up the pace of a typical reporter at Channel 5, but was able to work and contribute. Being at work has been such a nice distraction from the treatment. I’m just so grateful the people here at Channel 5 have supported me during these past few months. Nobody could ask for more understanding managers or co-workers. It has been so important to keep life as normal as possible for my family and me. I know it gets hard for my husband, Brendan, when everything in our lives becomes about breast cancer. He starts to really crave our old life.

On Monday, May 7, I began the next phase of my marathon. I had the first of 12 weekly treatments of Taxol and Herceptin. I got through the treatment just fine with no allergic reactions and no noticeable side effects yet. I have heard from many people this is a much tolerable combination of drugs. I did hate how long it took to get the drugs in me. Because doctors fear an allergic reaction, the infusion took about four hours. I was so crabby and impatient. I just don't really want to spend every Monday of the summer sitting on the 10th floor at Dana Farber. I have no choice. I know I am doing what I need to do to get well. So I have asked friends to join me for these sessions and look forward to our hours of uninterrupted conversation. With small children, uninterrupted conversation is nearly impossible. I have really treasured my time with my family and friends while being treated at Dana Farber. We actually celebrated the last A/C treatment by moving our book club to the infusion room. Just trying to make lemonade as much as possible!

After these 12 weeks, I will have a two-week break from cancer treatments. Yippee! Then it’s onto six weeks of daily radiation. As always, I’m simply trying to take this all one step at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed.

One down. Eleven to go.