Ta Ta Cancer follows my Breast Cancer journey from diagnosis thru surgery, recovery and reconstruction. It is a candid account of my journey and I'd love to have you along for the ride.
For many people, today is Thanksgiving. A day when family and friends gather to celebrate, reconnect and give thanks. Well, that’s what usually happens on Thanksgiving…but given COVID-19 and the ever rising numbers of infections and death, Thanksgiving will or at least SHOULD play out differently. I know only too well how isolation can affect…
It’s that time of year when the clocks go back an hour. It’s darker in the mornings and darker earlier at night. And for me it feels darker all the time. When I was a kid; and having just had a birthday this week, I can assure you I am no longer a kid; I…
“How are you doing?” It’s a question we ask and get asked constantly. “I’m fine.” is a typical answer, at least for me. Saying I’m “fine” is just so much easier than actually divulging how I’m really feeling. “I’m fine,” makes it easier to move on with the conversation and really, it’s such a standard…
This week I had a “catch up” call with my family doctor. I haven’t seen her in months as she isn’t seeing patients in person due to Covid-19. I had to bring her up to speed on how I am feeling. She had scheduled the call for ten minutes. Let’s just say it went a…
Read more I’m not chronically ill… I’m medically interesting!
…The Doors hit from 1967 was blaring in the operating room as I lay down to have epidural steroid injections in my back. It was a good thing that the music was loud so it would drown out the sound of my heart beating against my chest. It’s been seven months since my last procedure.…
Last week I was sitting around a campfire with my daughter and others. It was a beautiful starry night and all felt good in the world. I don’t get that feeling much anymore with everything that is going on in the world, but that I night as I looked up at the Milky Way and…
I am very excited to have the opportunity to speak about my journey with breast cancer; how it has affected my life and how it prepared me to cope with this global pandemic. For more information feel free to reach out to me or www.transatlanticagency.com/clients/speakers/patti-hone/ Thank you all for your support, readership and friendship. The…
We’re six months in to the pandemic. I guess we’re making progress?!?! Some days I wonder. And with all this “downtime” I find myself wondering and contemplating many of “life’s” mysteries. Last week, I was asked by a young boy, “Patti, at what age did you become an evolutionist?” Huh? When did I become what?…
This year, 2020, was supposed to be “my year”. A year to heal. A year hopefully with fewer/no surgeries. A year to start anew. When 2019 finished at midnight, December 31st, I was lying in a hospital bed having just undergone my third surgery in 11 days. I was exhausted, in pain, frustrated and extremely…
Read more The world has gone mad. I’ve gone into hiding. It’s all become too much!
I haven’t posted for awhile. To be honest, I have been at a loss at how to put into words just how frustrated, saddened and frightened I am with all that is going on in the world without sounding trite. It’s not like my words or opinion mean anything in the grand scheme of things…but…
It’s been over two months that we have been isolated and observing social distancing. We have participated in more Zoom calls in the last eleven weeks than we have in the last eleven years! We’ve organized and reorganized our closets. We’ve learned to bake bread, tried recipes we never had “the time” to prepare before…
It’s the long weekend. Victoria Day, May 2-4, the start of our summer mindset, camping, cottages, traveling, backyard bbq’s with friends….ya, not so much! This weekend doesn’t feel like the celebratory time that we usually experience. The fact that it’s “A long weekend” means nothing to us now. Every weekend is a looooooong weekend. It’s…
Let’s face it, being in lock down sucks. It’s hard and a lot of people are feeling VERY restless. It’s normal to feel that way. Whatever “normal” is anymore. We’ve all been abiding the rules, social distancing, wearing masks when appropriate, only venturing out of our homes when its absolutely necessary and trying to stay…
Two years ago today I was told I had breast cancer and would have to undergo a mastectomy. “Excuse me I have what? And you’re going to do what?!?!!?!” I remember being in total shock. I don’t remember driving home from my appointment with the surgeon. I remember sitting on the couch, trying to make…
Social distancing and isolation is not new to me. For almost two years I have had a lot of time alone as I battled breast cancer. Sometimes the isolation was because I was vulnerable to infections and “bugs” so I kept my distance from people. But a lot of the time I was alone because…
Social distancing. Line ups at grocery stores. Work and school closures. Symptoms. Face masks. Task forces. Press Briefings. Flattening the curve. Self isolation. Death counts. Crisis. These are the words, messages and information that bombards us. 24/7. Day after day after long day. One day flows into the next, with no semblance of what a…
April 1st…”April Fools” but there’s nothing humorous or trite about what we are all facing now. COVID-19 is no joke! The isolation, the fear of the unknown, the lack of control…I’ve been through this all before. It was two years ago this month that I woke up one night with severe chest pains, convinced I…
These are crazy times and let’s face it; scary times. COVID – 19 has touched us all. Literally. Every age, religion, colour, sex and occupation in every country and continent around the world. This virus means business and it isn’t going to stop until we do something to stop it. Currently there are no drugs…
Read more We’re in this together…but stay at least six feet away!
These are troubling times, no doubt. People are afraid…and that is understandable. But let’s not let fear cloud our judgement or cause us to make rash decisions. When I was diagnosed with cancer, trust me, I was afraid. No that’s not right. I was scared sh#tless! But I made it my priority to educate and…
COVID-19, the Coronavirus…that’s all anyone is talking about. We are inundated with information. Unfortunately not all of it is true. And what’s worse is some people are panicking which isn’t helping and others aren’t taking it seriously at all. I went out today to pick up some much needed groceries. It’s always a bigger task…
Today is International Women’s Day, a day that is celebrated around the world. It recognizes the strength of women. The importance of women and the power of women. It is also a day that that makes us all aware of the inequality that still exists for women. Did you know: Women earn 23% less than…
A few weeks ago I spoke to 300 university students about marketing, branding and running a business. I was surprised and very humbled to be asked back again to speak to them last night. They asked their professor to reach out to me to see if I would come back for an hour long question…
Control Yourself. Alter Your Thinking. Delete Negativity. This is my mantra. It’s what I strive to do everyday. Some days it works…others, well, not so much. Every day is a challenge. Whether its trying to push through the pain of the myriad of things I am dealing with physically; or trying to drum up the…
I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had a melt down. Ok, maybe two hands…but I am a master of disguise. I have learned to hide my feelings with humour and diversion. I hide my pain, my anxiety and my fear, by poking fun at myself and laughing about the shit storm…
It’s no secret that I don’t like hospitals! As soon as I walk through the doors I get anxious. I don’t like the smell, the sounds and how much time I have spent in them. Don’t get me wrong. I have the utmost respect for all the staff, volunteers and patients that fill the rooms…
