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.
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…
Last night was a big night for me. I spoke to almost 300 university students about “personal branding”, how to conduct yourself in a meeting, how to gauge a room and how to remain authentic and true to yourself. The audience had no idea the struggles I have faced the last 18 months as…
Most people don’t look forward to Mondays…at least not as much as they look forward to Fridays! I never used to have a problem with it, but for me, Mondays now signify the beginning of a new week… another five days of more doctor’s appointments. Last week I underwent a series of tests after seeing…
After seeing my family doctor before Christmas, she gave me a referral to see a rheumatologist. I already know I have arthritis in my back and I receive epidural steroid injections for that, but I have been experiencing a lot of aches and pains. My hands, feet, neck….you name it, it hurts. I am also…
We all struggle. We all have issues. We all feel pain…physically, emotionally or both. I hate seeing others suffer; and I have seen a lot in the last 18 months. Yesterday, I saw my oncologist at the Cancer Centre. It is a beautiful building with lots of windows and plants. It’s halls are filled with…
Read more The minute you start keeping score in life you’ve already lost
Yesterday was my long awaited appointment for my epidural steroid injections. They are terribly painful but much needed in order to keep me mobile. I always get very anxious before the appointment as I know what the experience entails…and it ain’t fun! The nurses are always so very nice to me. They tease me, trying…
Today I saw my reconstructive surgeon for a follow up after my surgery on December 20th. That was three surgeries ago. Yup, that’s right, I had three surgeries in eleven days. First my reconstructive surgery which removed the long lasting hematoma, excess skin and had a mound revision….followed by emergency surgery to remove gall stones…
It’s New Year’s Eve. Yesterday I underwent a procedure to remove two gall stones lodged in a duct that runs to my liver. They caused me so much pain that I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital on Saturday. Today I had surgery to remove my gall bladder. A two hour surgery that has…
I’ve been home recouping from the surgery I underwent on December 20th and enjoying time with my daughter and her husband who have come for Christmas. Yesterday I woke up not feeling well at all but chalked it up to maybe “over doing ” it a bit. By noon however I had such severe abdominal…
…he’s going to find out if I’m naughty or nice!? Christmas Eve. Can’t believe it’s here already. It never fails to sneak up on me even though it’s the same date every year! When I was a child, the weeks leading up to Christmas were always exciting and terrifying. I would spend hours making my…
Blessed to have come through surgery #5. Blessed to be home in my own bed. Blessed to be able to spend Christmas with my family. I have spent the last two days in bed…only venturing to the bathroom and back, which is no easy feat. I have four very painful incisions. One under each of…
So I’m prepped and ready for surgery #5. Fingers crossed that it’s my last. I’m battle scarred and ready to say “yes I slay that dragon and won!” Wish me luck and I’ll be in touch soon 🙂
It’s Sunday afternoon. I’m making lists of all the things I have to do before Christmas…which is in 10 days. There’s presents still to buy and wrap. There is the Christmas dinner to plan, shop for and prepare. There’s a lot still to do……. ….and then my phone rings. I look at my cell and…
Read more Would it be alright if I rescheduled Christmas this year?!
…and the dreams that you dare to dream, maybe do come true. Over the Rainbow. It’s a favorite song of mine and my daughter. So much so that at her wedding last month my father played it on the piano as she walked down the aisle. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. The…
Today, I attended an industry holiday event. I have been looking forward to it and dreading it all at the same time. I must have tried and retried a dozen outfits not knowing what looked good on me. Does anything look good anymore? My sense of self has disappeared. I don’t recognize my body anymore…
Read more “I’m good…thanks.” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it
That’s a quote from Mr. Roger’s. You know, the slow speaking, calm, quiet, cardigan wearing man that had the TV show Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. I saw the movie today It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood. It is a movie based on an article written about Mr. Roger’s in Esquire Magazine. The author, who was…
Remember when you were a kid and you’d travel somewhere…and the trip seemed to take FOREVER? It may have only been a short car ride but it always seemed to take so much longer because all you wanted was for the car ride to end and the adventure/vacation/visit to begin. In my case, this “ride”…
Last Saturday, my beautiful daughter got married. Despite the teaming rain, it was the most spectacular day I can remember. She was so happy and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. The wedding has been my focus for over a year. It has given me something positive to look forward to and to work…
Today I am in Ottawa getting ready for my daughter’s wedding rehearsal. It is a very exciting time albeit a little stressful. I have shared my anxiety with you about whether I would be healthy enough for this momentous event and almost as important…whether I could find a dress to wear! As “Mother of the…
Read more The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you
It was finally time for me to buy a bra…or two. Since having my mastectomy I have only been able to wear light, cotton sports bras, that offer support without pressing on my incisions. They are “practical” . They’re fine but I want more. I want to look and feel like a woman rather than…
There are things we go through in life that leave scars. Some are physical, some emotional and some are both. The scars that cancer has left me with will never heal. They may fade, but they will never be gone for good. Cancer has left an indelible mark upon my body and my psyche. The…
Read more Some things will never heal no matter how hard we try
Today is Thanksgiving. I love this time of year; the colours of the leaves, the warm days and the cool nights…sweater weather, cozy blankets, homemade soup, comfort food…the change from summer to autumn. With every season, every month, every day I give thanks. When you are diagnosed with cancer, no matter what the “odds are”,…
Sorry, I Don't Have Time For Cancer 