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.
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…
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…
