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.
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…
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…
