Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Ahhh Egypt. What a beautiful place. I am in Cairo for a few days and just a short drive out of the city are the pyramids. Imagine pyramids in your own backyard. They truly are awe inspiring. I got to witness the pyramids of Giza. These are the most famous… the ones you see on…

Thanksgiving weekend….always one I look forward to. Family, turkey dinner and nice weather for walking and enjoying the fall colours. But not this year for me. Not because I am unwell… because I’m doing something different. Instead of turkey and pumpkin pie, I’m having falafel, tahini and kefta. I’ve flown to Egypt. Yup, you read…

This week I attended a Breast Reconstruction event at St. Joseph’s hospital. I had seen a poster on a bulletin board at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and signed up. I had no idea what to expect but given the fact that I am in the throws of reconstruction I decided it would be beneficial. The…

This week I was able to get in to see my surgeon at the McMaster Pain Clinic. I have been going there for epidural steroid injections in my back for two herniated disks. I had made an appointment to talk to the doctor about the neuropathy I’ve developed in my legs since my mastectomy. It…

I had another fill this week….another 60cc’s, that brings me to 870cc’s on each side. I am starting to feel like I have a chest now. The last two fills have made a big difference. I still don’t have a real sense of what “size” they are in terms of cup size. The nurse suggested…

Today is October 1st, the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As someone dealing with this disease and all its ramifications I feel a sense of responsibility to remind women of the importance of getting checked regularly and to encourage men to support the women in their life that may be facing this disease too.…

I haven’t left my house in a week. The new medication I am taking to help with severe nerve pain in my legs has knocked me flat on my ass. I am nauseous, light headed and very very frustrated. The write ups on the meds say it may take up to four weeks for it…

I’m in a holding pattern, waiting for the new meds to help my neuropathy, waiting to get a follow up appointment at the McMaster Pain Clinic, waiting for my next saline injection, waiting for my next lymphatic massage, waiting for a good night’s sleep and waiting for a day I wake up not thinking about…

Yesterday I went back to see my family doctor for a followup on my nerve pain. Two weeks ago I was prescribed Lyrica to see if that would help, but unfortunately there was no change. The doctor had said that I might have to try several different pills in order to find the one that…

Yesterday I say my reconstructive surgeon for an examination and a “fill”. My doctor came into the the room with two residents. I tend to meet new ones at every visit. As he wasn’t present at my last visit, he wanted to do an examination of my chest to see how things are progressing. With…

I saw a notice last week at my Osteopath’s office for a stair climbing clinic. One was designed for “intermediate” climbers and one for “beginners”. Can you guess which category I fit into?! It said that it was a four week course that would teach people the proper technique to stair climb to get the…

Yesterday marked three months since my surgery. June 13th will always be a day I  remember…forever. When I say “three months” out loud it sounds like an incredibly long time. On one hand the time has flown by…and on the other it’s been the longest three months of my life.  When I first came home…

Wednesday, hump day, middle of the week and typically a day that borders on the beginning of the week and the push towards the weekend! Yesterday was a busy day for me. I had appointments in the morning and then went to the office for several hours then fought traffic to get home to hop…

It’s raining today. It’s grey and gloomy. I had to turn the furnace on as the temperature inside the house was down to 16C…around 60 degrees fahrenheit. That’s cold…for inside. I’m wearing jeans, thick socks and a big comfy sweater. I look like the stay puff marshmallow man. My true body shape is completely masked…

I had another fill today. It’s not something I look forward to. Just in case you didn’t believe me when I referred to the size of the needles they use to inject me…here is the “turkey baster” itself…less the needle part.  Yep, this is what they use. Thanksgiving will never be the same! The cancer…

Yesterday I went to the doctor. So what’s new right?! Well, this visit was to my family doctor. You see, ever since my surgery, I have been suffering from bad nerve pain in my legs. It started off with just some tingling and a bit of burning in one thigh but has now progressed to…

I had a meeting today out of the house. That in itself is a big deal for me. I ransacked my closet to find something appropriate to wear. It isn’t easy. With no chest, none of my pre-surgery clothes really fit properly. They all hang differently or gape where there is nothing now to fill.…

Ever since I went public with my diagnosis I have been inundated with questions from friends, family…even total strangers. Somehow people feel that they can ask you anything and everything and you should gladly answer. Maybe that’s a good thing. I obviously want to share my journey hence this blog, but it amazes me the…

I was sitting outside yesterday, trying to relax and enjoy what’s left of this fleeting summer. When I found out I had cancer and was planning for my surgery I kept thinking, well the good news is, I’ll have the summer off!  Hmm…little did I know that this summer would be anything but a vacation.…

The last few days have been very hard…and I’m not entirely sure why. Yes, the back injections and subsequent effects on my chest were painful but I have endured much worse. Maybe it was having to experience walking into an Operating Room again and climbing up onto the table that really shook me to the…

There is nothing short or brief about filling out a two page form to take my “pain inventory”. Today I am at the Michael DeGroote Pain Clinic at McMaster Hospital. Am I here for a followup for my mastectomy? Nope. An appointment for the hematoma? Nada. What about an appointment for the reconstruction? Niete. I…

It’s Monday. The start of the work week…and for me the start of trying to go back to the office part time. I have been doing work from home as best I can, but its not the same as “being at the office”. I miss the hustle and bustle of the office, the energy, the…

Eight weeks ago today I came home from the hospital. On one hand it seems like yesterday and on the other….a lifetime ago. And it has been a very different life since CANCER became the focus of everything I do. Being told I had cancer has changed me forever. Since my diagnosis I have researched,…

Today was another “fill” day. My last one was three weeks ago. It takes that long for the skin to stretch and settle at the new size after the saline injections. It really is a bizarre feeling having this fluid move around your chest like an alien being. The fluid travels at will. In the…