Never thought I'd want to be a breast cancer survivor
-
Words Matter
Read more: Words MatterWords matter. Certain words sting, and one of them is “prevention.” Why? Because “prevention” suggests we know the cause of something and have the power to stop it. For me, that word lands heavy, almost accusatory. It’s like an unspoken judgment: You didn’t prevent this, so maybe you’re to blame.
-
The end of breast self-exams
Read more: The end of breast self-examsThis is a story written base on reflections my initial year after diagnosis (2016), with added comments about what I’m thinking after my second diagnosis (2024). The feature image is from Wikimedia Commons. Like my stories? Please subscribe.
-
Avoiding Scanxiety
Read more: Avoiding ScanxietyI am working on a new memoir related to my cancer experience. As I create, I had been sharing stories over on substack, but I have decide to close my substack blog and move my stories back over here. In addition to writing about my ongoing survivorship experiences, I will be sharing stories that are…
-
Letrozole – so far so good
Read more: Letrozole – so far so goodBack in October, when my oncologist and I agreed I was done with Herceptin, we decided I wouldn’t do anything but let my body heal until January. That’s when I’d give Letrozole a try. Stopping Herceptin felt like a relief. For the longest time, I couldn’t distinguish which symptoms were caused by chemo, radiation, COVID,…
-
My first haircut
Read more: My first haircutLast week I had my first post-chemo haircut. This time around, I have taken very few selfies. I really didn’t like how I looked as my hair was coming back. I also didn’t feel the same need to share pictures of me smiling. I didn’t have the same reasons for taking pictures. I waited as…
-
First day of class – A time of transition
Read more: First day of class – A time of transitionToday is the first day of classes. I’ve been off for a year and I feel quite rusty. In addition to the changes in instructional design, the university has also changed its Learning Management System (the software we use to deliver our online courses). This adds to the transition. It is also a time of…
-
A long overdue post
Read more: A long overdue postIt has been so long since I’ve written, I don’t really know where to start. Health-wise, I’m doing okay—or at least I haven’t had any new health crises. I’m writing this from Stan Fest. Last year, we found out 20 minutes before we left for Stan Fest that I had cancer. It was good to…
-
Navigating the Side Effects of Trastuzumab: Finding Balance and Embracing Summer
Read more: Navigating the Side Effects of Trastuzumab: Finding Balance and Embracing SummerI’m more than half way through my Trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatments – I’ve actually lost count. I think I might be 10 out of 18. Anyways, I realize that I’m have side effects from it. It is causing fatigue and making my joints ache. The side effects last just shy of a week and then I’m…
-
Sunshine and Sunflowers
Read more: Sunshine and SunflowersLori was sunflowers. Lilani was sunshine. Will the sun shine again? I wrote this poem during a writing workshop. The prompt was “Sunshine feels like …” Immediately sunshine reminded me of Lilani. A ray of light. Then I thought of Lori, and how her favourite buff and compression sleeves are contain sunflowers. I miss them…
-
Rediscovering joy
Read more: Rediscovering joyCancer treatment is a gift that just keeps on giving … more like an anti-gift keeps on giving. My latest issue is radiation fibrosis. The area of my collarbone and underarm that was radiated is now tight. I asked a friend who is a physiotherapist about it – she explained it as scar tissue like…
