Brand Spankin’ New Breasts!

I visited my Reconstruction Surgeon – Dr. V – yesterday.  He is young, stylish, engaging and forthright.  And he is Dr. X’s next door neighbour in the medical building.  Dr. V shook my hand as he welcomed me into his large and beautifully decorated office and Heather beamed her best smile. “I’m Dr. X’s favourite…

My Bite is Worse Than My Bark

Several weeks ago I asked my Oncologist Dr. F to cut my steroid dosage in half.  Before receiving chemo, I am pumped up with Pepcid (to inhibit histamine responses in my gut), Benedryl (to prevent allergic reactions) and Dexametheson (a steroid to crush my immune system). The steroids were giving me a bad case of…

Stubborn or Tenacious?

My Oncologist Dr. F read me the riot act today … for not going to Emerg when my fever hit 39.6C/103F on the weekend … a whole degree over the GO TO EMERG IMMEDIATELY level. I told her that I had no one to take care of my son and dogs.  She said “You’re useless…

Thanks Chester … I owe you more than one life …

In the words of my 19-year-old son “This is the first celebrity death that truly affects me personally.” Me too, Kiddo. When I was Numb from the pain, fear and confusion in my abusive relationship, my world closed in around me … and Chester was there to put the words to my silent scream.  I…

Cancer is a Piece of Cake

I’ve been asked many times – and it’s a valid question which I don’t mind clarifying – if they got all my cancer.  It came up at dinner, and I thought of this analogy which would help answer “Did they get all of it?” The answer from me, my surgeon Dr X, my oncologist Dr….

The Chronicles of Cancer – Pink Dot Detour

This is the entire list of related blog entries written since I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. These are heart and brain dumps as I go through diagnosis and treament.  When I began to blog my journey, I decided I would write authentically and not hold back anything.  I’ve written about the good,…

I’m Positive I’m Negative

I received the results of my first round of genetic testing today … I opted for testing (no charge to women under 60 in Ontario) to see if I carried the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. I won the first round of Jeopardy … or perhaps it sounds more like a Jerry Springer episode ……

My Glass is Half Full!

I was driving home from the Cancer Centre last week … stopped at a red light. I looked over to the right and BAM! I was rear-ended by a truck. Thankfully I was stopped far enough back that I didn’t hit the car in front of me, but I was thrown forward a good five…

It’s All About Me

It’s all about me right now. I will admit that I have an ego. Without being a narcissist.  I have lived thirteen years with one of those and can tell you that is much different than being selfish and self-centred.  It was that pride that refused to allow me to give up on the narcissist. …

Authentic Voice

I have been asked … and my closest friends have been asked … about why I blog. Why I write with such candor.  Except it’s not always called candor. Shock value. Attention whore. Outrageous behaviour. Brutal honesty. Why does she blog that? An art gallery. Best thing I have read in ten years. She gave…

Friends With Cancer

This blog entry has been guest authored by my friend Sherri, whom I love with all my heart.  She has been by my side since my cancer journey started … understands me best since she has seen a similar road … and taps me on the shoulder when she has something to say … I…