March 3, 2017 – My best friend Terri and I walked out of the surgeon’s office with a sheet of paper clutched in my hand, knowing for a fact that I had breast cancer. The report said so. Highly invasive ductal carcinoma. My body, mind and soul had known a little longer. Dr. X was completely honest…
Category: Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Breast Story
This is going to be one of those blog entries that is a bookmark work in progress. As I research the story of our breasts and bring in the context of cancer, I will modify this post into a whole chapter. Check back occasionally for updates. My breasts are two of the smallest in the…
(Ir)+rational fears
I have this reoccurring nightmare that my PICC line will bleed out. The nurses tell me that it can’t happen because there is a valve that prevents the backflow of blood … but what if the line is severed? As in a car accident? May as well slice my neck. The nightmare has me slowly…
… So this is Coco …
She’s a little coo coo. Tower 10 as Bridget says, which I think means certifiable, without the cheque! She’s only coming out for special occasions … à la Coco Chanel. If you are just tuning in … I had Triple Negative Breast Cancer and am going through chemo now. I lost all my hair after…
And though she be but little, she is fierce
Shakespeare ~ A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Act 3, Scene 2 I am mostly fearless. I meet cancer head on and don’t flinch … which is exactly how I have always approached life. Tomorrow is my third of four chemotherapy infusions with the AC combination of drugs: doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Once the AC combo…
S’not funny!
This is so s’not funny … I lost all my nose hair. Who knew those tiny hairs were so useful? Is there no end to the indignities of cancer? While out shopping at Costco, Heather had to wipe her nose on her sleeve like a snotty brat. Caught red nosed without a kleenex. So not…
Daffodils for Mother’s Day
I’ve pretty much always had Mother’s Day covered via one angle or another. My Mom lived to be ninety-two. By the time she passed away in 2013, I had already been a mother myself for 15 years. While I’ve usually looked back and reminisced on Mother’s Day … this year I look ahead into an…
Annie … My heartdog
Annie was only 8 months old or so when she was rescued from a northern Canadian community and placed into foster care with our dog rescue. And she was pregnant. January 8, 2015 she gave birth to seven beautiful puppies … but Annie was struggling. With poor nutrition and no prenatal care, her body wasn’t…
Foxy Roxy!
Introducing Roxy! You’ve met Heather and Sophie … it was time to introduce the wig I chose – or rather, it chose me – to be most like my real hair. I’ve always had curly hair – but wanted straight hair – the grass is always greener … I would spend hours blow-drying and feathering…
Cancer doesn’t see racism … or does it?
I ran into my neighbour Carrie yesterday … she is lovely. Inside and out. We always run into each other when she is completing a spiritual journey and I am beginning one. I treasure her words, her advice and her friendship. She is brilliant and I have the utmost respect for her. I crave and…
Do I shampoo or wash my head?
… and other TMI oddball quirks that result from chemo. #1 – During my very first shower after having my hair shaved off, I put my hands up to wet my hair – and SHOCKED myself when it wasn’t there. This put me in a quandary … do I shampoo my bald head or use…
“You almost make me want cancer!”
“Nobody does cancer like you do!” “They (the nurses and doctors) will never forget you!” “You almost make me want cancer! How do you manage to make even cancer look like an adventure?!” I take those comments as compliments! Yes … I am giving cancer a different (fresh) face and attitude. You get to see…
Fox Diaries 