The cellular warfare of Chemotherapy

Why do I feel like I should be singing Pat Benatar’s Love is a Battlefield as I write this blog entry? This post is dedicated to my chemical warefare … Doxorubicin – Adriamycin – Red Devil is the first chemotherapy drug in my regimen. It stops the growth of cells by blocking an enzyme called…

My Estate of Mind

I can picture that photo being at my funeral.  It’s so full of life and love.  And pure joy.  I did achieve pure joy on this planet. The sky is so blue … the sun is so golden … And I love that moment with Carly, my chocolate lab mix. Today is Day 2 of…

Meet Sophie!

Hi everyone!  This is Sophie … if you are following along on my Pink Dot Detour with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, you know that I lost all my hair 13 days after my first chemo infusion. Each wig – I currently have five with two more in the works – brings out different characteristics of my…

Cranky as Fvck

About a year after I left my ex, I started a 12-week program for abused women.  There were weeks when I sat in that room – looking at those other fourteen women – and thought to myself “I don’t belong here.” Some of the physical abuse stories were horrific.  I had only been physically hurt…

Ciao Bella

I’ve been puzzling over why losing my hair is so traumatic … and I think I have figured out why.  I’ve never been bald.  I was born with a full head of dark hair.  I wasn’t born with breasts … they came later.  I was pretty much fully developed by age twelve.  And also at…

Hair today … Gone tomorrow

Do you play with your hair?  Or love to have your significant other play with it?  If there is one thing I love … it’s having someone play with my hair.  Quickest way to my heart?  Play with my hair and kiss me on the forehead. Close your eyes.  Run your fingers through your hair. …

Visiting Hours

Listen to this song as you read my blog today … My Heart Will Go On I had wanted to post a positive upbeat blog entry chronicling my 10-day journey through Emerg and being admitted to the Oncology Ward in Lakeridge Health Oshawa, but the words were too … clinical.  And that shouldn’t be happening…

But I have cancer …

The evening after my first chemo treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer, my friend, confidante and cohort in crime Sherri asked me what I wanted for dinner that night.  I told her I was craving a light and lemony pasta dish from the cookbook Simple by Diana Henry.  Earlier in my diagnosis, my friend Bridget…

My Cocktale of Chemotherapy

I will have to edit this on the fly … my head is pounding and I can’t figure out why it is featuring the lunch menu on Facebook rather than the chemo photos! I can’t look at my own FB feed because the photo now makes me barfy *Fixed!  This blog post isn’t for the…

Cancer is a full-time job

Being treated for my Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has felt like starting a new full-time job in this completely foreign – and toxic – industry. The initial shock of finding the lump caused huge waves of stress and anxiety to ripple throughout my life and echo again and again in my head  … much…

A Teary Kiss Goodbye

Do you recall having to say goodbye to someone you loved? That boyfriend (or girlfriend) whose family packed up and left just before Labour Day?  You spent the entire summer immersed in sweet 16 love, and your just heart cracked in two when it ended.  The angst and pain and drama of first love –…

Hello 911? I’m on fire!

He ordered everyone else out of his office, then led her to the table and helped her climb on top.  She smiled, sat in front of him, and peeled her black t-shirt over her head without being asked.  She couldn’t wait to show him!  She reached around to unhook her lacy bra.  It quickly followed…