Family Ties: Navigating cancers together

 I can't believe that the last time I wrote a blog post was in May - the time has flown and I'm approaching the start of the anniversaries.  In May, around the time of the last blogpost, we passed the one year anniversary of Faith's diagnosis when we learned that her thyroid cancer had spread to her lymph nodes eliciting a much bigger surgery and subsequent radiation.  And now we are rapidly appraching the one year anmniversary of my diagnosis.  Funny that I don't remember the exact date but I do remember the date that started the whole ball rolling...my annual mammogram.  The last 4 years it has been in late June/early July as I was part of that clinical trial testing 3D mannograms vs regular mammograms (spoiler alert - the 3D, new technology ones are better, though my cancer was detected with a traditional mammogram so book that appointment to get your boobs checked!).   Anyway, once you've been through treatment for cancer, you get put on a new sche...

I used to really enjoy hearing the Letterman's Top Ten on the radio, the day after it was broadcast on TV.  I've never been much of a night owl, so never watched much of late night TV.  Even SNL, I would barely make it to the first musical guest appearance.  With the internet it is now possible to watch all the best parts of late night TV shows but, back in the day, we depended on the good ole FM radio to play the best clips.    I've been wanting to write about the (ugh) " gifts"  of cancer for a while, but in a non- cheesy kind of way, so this is it...it won't be humourous like Letterman's but it will be honest. (((drumroll))) Top Ten Gifts of Cancer: 10. Finding c r e at i v e outlets - I would never call myself an "arts and crafts" kind of person, but creativity has many facets and I've found that I actually enjoy re-finishing old furniture (especially ones that I get free from the side of the road!).  This is something that I never woul...

I've been wanting to write an update for a while but kept waiting until I felt like I had something positive to say - especially after my last post. The reality is that throughout April, many things got worse - the pain in my elbow, the tightness in my chest, the urge to be alone, the feeling that I should be doing more to heal.  I've been seeing 2 different physiotherapists and a registered massage therapist to deal with the radiation fibrosis in my chest that is compressing my ulnar nerve in at least 2 spots and resulting in elbow pain.  The pain is nearly constant and bothers me with even the smallest of tasks, like washing my face in the morning or doing a short neighbourhood bike ride.  It's been a constant, unyielding, reminder of having had cancer. It's also physically and emotionally exhausting. The physio and massage therapy is also painful, as I want them to be as aggressive as possible to deal with the scar tissue before it gets worse.  Many times, I leave...

    I  see a red door     And I want it painted black     No colors anymore     I want them to turn black Black has always been my favourite colour to wear - some call it boring, I call it classic.  And it makes me feel good.  I would never say that my mood has been black...until recently.  Maybe that's being overly dramatic.  Maybe my mood has been more of a grey.  Definitely not the usual colours. I've been having a terrible time sleeping.  It started when I first got hot flashes at night about 2 years ago, but then progesterone at night cured that almost immediately.  Sleep has always been something that's come easy to me and, until now, I didn't ever stop to consider that it wouldn't always.  Since the double diagnosis of cancer in my family, it has been harder to get to sleep and stay asleep, not just because I can no longer take progesterone, but also because my over-active brain se...

Exactly 2 weeks ago, I rang the bell (well, triangle, really) at the Ottawa Hospital's General Campus Cancer Centre to signify the end of my radiation treatment.  When I started radiation, I couldn't wait to be done.  It was a grind. Even though the treatments were quick and on-time, I felt like a burden asking people to drive me and wait around in their cars because the parking lot was almost always full.  I felt very lucky to have had so many volunteer drivers and enjoyed time with 13 different people over the course of the 15 day treatment. I was also lucky that I had minimal side effects while undergoing the treatment and wondered, maybe a little too arrogantly, if I would breeze through without any side effects (more on that later).  I was truly elated and relieved when I rang the bell and walked out, but the feeling didn't last.           Runaway train never going back      Wrong way on a one-way track  ...

 It's a deep freeze in Ottawa but everyday I get up to have my left side nuked, at least that's how I think of my radiation.  I've now finished 4 out of 15 doses and in this post, I'll explain (since I am getting a lot of questions) the process. First off, after these 4 doses, I've had no side effects. I've been told to expect anytime after the mid-way point and continuing to the first couple of weeks after the end of treatment.  The two most likely side effects will be skin burning/peeling (anywhere along my left side, front, back and underarm) and fatigue.  I am doing everything I can to prevent both of those by using creams twice a day on the treated areas and being consistent at the gym to combat fatigue.  Only time will tell if it makes any difference, but I believe it will. So, the actual process of radiation is surprisingly quick.  On the first day, I got a bi-fold card, about the size of a cell phone, that has a scan code for me to check myself into...