I love life and I love to laugh! I’m a singer / songwriter / musician / comedian who turned 50 in July 2009. Less than a month later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I guess I should have seen it coming – I’m the tenth cancer in my family, and five of those cancers, including mine, were breast cancer. Talk about being heir in line to the throne! Read the rest of this entry »
I am writing to you in order to share a beautiful poem my daughter Angela wrote. Angela is 12 and in Grade 7 and was given a recent assignment by her teacher to write a poem about a colour.
She chose the colour ‘Pink’ and wrote the poem. She also had to somehow ‘portray’ the poem in her own chosen way. I know I am biased since I am her proud mother but I think her poem is just beautiful and I wanted to share it.
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Pink
Pink is a colour of hope
A colour of faith, confidence,
and everything feminine
Pink is a riboon
A ribbon for breast cancer awareness
Pink is comforting
A soft pillow to lay your head on
Pink is your best friend
A person to trust
Pink is the smell of a rose after it’s just rained
A pretty scent it is
A splendid colour it is
In this second installment, Colleen reflects that recovering from breast cancer is a journey that goes on far longer than expected, however accepting help can actually be is a sign of strength.
As I shared in my May 2009 note (Step One: Finding Hope!) I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in April ‘09, underwent a partial mastectomy & axillary node removal followed by an aggressive chemo and radiation treatment program which was finally completed as 2009 drew to a close. This prognosis was one which on every level I was ill-prepared for. Read the rest of this entry »
Sarah Caiger has been affected by breast cancer, but she shares with us how a bad experience taught her some good lessons.
I think that the disease, cancer, has had a huge effect on my life and me. There are numerous people that have had cancer who are close to me who have either died from cancer, or won the fight of cancer; both being traumatic experiences. These events, of seeing people dying and watching people fighting this awful disease taught me a couple of things.
When looking through her mother’s things, Linda discovered this poem her mother, Yvonne, had written after she had been treated for breast cancer. Unfortunately seven years later, Yvonne’s cancer returned, so we are posting her poem today in her memory.
Two days before Christmas, Lynn Leclerc was diagnosed with breast cancer. She tells us how she stayed happy and hopeful.
It was like waking up from a bad dream! It was two days before Christmas 2005 and I was told I had breast cancer. I was given an appointment to see a surgeon on January 5, 2006. I was a very fit 40 year old woman who had always taken good care of herself. How could this be happening to me?
Who are you running for?™ gained a new meaning for Krista very soon after the her first time participating in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. Her story is way too common but thankfully with early detection there is hope and support. We wish Krista and her family the best of luck!
This year I decided to enter the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. I had always wanted to do this, mainly because I am a woman and I have breasts! I had some work colleagues that have survived breast cancer but no one really close to me.
The symptoms for breast cancer can be quite varied. Franca shares her experience so others won’t overlook the same signs.
My name is Franca, I am 48 and a 1 year breast cancer survivor. Finding out that I had breast cancer was the most devastating part of my life. I went through all the emotions, why me, am I going to be okay etc. I was one of those women who faithfully checked for lumps and the shocking part of this was that there was no palpable lump, my only symptom was constant pain for about 2 years. After I got over the initial shock of my life, I had to make a decision, am I going to fight this horrible disease or let it take over? Well I never really realized what a strong person I really am. I accepted what I had and just continued on with daily life.
My name is Maggie Lima-Machado, I am 37yrs.old and a breast cancer survivor… knock wood. At the 2009 Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board OECTA-Trustee Public Speaking Awards, my 9yr.old daughter wrote and recited her speach about “The Person I Admire Most”. She came in 2nd place/Silver Award and was youngest among her peers. Never have I been more proud, and was reminded of why I fought my cancer then, and continue to fight now. So now I share my cancer story through the eyes of my child.
For some people, breast cancer can be a hard lesson to swallow. There are those, however, who look on the bright side and learn that it can help you find the courage to pursue your dreams. We hope you enjoy Laura’s story as much as we did!
Laura with her lovely locks all grown back
In ‘03 when my kids were 11 & 7 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 42 yrs, the picture of health running 10K a day/4-5 days a week with a healthy diet and happy outlook on life. Lesson #1, cancer picks who it wants.
I didn’t feel ’sick’ till the chemo. When my hair started falling out I cut it all off, made some braids with my daughter and sewed them to my bandana. My kids were afraid to see me bald, too much change for them and I looked sick to them with my bald head. I wore this bandanna knowing people might be thinking ’she’s a biker chick”, when I’m really a soccer mom. I just didn’t want the stares of pity.
In doing this desperate act of recycling I’d unknowingly planted a seed for my future. Lesson #2, necessity is the mother of…kooky head gear.
Finding Hope, the blog for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, invites you to tell your inspiring stories of personal experiences with breast cancer and become part of the wider community of Canadians who have been touched by breast cancer.