In April 2008, at the age of 41, I was diagnosed with invasive carcinoma – breast cancer. The next step was to schedule surgery – a lumpectomy and lymph node dissection to determine the grade and progression of the cancer. During the surgery it was discovered that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes so they were removed and my cancer then was raised to stage two.
I was determined to carry on my duties as GoodLife Toronto GroupEX Regional Manager without any special treatment. Many people at my work were immensely supportive and offered help and assistance. I received so many emails wishing me best wishes and health. I still have them!
What I appreciated most from my colleagues was that I wasn’t treated differently or with kid gloves. Since I persevered through my illness, it was easy at times for people to forget I was sick and the expectation of meeting the demands of my role as a regional manager, an instructor and at home as a mother and wife were still there. (I am a mother of two boys 27 and three)
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For me, that worked. It kept me going. Certainly there were days after chemo when I felt like I’d never be able to get out of bed. But no matter how ill I was, I remembered that I don’t have it so bad. All I had to remember is my sister-in-law Janet had passed away a few months before from terminal cancer just before I was diagnosed. Janet was my sister-in-law, my friend, my brother’s soul-mate and wife of 15 years and a mother of 2 baby girls Charlotte and Lilah. It’s hard to feel too sorry for yourself when you think of what she went through. Charlotte was three and Lilah only eight months old when Janet died at age 43. I think of her often.
Fortunately now my health status is good! I am trying to improve on my eating habits, remembering to eat and implementing more fruits and veggies in my diet. Fitness has helped immensely in my recovery. It is what I do! It is who I am!
I would like to say that this experience has taught me to take the time to enjoy life, do the things I dream about, DARE TO LIVE as the song goes, but I’m not sure if I’ve truly learned the lesson. Life goes on and it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day manic pace we all keep. I am still trying to learn to take the time for me to just be. BodyFlow (a combined yoga, pilates and Tai chi class) helps me with this. I am thinking of pursuing a yoga certification down the road to further develop my mind/body journey and just BREATHE.
Best wishes,
Kathleen