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.
Emily takes us on a philosophical journey as she remembers her Aunt Darquise.
My aunt Darquise was my mom’s older sister. She always smiled and had a great laugh. And she was brave, because she went through a lot of tough stuff, including breast cancer and ovarian cancer. She did treatments for nearly two years until the cancer was finally gone, but it came back and she put up a good fight until the treatments stopped working.
Mom told me my aunt was afraid at first, but then she went to church for counseling, and the priest assured her everything was alright. My aunt died peacefully and quietly, knowing she was fine.
It doesn’t matter if heaven exists or not. Dying itself is just part of the natural recycling process of life. It works the same way a lot of things do. The leaves that fall from the trees shrivel and turn into soil, which allows for more plants to grow. The waves of the water flow in and out, We inhale, and then we exhale. Our bodies thrive and then pass away.
I love life when I remember it’s simplicity and it’s miraculous beauty.
Where does one begin when fear overtakes logic? What is it about the word ‘cancer’ that invokes such negative feelings? Why me?Marilyn Abram shares with us the challenging questions that can arise when facing the diagnosis of breast cancer.
I was diagnosed almost 18½ years ago with a small lump in my breast picked up by a mammogram. The doctor assured me that in 85% of the cases the lump would prove to be benign, but he recommended a lumpectomy. I went through the pre-op tests and a surgical date was arranged to extract the small lump. An appointment was made two weeks later for the diagnosis.
The day of reckoning came and I went rather confidently to the hospital feeling that nothing was out of the ordinary. When the doctor/surgeon read the pathological report he was concerned at what it revealed and wanted to go back in and check my lymph nodes. Read the rest of this entry »
I have been a supporter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for three years since my aunt passed away from breast cancer in 2006. I watched her fight for her life. It was devastating to watch and harder to come to terms with. I didn’t want other women or my family members to have to live with breast cancer. I want a cure and if I can help in a small way, I will, from fundraising to awareness!
Churchill Public School Principal David Farrow challenged his students to raise $10,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. If they succeeded, he would dine on deep fried worms!
Students from the St Clement’s Run team received a special surprise when they collected their award at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure 2009 – the guest presenters were the Jonas Brothers!
Since 2004, St. Clement’s School has been the top fundraising school for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. This year, we also set a new school record for the number of participants! Our team was 240 members strong and we raised $27,000.00. On October 2, 2009, the entire school showed their support by wearing pink. Everyone outfitted themselves in their finest pink clothing and donated $2.00 toward the school team. Read the rest of this entry »
Jane and husband Peter at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure 2009
Breast cancer affects us all, even Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation employees.
I am in an interesting position – I am a woman in her mid 50’s who two years ago was completing treatment for breast cancer (May 2007) and I am an employee of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. There is just a little bit of an irony in that the fact that while working for the Foundation, I should be diagnosed with breast cancer – but the reality is that this disease does not discriminate. The good news is that the five year breast cancer survivor rate is now at 87% – which demonstrates great progress, but that does not mean that women and men are not still affected. My mother has also been affected by breast cancer and happily she is among those people who have made it to and surpassed the 7-year mark. Read the rest of this entry »
I had participated in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure for several years, but stopped about 5 years ago. Then my friend from work, Janis, found she had cancer again. She originally had breast cancer many years before, but it had gone into remission. When her cancer re-appeared, the doctors tried, but couldn’t help her. It eventually spread to her brain, and she passed away May 2007.
I took up the Run again that year, in her memory, and will keep going as long as I can, with the support of my team-mate (younger son), and my photographer (husband) and photographer’s assistant (older son). We will beat this.
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.
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