Hope for the Holidays
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December 14th, 2009 | 10:30am
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?
Listen to your body and get checked – it could save your life…
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November 17th, 2009 | 10:30am
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.
Through my child's eyes…
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November 13th, 2009 | 10:30am
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.
Lessons in Hope…
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November 11th, 2009 | 10:30am
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.
Live for the Day, Expect Tomorrow
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November 5th, 2009 | 10:30am
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 »