Round One is done! Only six more to go! Now I get to sit back and see which side effects are going to happen. I’m not sure I like this kind of surprise…

So while I am waiting, I thought this would be a good time for some other medical updates.

Genetics: I was lucky and qualified for a genetics research program focussing on women with breast cancer at Women’s College Hospital. This means that not only was my test scheduled more expediently, and I was able to spend over an hour learning from a Genetics Counsellor, I also received my results faster as well. And good news…I do NOT have the mutated gene! This also good news for my sister and my niece. And furthermore for me, it means that I have basically the same risk as any other woman for ovarian cancer (if I had the mutated gene, I would likely need a double mastectomy plus removal of the ovaries). I can now make my surgical decision based on more complete information.

Cardiology: With the results from my original biopsy, it was decided that I would need to have heart scans completed throughout my chemo program, which could be done at PMH. But I got lucky again and qualified for a cardiology research program at Toronto General Hospital, so I get to have more extensive testing of my heart throughout the duration of the treatments. Plus, if I ever have a “heart event”, even 20 years down the road, then I am already cardiology patient at TGH. The testing that I get to have done consists of extra blood work, echocardiograms and heart MRIs. The first phase of this testing took place on Sunday at TGH. And apparently my heart is very photogenic! (Yes, the cardio sonographer actually said that!)

Next steps: Aside from waiting for the side effects to kick in, I head back down to PMH tomorrow for the injection of Neulasta, the immune boosting drug. This will be followed by a short procedure for the insertion of a small titanium clip to mark the tumour. The clip literally marks the spot so that the surgeons can remove the correct area during the post-chemo surgery, as the intention is for the chemo to completely shrink the tumour. Once the clip is in, I am free for the rest of the week! I’m sure this is welcome news to Gord and Kate as they have been shuttling me back and forth to all of these appointments!

(The side effect of hair loss will start around Day 14…so I still have two weeks of my cute new haircut!)

I survived. The procedure of inserting the Port-A-Cath is over. The thought of this has made me queasy for the last three weeks. And get this. I slept through the whole thing. Missed it all completely. Now, I just have to get used to the fact that it will stay in me for the next 21 weeks [Correction: I get to keep the port for a year…yikes!]. Lots of time for it to grow on me. Maybe I’ll even miss it when its gone. Maybe.

In any case, I’m moving on now to bigger and better things. Tomorrow is my first round of chemo, which I also like to think of as my first round in the ring with cancer. This is the time when I get to start fighting back at this nasty thing that is trying to take over my body. I’m looking forward to channeling all of my energy into this fight. And you all know that I have a LOT of energy…this cancer doesn’t stand a chance!

I have mentioned my squeamishness, especially around the idea of the Port-A-Cath and the surgical procedure that goes along with it. I’m not thrilled by this. I’m actually quite nervous about this part. But then I think of the children that we support through Bike for Tykes who are also fighting cancer, and I tell myself that if small children can do this, then I can too. It will help me. I have to make it my friend. Angela actually wants to give it a name, but I’m not sold on this idea. Yet. 

A few of you have mentioned that my posts are so upbeat. And a few of you have been concerned that perhaps I am just putting on a brave front. The truth is that while yes, for the most part I do have a positive outlook,  I also have moments when the fears overcome my positive thoughts.

The fear that I’ve wrestled with this past week is the impending loss of my hair. I’ve had it a long time. I’m pretty attached to it. The thought of looking into mirror at a bald head that has my face on it is extremely disturbing. The loss of my hair is also a public message that “Hey, I have cancer”. Right now when I walk down the street no one knows about the challenge that I’m facing, but a bald head is like a billboard. Not to mention the process of getting to the point of baldness. Losing clumps of hair is going to be traumatic. My nurse at PMH suggested that I may want to cut my hair ahead of time to not only reduce the mess, but to help mitigate some of the trauma.

Armed with this knowledge of inevitably losing my hair, I went to the Wig Salon at PMH, where I was promptly told that I was going to have to cut my hair in order to even have a Wig Consultation. My hair was so long that I wouldn’t be able to try on any new hairstyles.

So I decided to pull the trigger. On Wednesday afternoon I went to the hair salon to cut off my long blonde mane. It sounds like a simple task, but the thought of cutting my hair made this whole cancer thing very, very real. I knew couldn’t do it alone. So Sheryl came with me for moral support, and together we did it. Sheryl’s guidance helped bridge the gap between the stylist’s vision for my hair and my own comfort level. I couldn’t have done it without her.

I ended up with a new hairstyle that I’ve never had before. The vision of this hairstyle had never even crossed my mind. Yet the new haircut has been a hit with my friends, family and colleagues. I have never received so many compliments on my “look”. And it turns out that I have discovered something new because of this experience. Out of this haircut, I have learned a valuable lesson… sometimes we have to take chances…try something new…and maybe, just maybe…we will actually be better off for it.

Over the last week, I’ve been poked and prodded more than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I’d better get used to it…this is just the beginning!

Getting medically ready for chemo has involved a lot of stuff so far: CT scan, bone scan, MRI, genetics counselling (this one was the most fun – interesting topic and only one needle!), LOTS of blood work, and a consultation with a Medical Oncologist. I got lucky here as well – the Medical Oncologist will be my attending physician for the duration of the chemo treatments – and I had a really good, albeit serious, conversation with him. Not only is he one of the top Medical Oncologists in the world, but he was pretty chill and Angela is convinced that we will go out for beers with him by the time my chemo is done!

Looking forward to the “sched ahead”, I have multiple cardiology appointments lined up for next week. And a Wig Consultation! That one will be fun though – it’s like playing dress-up and going shopping all at the same time! But, after this fun stuff comes the hard stuff.

On June 26th I will be having the surgical procedure for the Port-A-Cath. I promised no gory photos, so I can’t post much more about it here…but I can tell you that this is basically a catheter that stays in my chest for the duration of the chemo. The purpose of the device is to provide a portal for the needles and IVs that I will need during the treatments. It creeps me out a bit…well, a LOT… but it will help me get through the treatments with less irritation and aggravation on my body…especially on my veins!

And speaking of treatments, they’re coming up fast. The first one scheduled for June 27th. Which is not that far away. Eleven days to get ready for this new adventure!

Yup…that’s exactly what we did! Today was the first ever Diva Run in Canada. It was hotter than hell out there today and the run was gruelling. But we persevered and got it done… albeit a little slower than usual!

The run today was in support the RETHINK Breast Cancer organization… that said, I signed up because it was supposed to take place on Toronto Island, NOT because it was in support of breast cancer. In a strangely ironic twist, the recent flooding on the Island resulted in the race being relocated to Cherry Beach, and I discovered that I was actually running in support of not only other women (and men!) with breast cancer, but also myself!

Well, it’s begun. Poking and prodding is in full swing. In the past two days I’ve had both a CT Scan and a bone scan. I’m starting to glow from all the radioactive material being injected into my body…or maybe I’m just sweaty!

As for my schedule for the upcoming week, so far I have an appointment with the Medical Oncologist on Tuesday afternoon, Genetics testing on Wednesday morning and an MRI on Wednesday night. Things are definitely moving along quickly!

Dear Family and Friends, and those of you who are both…,

Well, you’ve heard the news. This blog will be a resource for you to find out what’s going on with me…what appointments are coming up, how I’m feeling, and what kind of trouble I am getting into in general! And I promise there will not be any graphic photos or videos posted….EVER!