My Journey with Triple Positive Breast Cancer

  "Annoying each other for 27 years and still going strong!" Our anniversary was on Friday and I got off easy since  spending time with me was all Ken wanted.  (I ordered these t-shirts a while back...when I still had hair!) So, chemo is fun. Said no one. Ever. I understood, before beginning treatment, that I was essentially declaring chemical warfare on my cancer, and thus, my entire body. It’s been rather unpleasant. I mean, I know war is awful, and my soldiers are just mercenaries hired to get the job done (kill my cancer), but the whole science experiment aspect of things is not pleasant for this control freak. As one friend told me, “I can’t imagine pumping my body full of poison, and then just having to wait and see how your body responds.” Yup. That’s about it. Delightful. 😑 My first infusion was just over a week ago, and, honestly, it’s been a week of self-discovery. Rather humbling self-discovery. The infusion itself (known as Day 1) was easy-peasy, even the fro...

  Spot the hairdresser extraordinaire in the mirror! The Contenders The Winner! Everyone should have a Karen in their life. No, not that kind of Karen, we already have too many of those, I mean a Kind Karen. (Incidentally, all the Karens I know personally are kind, so maybe they should find a different name? I mean, I know more problematic Heathers! 😇) Karen is my hairdresser; she's also a good friend,  the "I want her in my corner" type of friend, and on Friday she certainly was a blessing. I arranged an appointment with The Wig Boutique for Friday afternoon and mentioned it during the "Hacking of the Hair" appointment with her on Tuesday. There was a heartbeat of silence, as we both assimilated the gravity of that information, and then she spoke up, "Want me to come?" Is Big Bird Yellow? (To quote my surgeon. 😊) Though I would never have asked. I mean, my daughter was planning on coming with me, but since I buy most of her clothes, her input might...

  Hasta la vista, Goldilocks!     Hey, there, tiger!           Yesterday was my first oncology appointment at the Cross. I brought snacks, but didn't have time to eat them, despite the appointment taking almost 3 hours! The afternoon didn't get off to the best of starts, as hubby was a little tardy in leaving the house. Marigan and I may have been sitting, waiting rather impatiently, in the vehicle, but we did not honk! 🥇 Unfortunately, we arrived a bit late, and as I had forgotten to research available parking, parked at the Kaye Clinic, which is more than a pleasant walk away. I may have even been a bit short-tempered and muttered a little under my breath (okay, it may have been a lot), but it seriously might have been faster to call an Uber, rather than walk from where we parked! It was all fine in the end, however, I even had time to change into an oversized gown and housecoat, (which added at least 3 pounds to my weigh-in) and fill out...

  " The James" saves the day again. (Jacek Chocolate - if you know, you know. 😋) Tomorrow is my first appointment at the Cross Cancer Institute. I'll see several nurses for chemo training, try on a few wigs 😉, have blood drawn for various tests, see a pharmacist to learn about side effects and potential drug interactions, and will meet Dr. Smiley, my oncologist. I was never supposed to have an oncologist.  No one should ever need an oncologist, yet here we are! 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm as prepared as one can be for such an event. My zippered binder is almost bursting with the information I've gleaned. (I'll plant a tree to offset the paper, okay? 😬) I've joined a Canadian breast cancer support group on Facebook; I was never supposed to need to do that either. The participants (pink warriors) are wonderful and I've learned so much in the few days I've been a member, such as to bring snacks to my appointment! ...

  I’ve been fighting the doldrums for the past couple of days. 😕 On Tuesday, while on the way to my post-op appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Olson, I received a call from the Cross Cancer Institute (hereafter referred to as the Cross) informing me that I would see my oncologist, Dr. Smiley, on Tuesday, August 16th. (How fitting that Dr. Smiley is this Pollyanna’s doctor. 😁) Despite having told countless people about my cancer diagnosis, blogging about it for 3.5 months, and having had 3 surgeries, I've realized that I have felt more like a “surgical patient” rather than a “cancer patient.” I guess that’s what happens when things go sideways post-op. I’ve been so distracted by my recovery that I haven’t spared much thought or energy for what’s ahead in terms of the next steps. So…if I have an appointment at the Cross, I guess I really am a cancer patient. Wow. That’s really a bummer. 😔 My post-op appointment with my surgeon went well, despite his insistence that he now possesses ...