Walking for Cancer

Way back in May, Sara was sharing how her friend Katie asked her to join her in California in October to take in the Susan Gorman 3-Day 60 mile End Breast Cancer Walk. The goal is 20 miles each day (Fri, Sat and Sun). I mentioned to her - I'll do it with you...And so began our journey on this awesome challenge that thousands participate across the US every year. The aim is to raise money for breast cancer research and education as well as bring women and men together to bring awareness to this terrible disease.

The last week of October 1986 - my mom had gone into the hospital for a needle biopsy with the confidence that there was nothing to worry about as there is no previous family history of cancer. I went away for a swim meet in Kenora, but though nothing was said, something in the back of my mind knew it was abnormal for a person to be in the hospital 2 days for a needle biopsy. When the bus arrived back to Thunder Bay, I wasn't even out of the parking lot when my dad told me the results came back - my mom had breast cancer. I was 16 years old. In a period of 10 days, my mom had a needle biopsy, an excision of the lump to a bilateral mastectomy with axillary lymph nodes. Not only was the lump cancerous (ductal and lobular type of carcinoma) it had already spread to multiple lymph nodes - in breast cancer staging - my mom was stage 3 (there are 5). With the aggressive treatment by the local cancer centre and her surgeon (Dr Marchuk) - it will be a breast cancer survivor 23 years this October. For me it was numbing and surreal - denial of your true feelings/thoughts is a wonderful thing. The side effects of her chemo were not nice as any person who has dealt/dealing with cancer can tell you.

Over the years, she has spoken how some physicians had asked her to speak to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. She can share her experience and being a nurse herself, she could be helpful in answering any medical lingo that is unsure to them. In the years to follow, my mom was there for a few of her friends who had to battle (and who have won) breast cancer too. Working with the charts myself, you become aware how often women come in for either removal of a benign cyst/tumor; cancer or a recurrence of breast cancer.

In medical lingo - now that I have a first degree family history (my mom) I know have to do annual screenings - mammograms. I am happy to report that the 3 I have had done have all been clear with no abnormalities. Of course, I do the option of getting genetically tested as through years of research they have found the gene that make mutates cells for breast cancer. Honestly, I am on the fence - scary to predict the future - question would be "What is your reaction as well as the action to take if the gene is present in your genetic makeup??"

Please think of Sara, Katie, her mom and myself the weekend of Oct 2-4 as we walk the roads of San Francisco as our part to fight this disease.