Recent Comments:
The clouds parted, the rain fell
The Cancer Blog
Apr 19th 2007 8:46AM Beautiful. My mom sent birds. Her favorite thing to look for this time of year was the ducks in the snow run-off water in the ditches and swamps around here. Mom's been gone for a little more than a year and now the ducks are back but she is not here to share them with us. Somehow I think she's still enjoying them. My condolences to the family.
Thought for the Day: Breast cancer rates down in 2007
The Cancer Blog
Apr 12th 2007 9:06AM Happy news indeed!
and the Canadian Cancer Society says that Canada's death rates from breast cancer are down 25% over the past 20 years as well. The CCS says the age-standardized death rate has fallen to about 22 cases per 100,000 from 30 since 1986, a drop of 25 per cent, and that 86 per cent of women now survive at least five years after a diagnosis.
These improved numbers are attributed to better screening and better treatment. Isn't progress grand!
April is Cancer Control Month, says President Bush
The Cancer Blog
Apr 4th 2007 8:15AM Say what? Since when did this become a political discussion? It seems to me that funding fuels research and research finds cures. If funding cuts are made research will suffer, plain and simple - no matter who makes the cuts. (please don't get me started on stem cell research) And why do some people have such a negative view of the Canadian health system? Some of the world's leading edge researchers and treatment facilities exist in this country. A more meaningful statement would have been - without research, cancer victims from around the world will suffer. My surgeon called cancer the great equalizer. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, it is devastating to all. Politics shouldn't even enter into it.
Beginning to reach to recovery
The Cancer Blog
Feb 16th 2007 8:50AM You will be an inspiration to these women. I know that your words have comforted me for many months, since I was diagnosed last April. I found your personal blog by accident and then this one. You are right, for those of us newly diagnosed there is nothing more comforting than talking to someone who has been through it and made it. And for those of us who don't do well with group therapy, one on one may be just the ticket - even if it's just reading another's blog entries. You are an inspiration Jackie and I thank-you.
Sunday Seven: Seven reasons 2006 turned out just fine
The Cancer Blog
Dec 26th 2006 9:25PM Yes, thank you for sharing and for helping those who came after you. Your caring and always informative dialogue has kept me going over this past year. When I wasn't sure if I could make it through emotionally you asked me to interview as a survivor. And survive this year I did. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I wish only the best for you in the new year and all the years to come.
Four simple words trigger trail of tears
The Cancer Blog
Nov 8th 2006 10:38AM Once again you've hit the nail on the head. I understand exactly how you feel and am struggling with the same kinds of feelings. I will start to cry at the strangest things. Yesterday I brought my 13 year old daughter with me when I had to have blood taken at the hospital lab. Once again the technician had trouble finding a vein that was usable. This has happened before as I only have one usable arm for any and all proceedures and I've always just dealt with it without too much of an emotional response. Yesterday however, a second tech was called over to try, they switched to the tiny baby needle and she looked me in the eye and said to me "oh girl, how are you doing?" I just started to cry and my baby girl went rooting thru my purse for a kleenex as my blood finally filled the vial. When she asked me later what was wrong I told her that my arm was just sore. Although this is true, my tears really were about so much more. Today is my last chemo treatment and I am hoping to hold it together when the very caring and sweet nurses ask me "how are you doing?" and I really do know that they really do care and are never just going thru the motions.
Survivor Spotlight: Amy Wilson's breast cancer battle ends
The Cancer Blog
Oct 9th 2006 10:05AM Jackie, I don't know how you do this day after day - write for this blog, keep your own spirits up, but I thank-you for the sense of community and hope that you still manage to inspire. My condolences to the Wilson family.
Survivor Spotlight: Kara Dawson survives loss of mom
The Cancer Blog
Oct 9th 2006 9:41AM I thought my tears had finally dried up. I can feel for Kara on so many levels. Having lost my own mother in February to gallbladder cancer, being diagnosed myself with breast cancer 2 months later. Having 2 pre/teen aged daughters. I have been so worried about how all of this is affecting them and your comments offer me some valuable insight, Thank-you. I know how painful my moms death was/is for me and I have a hard time thinking about how tough it must have been for you as a child. I can imagine my youngest reacting the same - going to swim class, acting stoic, falling apart at the same time. This is not something a child should have to contend with. Communication IS key, we can't replace our parents, and yes, a good cry is highly therapeutic. I wish Kara luck in her journey.
Canadian and United States cancer care
The Cancer Blog
Sep 2nd 2006 7:19PM I forgot to mention - we have a spankin new MRI machine that was purchased in part with generous donations from the community and tireless fundraising by the volunteers and hospital foundation. Hows that for expensive devices and technologies?!
Canadian and United States cancer care
The Cancer Blog
Sep 2nd 2006 7:16PM I am living in Canada - northern Alberta in a city of only about 43,000. We are very fortunate to have a cancer clinic as part of our only hospital. I was diagnosed with IDC on May 22nd. Had my mastectomy May 31st, all staging tests and scans done in July and started chemo July 26th. I keep hearing about waiting lists and horrible medical service in the media but I for one have never had that experience. My gp, surgeon, oncologist, the nurses at the cancer clinic, the techs doing the scans - everyone has been super proffesional, efficient and kind. My mother was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in February of 2005 and our experience then was the same - no waits, no complaints.
I was hospitalized after my 2nd chemo due to low white counts and an infection. The only bed available was on the maternity ward but it worked for me plus I had the added bonus of babies crying (a joy)- much better than old folks moaning!
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with inflamatory breast cancer 14 years ago and I know that she received dose-dense chemo even then. They gave her the option and she chose to get hit with the strongest concoction that they could come up with. Following that she was sent to Edmonton, which is 5 hours away for her radiation treatments. Although it may be a hardship for some to have to travel for the radiation, the cancer clinic there provided lodging and there is government financial aid available for those that need to travel far from home for treatment. Dispite a terrible prognosis my mother-in-law is still with us today and no signs of recurrance! (I requested and received her doctor- yay!)
I would hope that everyone whether they are living in the US or Canada, small town or big city, is treated as well and as efficiently as we have been.
