Hello Everyone:
What beautiful weather we are starting to have. I am sitting out on my balcony writing this. It is very peaceful and green. Sometimes I feel like I am in the country as you don’t hear any noise from the street – just the birds and the occasional plane overhead.
Since my last update, I have been to see the radiation oncologist (May 30th) and waited to hear back from him after he consulted with some colleagues on my situation. The word is: Yes to radiation treatment. (*le sigh). He got an independent opinion on my pathology from the chief guy at PMH. They both came to the same conclusion. With PMH being “the cancer hospital” in Canada and one of the best in the world, it’s hard to argue.
Talk about timing – there have been a couple of articles in the paper discussing this debate of radiation. Sunday’s Toronto Star and today’s Globe and Mail. Seems like there are merits to it after all. No guarantees, but merits. Perhaps the pros are starting to outweigh the cons. However, it is all about trying to avoid reoccurence, and although there are no guarantees down the road no matter what you do, the pathology is what is was and I have to accept that.
The good news in all of this – is that the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. I will be meeting the radiation oncologist again on July 11th. We’re going to potentially get some scans done and then work out our treatment plan of attack. Looking at 25 treatments. 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Yikes. Another good thing – although I don’t know what the radiation will do or if it will hurt, I do know that it’s NOT AS BAD AS CHEMO! (Or so they say…..but I believe them!) LOL.
Obvious question: why wait until July to see the oncologist again?
Answer: because I had started the reconstruction process, it has to get finished up before radiation and I have to have the second part surgery.
Again, I was very lucky with my health care professionals and managed to get squeezed in for June 16th. Day surgery, however, not as complicated or invasive as the last one. This way I will have a good 3, close to 4 weeks to recover and get my strength back physically to start the gruelling daily radiation treatments.
To charge up emotionally and mentally, I plan on convalescing in the City of Lights for two weeks. Sitting at cafes, eating croissants and admiring the french ladies walking around dressed up in their heels. Only the tourists wear running shoes and birkenstocks (so I am told!!). Perhaps go on a walking tour or two, learn to make some delicious sauces and the famous french macarons! Yummy!
My surgeon is completely aware – he said I could go as long as I made sure that I didn’t carry my own luggage or do any heavy lifting. That included at the airport, taxis and up to my apartment. I said that I would try and learn some french and see if I could find some to help a “lady in need”……..It will go something like this: “Excusez-moi monsieur, pouvez-vous m’aider?” (And then, bat my eyelashes and flash the best smile I can)……Wonder if THAT might work for me. LOL!! Since it is shopping season in Paris – it was suggested that I need to bring a butler to help me carry my bags! I don’t think that will be necessary – I have small feet – the shoe boxes won’t be that heavy!!
To close, since we are speaking about beauty and Paris, I give you a poem written by Audrey Hepburn that was sent to me: it is about real beauty – beauty that I have learned so well in the last year – because I have real beauty all around me with all of you.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.
Big hugs and kisses to all of you, my dear friends and warriors.
Winnie xoxo