Tuesday, January 1, 2019

The next twenty-eight days - background:

It started in August, 2018 with unusual bleeding followed by a pap test that read “positive”. My family Dr forwarded my file to the Ottawa Cancer clinic where the “ball started rolling” after MRI's, Ct-scans, Ultrasounds, biopsy it was determined that I'm at stage 2 - cervical cancer. It's important to have a PAP test done on a regular basis, I hope that yours are too. It's not easy information to share and some may think that it's “private information” that they don't want to share - I do understand. When asked by specialists if other family member(s) had this or any other type of cancer, I didn't know! (other than my mother). So, I think as difficult as it may be, we should share this information with each other. Sharing could help in many more ways than what we can not even begin to imagine....

Chemotherapy and radiation starts January 2nd for the next five weeks then another treatment once a week for three weeks (28 days). I won't go into details on this one, lol !!
I was told that the chemotherapy (once a week) will be mild to counter act the radiation (five days a week). Because of the distance to the cancer clinic, we'll be staying at the Maurice J. Grimes Lodge at the civic campus.There is no cost for patients who qualify to stay at the Lodge.  The services are supported through generous donations from the community. There is an 80% odds of beating this, so that's a good thing. Right now I'm not in pain, to look at me you wouldn't know what's going on inside. During and after the therapy will be a different story. I will deal with those issues one day at a time, remaining positive all the way.

Letting you know is part of my healing process, this is not easy. We've received moral support and help from our friends, relatives as well as our Club and the community. We greatly appreciate each and everyone of you. Jim will be by my side through this difficult journey and I thank God for that. I have found a strength within me that I didn't know I have.  You have given me this strength with your acts of kindness, words of encouragement and spiritual guidance.  

For updates please come visit this site. This will be easier than multiple phone calls and repetitions.

Viv