Friday, April 12, 2024


 CELEBRATING YEAR 22 ... with a Solar Eclipse!

So thankful to still be here to experience this amazing Total Solar Eclipse and thrilled that it was visible right here where I live!

A once in a lifetime opportunity, one of many that has been presented to me since my initial diagnosis all those years ago.

And if I have anything to say about it, I will be around to experience many more!

~ Until next time ... BOptimistic!   ~

Saturday, June 4, 2022

HOW TO MANEUVER YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS BLOG










Alone on the Mountain  
An original painting by Brenda L Despres

I was diagnosed with Granulosa Cell Tumor-a rare form of Ovarian Cancer-in 2002, but didn’t start blogging until 2008. So to get up to speed, start with the blurb entitled, "The Uncertainty of Life: Living with Ovarian Cancer" (November 12, 2010). That post describes my journey from the beginning, up to and including my 3rd surgery in 2008. I would then suggest that you start with the first blog on October 1, 2008 and work your way to the present. 

I hope this makes things easier for you.  


Living with Cancer - 20 Years in 2022


It was 20 years ago this month that I received my cancer diagnosis. Although the battle has been difficult at times, I am extremely grateful to still be here to enjoy the wonders of spring!


Until next time …….
~ B-Optimistic ðŸ˜Š

Thursday, June 2, 2022

The Three C’s ….. Covid, Cancer, Colostomy

This post was actually written in September 2021 but it somehow got lost in the shuffle. I will continue with the rest of the story in my next post in summer 2022. 

It’s been a crazy ride since my last post of 2019. Little did I know then how relevant Sherry McAllister’s words would become – once again - only a few months later (see previous post). I never thought anything could take my mind away from the ever-present and daily watch for symptoms of a cancer recurrence. But I was wrong.

So, what has happened since my last post? Well, I recurred that same year, with symptoms appearing in early November 2019. I did my due diligence and scheduled an appointment with my doctor for a consult and CT scan. The paperwork was sent but for some reason, even though I called every few weeks, that appointment for the scan did not happen.

I was still waiting for a date when Covid struck in early 2020. People in countries around the world were dropping like flies from this new and extremely potent virus. And it had arrived here in our Canada, soon making its way to our province. It was March and I was feeling no symptoms by then so, weighing my odds, I decided not to pursue it for a few months to give this epidemic a chance to ease up a bit.

Covid didn’t go away. And neither did my gut feeling that I was in a recurrence. I couldn’t procrastinate any further – the pain began again in June. I contacted my doctor again to schedule an appointment and this time speed was on my side. A scan in July confirmed my fears. It was back. At least two tumours this time. By August I was speaking with my Oncologist in Halifax, N.S. and discussing surgery. By September I was meeting with him in his office for the official consultation, my documentation of symptoms and timelines sent ahead via email. And then the wait began.

That's also the day that it was confirmed that my hemoglobin levels were extremely low. I had noticed that my BP level was at 50 (a very low diastolic reading) and when I did a bit of research, I discovered that it could be a sign of low blood levels. 

Definitely not normal. My oncologist had me provide blood samples prior to leaving the facility. By the time we arrived home, about 5 hours later, there was a message on my phone to immediately contact my physician to arrange a transfusion. Normal is 120 g/L to 180 g/L. My count was 57. By that evening I was getting my first of many units of blood (last count between the first and last was 12 units, not counting the 3 iron infusions. Too much in such a short period of time (less than 2 months)!

(Note: It took nearly a year following surgery, but my levels eventually increased to a normal level on their own.)

Covid threw a wrench in the scheduling plans. Changes were taking place to accommodate the new protocols for prevention. I called frequently for updates – the old squeaky wheel tactic – and was told that I was at the top of the list. But there’s not much benefit there when there are no slots available.

November arrived. I was hoping to get in and out before the winter storms began, but it wasn’t looking good. And then the call came ….. Monday, Nov 2nd, 2020. A cancellation. Could I be there for check-in on November 4th with surgery on November 5th? You betcha!!

This was my 6th surgery since 2002. The term ‘major surgery’ suddenly took on a new meaning. Up to this point, there was just the usual remove the tumours, seal me up, and send me home. Not to be this time. One of the tumours had attached itself to the bowel and, as the team informed me, because of all the previous handlings during surgeries, trying to separate the tumour from the bowel was not an easy task. Nor was it successful. The words Swiss cheese was used as a descriptive term for the condition of this section of my bowel.

And then the words colostomy and ‘permanent’ were introduced. Wait, did I hear that right? I had no idea. No one had mentioned it to me in recovery. They saved that little surprise for the oncologist and his surgical team to share.

Little did I realize at that point in time that the cancer concerns would fall to the wayside. I hadn’t been able to eat and blamed it on the hospital food – which, I must admit, I normally don’t mind. Just the thought of food made me feel ill. After 5 days post surgery, I became ill. No nausea or warning. Exorcist style sick. I couldn’t seem to make the nurses understand that there was something not right. That I needed to see my doctor. I’m not a nurse, but I knew that what was coming out was not normal. My body cooperated and provided one of the surgical team with a live display. And that’s when they took me seriously. 

The next day I was I was wheeled through the basement of several buildings to have a CT scan to see what was going on. No blockage, everything seemed to be moving along fine with the colostomy. Great news! However, the next scenario was that I possibly had a leak from the bowel. So much for the celebration. This was not a good thing at all. The next day I was traveling through the basement halls once again, but this time I went through the dangerous procedure of having drainage tubes inserted. Success.

I remained in hospital for a total of 24 days on a rigorous fluid and antibiotic regime. If this didn’t work, more surgery. Thankfully, everything came together in the end. I seriously don’t think I could have handled more surgery – either physically or mentally.

One of the changes that had been made when Covid had appeared was the transfer of nursing home residents to the hospitals. What had been rooms with two beds now contained four. And those beds were like revolving doors, with patients coming and going around me steadily. With the hospital open, visitors were steady. And so was the fear of Covid, not only by patients, but evident also in the faces of those caring for patients.  In mid November, Covid was running wild in Halifax. The hospital finally went into lockdown. What a relief! The restrictions remained in place for only a few days; however, it was a nice reprieve from the constant comings and goings of visitors. I do have to admit that sharing a room with that many people resulted in very little rest as there was no specific schedule adhered to and patients were moved in and out of the room at all times of the day or night. It ended up to be a very stressful few weeks.

The positive aspect of being in hospital for such a long period (if there even is such a thing) is that by the time I left, the incision had basically healed prior to getting in the car to head home. And if you’ve been in hospital for any length of time, you know that feeling of joy when you walk through the door. The colostomy, on the other hand, ended up being a blessing and a curse. Without it, I might not be here … with it, there are times when I wished that I wasn’t. Thankfully, with a lot of time and familiarity, I am doing better with this new addition to my life.  

Until next time …….
~ B-Optimistic ðŸ˜Š



                                            Four (4) months post surgery. 





Monday, August 19, 2019

What it is Like to Live with a Cancer Diagnosis





Imagine you’re going about your day, minding your own business, when someone sneaks up behind you. You feel something press up against the back of your head, as someone whispers in your ear.

“Sssshhhhh…. don’t turn around. Just listen. I am holding a gun against the back of your head. I’m going to keep it there. I’m going to follow you around like this every day, for the rest of your life.”

“I’m going to press a bit harder, every so often, just to remind you I’m here, but you need to try your best to ignore me, to move on with your life. Act like I’m not here, but don’t you ever forget… one day I may just pull the trigger… or maybe I won’t. Isn’t this going to be a fun game?”

This is what it is like to be diagnosed with cancer. Any STAGE of cancer. Any KIND of cancer. Remission does not change the constant fear. It never truly goes away. It’s always in the back of your mind.

Please, if you have a loved one who has ever been diagnosed with cancer, remember this. They may never talk about it or they may talk about it often. Listen to them. They aren’t asking you to make it better. They want you to sit with them in their fear… their sadness… their anger… just for the moment. That’s it.

Don’t try to talk them out of how they are feeling. That doesn’t help. It will only make them feel like what they are going through is being minimized. Don’t remind them of all the good things they still have in their life. They know. They are grateful.

But some days they are more aware of that gun pressing into the back of their head and they need to talk about it. Offer them an ear.

Written by Sherry McAllister

Thank you, Sherry, for so effectively describing what life is like for someone diagnosed with cancer. You have captured the feeling perfectly.

Until next time …….
~ B-Optimistic ðŸ˜Š

Sherry is the Mom to Sherman the Therapy Dog on Facebook.  She is a 2x's cancer survivor who, at the time of writing this on March 21, 2019, was battling incurable stage 4 Gastrointestinal cancer, after a 2 year battle with breast cancer.