Hub September 2024

“WhyIRun”

By:HeidyVanDyk

ThedateisMarch5,2014.Thetimeis9:00am. Iamsittinginadoctor’sofficeattheJuravinski CancerCentre,waitingfortheresultsofmy breastandlymphnodebiopsy.Iknowthatthe doctorIamabouttoseeisasurgicaloncologist, andIknowthatsheprimarilytreatsbreast cancerpatients.Ialsoknowfromtheradiologist thatapositivebiopsyisexpectedbasedonwhat wasseenonthemammogramandultrasound. Iknow,butIstillcan’tquitebelieveitwhenIhear forcertainthatIhavestagethreebreastcancer. Thetumourinmybreastandoneofthelymph nodesundermyarmwerepositiveforcancer. Itwasjusttwomonthsaftermy40thbirthday whenIfoundalumpinmyleftbreast.Mygut toldmethatitwasn’tgood.Afteranexamby myfamilyphysician,amammogram,ultrasound andbiopsy,IfoundmyselfenteringaworldI neverimaginedIwouldbein.Iamoneofthe1 in8womeninCanadawhowilldevelopbreast cancerinherlifetime.

Afteranumberoftestsandscanstomakesure thecancerhadn’tspreadfurther,Imetwitha medicaloncologistwhowouldmanagemy treatment,andthenIstartedthetreatmentthe followingweek.Mytreatmentplantook16 monthstotalandincluded:8roundsof chemotherapy,oneeveryotherweek;adouble mastectomyincludingremovalofthelymph nodesundermyleftarm;20roundsofdaily (Monday–Friday)radiation;andadditional medicaltreatmentstoadjustthehormonelevels inmybodytohelppreventarecurrence.Breast cancertreatmentrequiresstrength,braveryand determination.Italsorequiresalotofrest.

Fromthebeginning,ontheadviceofmysister, IfacedtreatmentwiththephilosophythatI neededtoslowdown,nottryto“muscle through”itandworkwithmybodytoheal.I knowmanywomenthinkoftreatmentasa

battle,andthatgivesthemtheenergytokeep going.Ithinkeveryoneneedstoapproach cancertreatmentinwhateverwayworksbestfor them.IchosetofocusonstayingascalmasI could,usingmeditationtomanagemyworry andfearandtogetmymindandbodyworking togetherwiththetreatmenttohealthecancer. Thetreatmentwastough,anditwasscary,but forme,itworked.Iamincrediblygratefulthat thisyearIcelebrated10yearsofbeingcancer free!

Wehaveeffectivetreatmentsforbreastcancer becauseofresearchandthebravewomenwho havegonebeforeusandparticipatedinresearch trials.Thislifesavingworkisfunded,inpart,by donationsthatareraisedeachyearatthe CanadianCancerSocietyCIBCRunfortheCure. Thisyear’sRunfortheCureisthe25th anniversaryoftheSimcoeRun.Todate,in Simcoe,wehaveraised$2.9milliondollars!This year’sgoalistoraise$100,000togettoatotal amountraisedof$3million.Withthe community’shelp,wecandoit!TheRunwillbe heldonSunday,October6,attheSimcoeLions ParkonDavisStreetinSimcoe.Registration startsat9:00am.Thereare1kmand5kmroutes available.Weencourageeveryonetoparticipate inwhateverwayyoucan–walkersandrunners arewelcome.Youcanalsogiveyoursupportby donating,andifyoudonotknowsomeonewho isparticipating,youarewelcometodonateto theSimcoeRunCommittee’steam,the Simcoe RunCommitteeKnock-Outs.AlloftheSimcoe RunfortheCureinformation, includinghowtosignupand donate,canbefoundat support.cancer.ca,oryoucan checkoutourFacebookpage, Simcoe–CanadianCancer SocietyCIBCRunfortheCure.

Signupnowtosupportallpeople inCanadaimpactedbybreastcancer.

Lion'sPark75DavisStreetEastSimcoe 8:30am| www.cibcrunforthecure.com/simcoe

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