Stories of Hope
Tell us your story of courage in the face of cancer and we'll post it here as inspiration to those who are fighting, have fought or are walking. Please submit your story to Chad@butterflyofhope.ca
MY CANCER JOURNEY – MARION McNEILL
2009 marks my sixth year cancer free. Doesn’t that sound great! Cancer free.
In the spring of 2003 I found a lump in my right breast. It was already the size of a large marble.
I’m sure like most people, I decided to wait and see if it would go away. After a month, it had not changed so I called my doctor for an appointment. The soonest I could be seen was another month away.
When I finally saw my Dr., she said it was probably only lumpy breast tissue but she ordered my first mammogram (I was only 47) and an ultrasound. That appointment was another month away!
The tests were on the same day and the technician doing the mammogram repeated the right breast 3 times. Up until that moment, I still didn’t think I had anything to worry about and no one in my family knew anything. After the third shot of the right breast, I was starting to get a little worried. I then went across the hall for my ultrasound. The technician told me I had nothing to worry about but she had to get her supervisor to look at the pictures. He was the only negative person I came in contact with on my “cancer journey”. He walked in the room, did not acknowledge me, looked at the screen, turned to me and said they would be getting in contact with a surgeon that day and walked out.
That was the way I learned I definitely had cancer! The poor ultrasound tech looked at me and was about to cry as she asked me if I was all right. Things got really fast from there. As soon as I got home the phone was ringing and it was my Dr’s office letting me know that my first appointment with the surgeon was the following Monday.
Two weeks after that I had a lumpectomy and they also removed 8 lymph nodes. The waiting game started for the phone call about those nodes and in about 3 weeks I found out that they were cancer free! Wonderful news!
I had 18 radiation treatments that fall which I found really tough. I only missed 2 days of work with my surgery and following treatments so the summer of 2004 I registered for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk in Toronto. That is where I found my support system. This summer I will walk in Calgary for my 4th time and it will be my tenth walk over all.
I have walked in Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax as well. Every city is the same – full of wonderful people all getting together for a common cause – to end the fight against breast cancer with a huge victory – the end of breast cancer.
When I found out I had cancer I was really scared. I had lost my Dad, brother and mother all to cancer- all different kinds. My Dad and brother died before their 50th birthdays and I didn’t want to be the same. I had 3 wonderful teenagers and I wanted to watch them become adults.
I have met so many fantastic individuals that have had way tougher battles than me. They are my heroes. Most of them are still here but I have lost a few friends and so I continue the fight for them and for my children. The walk is easy compared to the battle of cancer.
2010 – Now I have found out my cancer has returned. This time I have to have a mastectomy and I have chosen to have reconstruction at the same time. This entails a 12 to 14 hour surgery and chemo down the road. I am confident that with all the inroads that have been made in this disease that I will get through this battle as well. I am scared to death but I have made so many great friends on this journey. They are all praying and keeping good thoughts so that has to stand for something
I have also committed to walking in two 60 kms walks again this year – Calgary and Toronto. I may not physically be able to walk, I may have to crawl but crawl I will or get in a sweep van for part of my journey. We have to find a way to beat women’s cancers and I truly believe that this is the way to do it.
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