Fight Like a Girl-Rose Gold Linings

Lucky, blessed, fortunate, privileged, probably not what you expect someone going into chemo in a few days to feel like, but I do. I mean the cancer/chemo part still sucks but as the word gets out and my family and friends all lean in for support, I keep seeing the good shining through the clouds. I'm certainly not happy to have this worry and strain on my family but if there was a best case scenario, I think I've got it.

I've filled out multiple questionnaires and been asked a hundred questions by different medical professionals and I've come to realize a few things that are setting me up for success.

1) I'm otherwise healthy, I have no preexisting conditions, I take no medications and I've even got the mindfulness thing working for me.

2) I have an extensive and reliable support system. My husband is an Advanced Paramedic with a Biomedical science degree to boot, so understanding all the drugs I'll be taking is made easier by having access to his brain. Also my mother-in-law is an RN, so her experience will certainly come in handy in the days after infusions. And speaking of experience, my own mother, as well as a long time good friend fought off this pink beast in recent years, so they are both a wealth of first hand knowledge. Add in my father and father-in-law who will drop anything to come up and help with the kiddos and my brother and sister-in-law who live 5min away I think I'm set. And that's just the people I expect to be physically around, never mind my wonderful friends who are sending flowers, cards, have offered to make food or do laundry and getting a team together for "Run for a Cure", click here to check out the team Katie (with an E) Bosom Friends

3) We just moved in April and one of my requirements of a new house was that is was big enough for guests and space to rest. This will come in handy for a slightly different reason now but I am very glad we have it.

4) My kids are my world and recently I have been very worried, my oldest is 2e which means although he is gifted he is also a wild card as far as emotion and executive functioning goes. He's currently 8 and we have been struggling with school especially this past year, so we pulled them when we moved. They started a new school this month it has started off great, his teacher is entirely supportive and compassionate and we have just received the paperwork that they are going to be looking into additional supports within the school for him! He also LOVES going, he's made new friends, loves french class and is actually remembering about/following through on homework! My youngest (5) is also thriving. His teacher has told us he is a dream student and has also proudly made new friends, which is a complete turnaround from last year. They are attending a Catholic French Immersion school this year and although I'm not strict on religion, I am grateful for that support for them during this time. I'm sure being able to pray about things and the general counselling they have available to them at school will give them a greater sense of control over our situation.

5) Thank God I live in Canada. I have never once had to worry about if we could afford my treatment. We live comfortably on one income but if we had to consider the cost of the specialist visits, chemo, supporting drugs, surgery and radiation, and the maintenance drugs I will be taking for a very long time, it would be a nightmare. I'm grateful the hospitals and doctors I've been with so far along this journey are top notch and have provided me with top notch care, even if it has been occurring at lightning speed. My family doctor, knowing my family history, knew a lump was not something to wait on and expedited the initial imaging. St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) worked extremely quickly (and compassionately) and in the space of 2 weeks I have had an ultrasound, mammogram, biopsy, surgical consult, CT scan, Bone scan, and another ultrasound checking out a spot on my liver. I met with my medical oncologist at the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) to set up my chemo and take home the supporting cast of anti-emetics and immunity boosting drugs and finally at St. Joe's Urgent Care in London a MRI, plus a couple rounds of bloodwork in between. Actual chemo will commence in the next few days.

6) The timing for everything is really in our favour. The kids are back in school, my husband is able to take some time off from teaching at Fanshawe, so he has more free time, my parents are retired and therefore available to me, we are settled in our new house (remember guest room!), my medical oncologist who's sole focus is breast cancer, is new to the area, fresh off her PhD and she has more time to focus on my care as she is still building her patient load, and the STEGH has a newish Chemotherapy suite which means I don't have to drive to London to receive treatment! Plus the Terry Fox run is this time of year and we are coming up on Breast Cancer Awareness month so, there is lots of information and chances to learn more easily for the kids and the rest of the family.

All of this isn't to brag, I am fully aware that I am in a very lucky and unusual position. This is to record the good, to share the Rose Gold linings I see, to let my family and friends know how much I appreciate them and the privilege I have to focus 100% on winning this battle. Its also to remind myself on the darker days that I am poised for success and I have every little thing going for me. #TEAMLabrie #FightLikeAGirl