Youth In Time

A few weeks ago I went to a Head Wrap workshop at the hospital. I learnt some of the African head wrapping techniques, and it was so much fun! The women who run the program are amazing. They're so full of positive energy, and they volunteer their time to do this because they love to see the smiles on the faces of the cancer patients!

When I was at this session they informed me of a new program that they were now starting up, this time with a focus on the youth (under 30.....Yay I'm still a youth!!). "Youth In Time" was developed to help the youth battling cancer. Its a program where we can meet up once every 2 weeks, and just have fun!! For their first project, guess what we're making....ok I'll just tell you....a Carnival/Caribana costume!! As this is such a big part of my Trinidad culture, I couldn't be more excited! I've worn the costumes, and been admiring them from since I could remember, but I have no idea what making one entails. So I'm really thrilled to be a part of this!

Our first meeting was last week, just for us to get acquainted with each other, and discuss the plans for the next few months. It sounds very promising. Thanks Paulene, Naza and Judiene for making this happen!

Treatment # 4 tomorrow.....Eeeek!

Tomorrow morning is my next treatment....#4. The next 3 treatments are going to be a different cocktail to what I've been given so far. Its called "Docetaxel" or "Taxotere". I'm nervous again cause these side effects won't be the same as the last one, and I don't know how my body will react exactly. But I haven't been given good encouragement.......I've been hearing that this drug is going to be tougher, make me more tired and "It's like hell!! "....greaaaaaaaaaaaaat!

I got a sheet with a list of possible side effects. I can expect some of the following:
- Muscle aches
- Eye tearing
- Red, itchy skin; skin shedding
- Nail changes, yellow-orange colour or becoming brittle
- Water retention in arms and legs
- Numbness and tingling in hands and feet

Well this should be fun! (sarcasm intended!!)
For the last treatment they had some problems finding my veins for the IV so they had to stick me 3 times, and I ended up with a big bruise on my arm (which is only now disappearing!!). I actually did cry...I'm a bit more emotional these days ok!! :P  I didn't realize how frustrating it would be to get stuck with a needle like that over and over again. Now I have a new fear of needles!!

Also because the drugs are so toxic, my veins seem to be collapsing. My arm hurts where I got the IV's put in, and the veins look more purple than blue/green.

But enough complaining! They say its important to keep a positive mind. I hope tomorrow goes better (only one poke of the needle please please please). And let there be free cookies!! YaY!

I have the "easy" cancer

Recently I started Yoga classes, and its been sooo good! There's an organization here called Wellspring that offers support to cancer patients, and they have free classes available! Its a 5 minute walk from my place, so I decided to try out the Yoga...gentle Yoga to be more specific...since I can't really do anything too strenuous. I find it very relaxing, and it just makes me feel like I'm getting rid of the toxins in my body and clearing my mind of all things negative. You should see me doing the cobra and the tiger .....the instructor says I'm a natural!! :)

So at the last class I went to this week, there was a lady there for the first time. Bald like me, she said she was finishing up her treatments and wanted to start back Yoga. One of the other guys asked her what kind of cancer she had, and she said "Breast Cancer."

He responded with "Oh you have the easy cancer!"

The easy cancer?? She was thrown back by that comment. "Well it definitely doesn't feel like the easy kind to me!!"

I kinda chuckled to myself at this conversation. The man quickly explained himself saying that he meant its a treatable cancer....that he meant "easy" in that Breast Cancer no longer seems like a death sentence because they have developed good treatment programmes to deal with this type of cancer.

I guess that is true. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer found in women, so they've done alot of work on this type of cancer. Also, the breast isn't a vital organ in the body, so its easy to just cut it out and get rid of the tumour. Then do some chemo, maybe radiation, and within a few months you're back to life as normal (for the most part).

This poor guy had lung cancer. He told me he's been going to that place for 5 years now, so I guess its been a long battle for him. And you can't just cut out your lungs and continue life as normal, can you?? I also know of another young woman who had cancer in her leg, and had to amputate the whole limb!

So maybe I do have the "easy" cancer. But yeah, if this doesn't feel easy, I can't imagine what the "difficult" ones feel like!

Come join me!

I have signed up to participate in The Weekend to End Women's Cancers which will be taking place in Toronto on Sept 10-11, 2011. This is a two-day, 60-kilometre or one-day 32-kilometre walk throughout Toronto! My dear friend set up a team in my honour called "Pink Diamond". I've never participated before, but now.....well with all I've been going through.....it seems like the perfect year to do it!

I've witnessed first-hand what events like this do to help people like me! This event supports Princess Margaret Hospital which is where I'm being treated, and I can tell you that I've been treated really well here!! It is really amazing how much they do for their patients.....and it goes well beyond just the surgery and chemotherapy.

There are so many programs such as the "Look Good Feel Better" one I told you about in an earlier blog (where they give free makeup) or the "Head Wrap Class" (where you learn how to wrap your head in style!). They provide counselling, relaxation classes, information sessions, support groups!

Sooooo, this is why I am participating........so that this hospital can continue providing these services and more to its patients, because it really has made a big impact in my journey!

If you're interested in joining my team, here is the link to my page where you can sign up! (The team password is "Kristal"):
Weekend to End Womens Cancers - Kristal's personal page

Each participant needs to raise $2,000 in order to walk. I've set my goal at $3,200 however, and hope to exceed that! If you can't participate with me, then you can still support by donating to the cause through the link above as well.

Thanks so much!!