Countdown to Australia

Next month I will be attending the 9th World Congress of Melanoma in Brisbane, Australia, as the representative of Canadian patient advocacy group Save Your Skin Foundation.  This four-day congress serves as the meeting of world leaders in the field of skin cancer research, prevention, and treatment.  I will be attending sessions covering all of the latest news and topics in melanoma and other skin cancers, and I will bring this knowledge back to Canadian patients. 

In conjunction with the congress, I have the honour of sitting on a working group in the Global Coalition for Melanoma Patient Advocacy, in which we will continue the work spearheaded by Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF).  I have followed MRF since my own diagnosis, and celebrated their work from my corner so far away; namely, this year in May was the first annual World Melanoma Day.

My itinerary for the week is pretty much booked.  In addition to the main plenary sessions discussing melanoma, I have chosen sessions which speak to my personal experience and interests, as well as those of Save Your Skin, as we want more detail in the following areas:

• Advances in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (a rare but very serious form of cancer)
• Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Actinic Keratosis, and if I can, Uveal Melanoma (a.k.a Ocular Melanoma)
• Surgical management of Stage III melanoma (directly relates to my scars)
• Immuno-Oncology in melanoma
• and one that I REALLY want to know about so I can put to rest the controversy - Sunscreen: Bioavailability and Toxicity (this topic was always on my mind in my tree-hugger days, and it is still a common question asked to SYSF)

My brain is going to be SO full!  I must admit, in the almost-year that I have been working for Save Your Skin, I have allowed myself to be intimidated at times, by the science and politics behind what the Foundation does, but as I buckle down and study it piece by piece, I realize I know far more than I thought.  My colleagues have been patiently teaching me, and I have been soaking up the information but now I find myself actually being able to apply the information to my own experience with melanoma, and it makes sense.  

I was there (still am, of course, my 6-month CT scans are Monday in fact) - I know what they're talking about, I have done my time at Sunnybrook and analyzed every word my medical team has told me over the years.  Now I get to learn from the best, about people just like me, and I understand. It is science - and I'm okay with that - thanks Kathy! ;-)

Aside from the conference, I am taking a day to go hug a koala.  IN AUSTRALIA!!!!!          :-) :-) :-)   #spoiledgirl #gonnawearlongsleeves

 

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22 days remain in my countdown to Australia, and I am reflecting on how this has all happened.  Three years ago at this time I was recovering from extensive surgery, my family and friends were looking after me, I was heading into my third systemic immunotherapy treatment, and I was in a psychological tailspin.  I had no idea whether or not I would survive to see any semblance of the future I had hoped I would have, and fear overtook most of my days.  

Step by step I walked out of that place, I worked to overcome those challenges, I leaned on the supportive people in my life, and I got back out there.  And I talked about it.... blah blah blah... you already know, I talked.  Blogs, youTube, radio, TV, magazines, speaking appearances, more blogs: it gave me something constructive to do with my cancer experience.  When I realized that there were others like myself, others navigating an advanced melanoma diagnosis with the same mysterious dark cloud over their future, I wanted to share.  I wanted to reach out and help them know they were not alone, and I wanted them to tell me it would be okay too.  Which they did. And still do.

Now I have the honour of being able to help others through their skin cancer journey on a grand scale.  I will go to Australia, attend the World Congress of Melanoma, fill my brain with all the latest news from the world leaders in this field, and bring it back to Canada in the form of reports from Save Your Skin Foundation.  Not bad for a humble little patient like me... as if I'm not already grateful enough just to be alive.  

Thank you Save Your Skin Foundation, for bringing out the best in me, and for encouraging me, now that I live permanently outside my old comfort zone.  Thank you for posting my first guest blog, it all started here:

 

Re-group, restore, and re-charge

This summer has been exactly that of the title of this blog: a few months to re-group and recover from an unexpected turn in the roller coaster of life, restore my faith in others - and in myself, plus re-charge my batteries via some changes in pattern.

afternoon siesta in Cuba, just sayin'  :-) 

I am happy to report that I have achieved all of the bucket-list goals I set for myself in the spring, and I have many loving friends and family members to thank for the support along the way.  Life is crazy enough without adding the post-cancer dynamic to it, but with the love of true friends it is possible to get through.  Knock on wood, my health has been great - energy great, losing weight, have full confidence for another good CT scan in September.

Last night the girls and I celebrated a huge milestone with a bunch of new friends; the end of summer vacation brought the last shifts of their summer job(s).  They have worked hard all summer at a high-end restaurant in the next town over, as the resident "Aquatic Technicians," working three nights per week each sweating their asses off in the dish pit.  

There were many times they dreaded going to work and feared the pressure and fast pace, but they stuck with it and buckled down with the team and "dumped it every night!" - I quote the Executive Chef's compliments of them last night LOL  There were several times we all thought they might quit but nope! They persevered, and they are now basking in the glow of a job well done and the power of sticking with a well-laid plan.  This accomplishment is in part to the credit of the Chef's team in the kitchen, they are an inspired group of young entrepreneurs who welcomed the girls with open arms, taught them well, and supported them when they needed it.  This respect in turn earned the girls' desire to do a good job for them and to pitch in extra when the team needed it.  

All summer I watched this transformation in the girls, from anxiety and trepidation to full-on confidence and a lift in understanding of the working world as they experienced what it is to be part of a team that values their effort.  They were inspired - as the rest of the staff are - it was contagious, and as a result it has provided them with a plethora of fun memories of stinky dishwater and singing chefs.  :-)  I am one proud Momma.  *I may or may not also be slightly relieved that our six-night-per-week 10pm drives to Thornbury are over* LOL 

We made lots of memories in addition to work; one notable experience was seeing Green Day in Toronto, now ranked as my favourite concert of all time.  We also traveled a bit, the girls to a friend's cottage, Canada's Wonderland, several shopping trips to the city, and my long-weekend getaway to Cuba.

  

Yes, Cuba.  I, the eternal skin cancer patient, went to sunny Cuba in August.  It's not what you think, rum-soaked resort life beach pool sun sun sun, no... there was some rum LOL  but I got to drink it in the home of friends of my traveling companion, with whom I had previously traveled to Cuba in 2008.  We wanted to get away for a weekend this summer just the two of us, a girls' weekend - and as we priced hotels etc. in the likes of Niagara, my Cuba-expert friend suggested for the same price we could buzz down there for a few days.  And so we did, staying in the city of Moron, at a hostel, living the local Cuban life - and enjoying the local Cuban food (which is amazing, and a FAR cry from what is served at Cuban resorts).  

We went on horse-buggy rides to tour the city, relaxed on the balcony, went to a friend's birthday party, ate avocados and mangoes unlike the puny imports we have here, had carefree afternoon naps (in our blessedly air-conditioned room), generally just took a step back and chilled out... we laughed, we cried, and we talked non-stop, as has been our talent since we met in grade eight.  :-)  It was SO good to re-connect, I really needed that time with my buddy, and I came home feeling strong and empowered, refreshed in exactly the way I was hoping this trip would do.  (more pics below)

This trip is actually the start to a busy few months of travel plans in my household, I am happy to say.  I have always loved to travel and wanted to do more of it, but with the setback of the last three years I thought I was grounded, I had sort of written off my plans for world travel, staying home with young kids and a career taking most of my available energy.  But.... intrepid as I am... I have somehow landed myself in the wonderful position of being invited to travel again, and I am repeatedly proving to myself that I can actually do it.  

Flying to Montreal with Save Your Skin Foundation last September changed my life, and in the year since then I have come to realize the extent of the changes are even still unfolding.  

I am grateful beyond measure to be freshly back into the foray of international travel, Cuba was a good tester.  My next trip is for a September weekend at Whistler, via Vancouver, for a work meeting.  November I have work in Toronto and Ottawa, and in December the girls and I are going on a much-deserved (and long-delayed) vacation to the States - we are going to California!    

The pièce de résistance is in October...  I can hardly even believe I am saying this right now, but... drumroll please...  I am going to Australia!  I have the honour of representing Save Your Skin at the World Congress of Melanoma 2017 and subsequent meeting of the Global Coalition for Melanoma Patient Advocacy.  I will blog more about this in the near future; there is lots to explain, as I have been remiss in my blogging about the work I have been participating in for melanoma patient support in Canada.  My Aussie travel visa is approved, I am working on booking flights, and I will soon choose the sessions to attend at the Congress: I get to select relevant information and data to bring back to Canada from the world leaders in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of melanoma skin cancer.  Words cannot express the honour I feel for being given this task.    

So as I daydream about the summer passed and the koala bears to come, the girls are preparing for back to school on Wednesday - there is much organizing of backpacks and choosing of outfits happening upstairs LOL   Tonight we are having an end of summer campfire to celebrate our successes over the past few months, and we will renew our vow to take life one step at a time, and to live every day to the fullest.  

 Sickest taxi I have ever been in

 Casa guard dog my buddy Rosie

 Laguna de la Leche

Market day in Moron, Cuba

Cheers!  Viva Cuba

April 2008 hot messes ~ August 2017 hot messes part 2 :-)