New Dermatologist

So..... I have mentioned before my somewhat chilly relationship with the Skin Doctor in my life... (comes with the territory of an ex-sun-baby melanoma patient I suppose) ...to the point of us CO-FIRING each other.  

My lovely Family Doc saved me yet again - I met my new Dermatologist today - right here in Meaford! 

A quick in - and - out in Ambulatory Care with a Derm on a once-monthly visit to Meaford Hospital determined me all-clear of any worrisome skin lesions. Yay that's a great first step!  We had a quick chat about my history, and of my future, of CT scans for monitoring post-clinical-trial, and we agreed to see each other again in six months.  

Sadly, come 2017, after a 15-year stint of monthly trips to Meaford, my new Dermatologist will be seeing patients in the Big Smoke only, so.... I will go see her there!  With my stage of melanoma I have as much chance of having a new melanoma on my skin as I did two (or twenty) years ago; a stage three diagnosis is more likely to re-appear internally than on the surface. But I digress...

I offered her a gift in thanks for checking in on us rural patients, by form of my article in Escarpment Magazine this month.   I explained that I am an aspiring Writer exploring the platform of a topic very dear to me, that of melanoma education and awareness advocacy.  

I flipped to the article in question and to my surprise she said "That's YOU?  Just this weekend we were talking about this article!"  She went on to say how she thought it was great that someone would take the time to write about and share this topic, and we briefly discussed the importance of changing the conversation regarding skin health and tanning etc.  I told her about how I have been sharing my story in the name of trying to help others to avoid a fate such as mine... Save The Skin You're In! 

In my new Dermatologists name I have decided to summarize my advocacy work in one post (to date), and for any new readers, Thank You.  Please feel free to click and share away.....

  

 

 

 

Toronto Blue Jays take on #NotJustSkinCancer

I am still glowing from our experience in Toronto on Saturday.  

Honoured to say:  I was able to represent Save Your Skin Foundation at the Blue Jays game on July 2, 2016, when the participants in the #NotJustSkinCancer video and team were invited to a luxurious ball park afternoon in the Community Clubhouse Suite, courtesy of Jays Care Foundation.  

I was even able to take my family, so the girls and I met my Mom and Grant at the SkyDome (oops sorry Rogers Centre) for a memorable afternoon together, along with the folks from Melanoma Network of Canada.  We have never done anything like that before!  It was AWESOME.

Please click here to read the full scoops and see some photos:

TORONTO BLUE JAYS TAKE ON #NOTJUSTSKINCANCER

Thank you Save Your Skin Foundation for the opportunity to share my story, and thank you to Roche Canada for sharing the #NotJustSkinCancer concept, thanks to the fabulous PR team who have facilitated the whole thing, and of course thank you to the Jays Care Foundation for the day on Saturday!  

 

The mid-June Rush

Been a crazy week around here. Again. Still LOL (do I sound like a broken record?)  

Quick run-down: 

I turned 40 this week!  Yahoo!  I am very happy about this, for a couple of reasons... I was SO ready to ditch my roller-coaster tumultuous 30's, and... when diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 37 there was a while that I feared I would never see the age of 40.  

To say I am thankful to be forty is an understatement, but I am. Thankful!  Have had a low-key week or so of celebrations, no big party this year, will save that for another time.  But did get to spend time with a bunch of my Besties over various lunch dates and quick visits, and can even say I am stretching it til tomorrow when I visit another.  The theme of my birthday this year is like this:

Wednesday evening we had our bicycle-riding photo shoot for the local magazine in which I will be published in the Summer 2016 issue.  Was nice to get back on my bike... might make that a habit.  I would say it is NOT true what they say: just like riding a bike, you never forget how.  That is BS - as I almost crashed in to Claire a couple times at Beautiful Joe Park!

I have been working diligently on taking photos for the upcoming "Melanoma Through My Lens" project, more information to come.  Yesterday I was even up at dawn to take photos at the harbour... I love our beautiful town.  

All things grade-8-related are in full explosive swing; grad dresses are purchased and are at the seamstress' for alterations.  Photo session is booked, homework is done, and report cards are on way.  Bus schedule and class details are en route from new high school in Owen Sound eek!  

Next week WE go to Ottawa for a three day adventure, I am excited to be a parent chaperone!  

I have two articles to write before we leave for Ottawa (oops I was late for the Meaford Express last week, but we did have great coverage for Mudmoiselle so it worked out that "I" didn't overload the paper anyway ;-)  

 

Speaking of Mudmoiselle... yesterday I accompanied Jen from the Bluewater Canadian Cancer Society for a promo spot on Rogers TV in Collingwood. 

And in the afternoon I attended the Heroes for Hope assembly at Meaford Community School to watch my little friend and neighbour have her pretty blonde ponytail cut off to be donated for wigs.  It was a great turnout and lots of funds raised for Canadian Cancer Society.  Great job kiddos!! And even the police/firefighters present shaved their heads and got mohawks for the cause! 

One more thing... I found out the other day - very exciting news!! - The Toronto Blue Jays are doing a skin care/skin cancer awareness day on July 2 2016.  They are playing the #NotJustSkinCancer video at the game!!! and featuring Save Your Skin Foundation and Melanoma Network of Canada WOW!!! And they have invited us four participants in the video with complimentary tickets to the game and a chance to give a big wave on the Jumbotron!   The girls and I will be there to represent Save Your Skin Foundation.  

This invitation is an honour and a fun bonus - thank you Toronto Blue Jays!!  We can be there in person to see the Jays beat the Cleveland Indians.  ;-) 

PS - One more tiny thing - I have an appointment with a new Dermatologist, whom I will be able to see in Meaford.   VERY happy about that!  Farewell, Ice Queen.  



PPS - One regret I have from this busy season... I have had to cancel/postpone my speaking engagement at a high school friend's grade4/5 class about Sun Safety.  I'm sorry to postpone, but I will aim to be better prepared next spring to speak to youth about skin care and sun safety.  Thank you for the invitation, I owe you one! 

Sun Awareness Week June 6-12, 2016

Since 1989, the Canadian Dermatology Association’s annual, nationwide Sun Awareness Week has helped educate Canadians about dangers of excessive sun exposure — and reduce the incidence of skin cancer in the country.

This year’s Sun Awareness Week takes place Monday, June 6 to Sunday, June 12, 2016.

I celebrated National Sun Awareness Week by having a mole removed.  I had this funny mole that was developing a black edge, so... I took it to my doctor and she relieved me of it right on the spot! So to speak.

She said it was a classic "S K"(seborrheic keratosis) - Nothing to worry about, totally normal.  She burned it with liquid nitrogen right there and confirmed that yes indeed, it was even freezing up like a SK.  So yay!  I was stressing about that mole a bit, even though I was told melanoma would be more likely to appear internally than on the surface, especially in a new spot so far away from the original wide excision.

Otherwise I have been working on various melanoma awareness initiatives during this, National Sun Awareness Week.  I am preparing for a photo shoot with a local magazine that I will share when the Summer Issue is published - very exciting.  Bucket list stuff, that one.

I have also been invited to participate in a project with Save Your Skin Foundation to bring awareness to the "journey" of advanced melanoma.  It too is top secret until reveal time, but it is a very creative concept that I am proud to be a part of.  Stay tuned!

Thank you Save Your Skin Foundation for arming me with a whole bunch of great swag to help spread awareness of Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Awareness!  I will wear it with pride and share it with everyone I meet.  

The bracelets especially will be of interest at the speaking engagements I have been invited to at a couple of elementary schools. They change colour in sunlight to indicate the level of the solar UV index.

The key chains as well... the centre changes colour depending on the level of solar UV index. The darker the shade the higher the UV. The shades match the tones around the outside as a guide.  Very cool! 

My 2nd ByLine on Huffington Post Canada

I received a nice little surprise today: an email from Her Magazine letting me know that they submitted the article I wrote in April (for Her Magazine) to Huffington Post, and it was re-published. 

My second byline on Huffington Post! This time on Huff Post Living (Canada) now titled It's Time We All Take Skin Cancer More Seriously, posted by Her Magazine Canada, with myself listed as the author, at the end of the article. It even links to my Huff Post profile, and to blog!

Please click here ...and I appreciate your clicks and shares...  xoxo 

I am grateful to all involved: Huffington Post for publishing, Her Magazine for the collaboration, and Save Your Skin Foundation for asking me to be part of the #NotJustSkinCancer campaign in the first place.   

A bonus for this, May is Melanoma Awareness Month. 

PS - My Portfolio  :-)

What's in it for me?

Well, it's been almost a month since the launch of the #NotJustSkinCancer video, and it has reached over 53 000 people on YouTube so far, with additional media coverage on radio, TV and in print. The intensity of the campaign is going to move on across Canada, with opportunities for other melanoma survivors to share their stories, and other audiences to be reached.  I will happily continue to watch it all from the comfort of my home.  

I have enjoyed being part of it, and I appreciate the amount of opportunity it has afforded my writing goals.  Everyone involved in this project has been wonderful, and I am grateful to have been able to share in it.  

I have also appreciated the other benefits I have received from working on this initiative:

• hopefully helping others to feel less "alone" than I did upon melanoma diagnosis
• education & advocacy; I'm not out of the woods, and my daughters are now at risk of a melanoma heredity, so I want to do everything I can to make sure there are treatments if and when we need them in the future (I never claimed this volunteer effort wasn't also for self-preservation!)
• being a good example for my kiddos: taking action about something I believe in ~ making lemonade out of my lemons
• for my writing career: I finally know what I want to be when I grow up!

And last but certainly not least:

• to see what I really can do ie. energy level, concentration, stamina

I have mentioned plenty of times how I feel that I am not the same person I used to be, especially physically speaking: my mobility is hampered, my leg is damaged, cancer/treatment weight gain plagues me, and I am struggling with the side effects of Reverse T3 hypo-AND-hyper-thyroidism.  

Add chemo brain on top of it all and based on my experience, I am not (yet?) fit to manage a cash office and payroll process for a large group of people who depend on me for accuracy, efficiency, resourcefulness, and quick-thinking.  

The kind of effort I have been putting into the #NotJustSkinCancer campaign is reminiscent of my professional work experience... conference calls, writing projects, statistics, a bit of commuting, public-speaking, organizing, committing to being specific places at specific times.  

I have accomplished a bunch of those items, but at a slow pace and usually from the privacy of home.  I could nap when I needed to, I didn't have to worry about wardrobe or mascara, or keeping a happy face when discouraged, anxious, or tired. 

I have enjoyed testing out my strength and steadiness, both mentally and physically.  Overall I have met most of the goals of my small part of the #NotJustSkinCancer campaign, but not without cost.  I am exhausted.  And I don't think I have really done that much!  Mental energy spent mostly?
It's strange, some days I have the energy of an ENTP Gemini Fire Dragon LOL  but then I am more like a hibernating (cranky) bear for a few days.  It is in line with my roller coaster experience with this disease from the start, but it is frustrating to be still living it every day.   And not to worry A, or anybody, it's okay, it's not irreparable exhaustion, it will be fine. 

I am motivated to keep pushing myself for this cause, for the reasons mentioned above but also for my peace of mind.  I am getting to know my "new self," figuring out whatever it means to say "new normal."  If I can again start running around customer servicing and being intelligent then by all means I will.  And I consider advocating for melanoma awareness a great way to test the waters.

The next few weeks still bring work in the melanoma awareness category for me, as May is Melanoma Awareness month here in North America(ish).  This weekend the girls and I will be in Toronto again for Melanoma Monday, on behalf of Save Your Skin Foundation, at the Become a Skin Checker event hosted by LaRoche-Posay.  

I will be sharing my story to help bring awareness to the importance of skin health and routine checking of skin for moles or irregularities that could prevent a late-stage diagnosis of skin cancer.  

My personal transition from #NotJustSkinCancer to #BecomeASkinChecker is an easy one, as it is all very close to my heart.  

After a couple of cool projects for Melanoma-Awareness-May I will be exploring a volunteer opportunity offered to me by The Cancer Society, participating in a very cool event in the Fall, right here in our southern Georgian Bay neighbourhood!  More to come on that... I can't talk about it just yet.  :-)  

In the meantime of course family life continues, and Sunnybrook appointments loom.  May and June always bring chaos but this year seems to be exorbitant: end of school year, projects to tidy up, 4 birthdays to celebrate, summer jobs to find for 2 teenagers, 3-day trip to Ottawa for their entire Grade 8 class, and... drumroll please... Grade 8 GRADUATION.  Buckle up folks, I'm gonna be a wreck. 

LOL!!

Me, Guest Blogger! HerMagazine.ca - Parenting While Fighting Advanced Melanoma

I am honoured to say that I was asked to write a guest blog for Her Magazine, about my experience with melanoma and how that has impacted my role as a parent.  The article also introduces the #NotJustSkinCancer video.  

Among all of the pieces I have written to date, this is one of my favourites.  It is honest, emotional, and, in consultation with my girls, it captures a personal insight into the last two years of life in our household.  Please click here to read my perspective on:

Parenting While Fighting Advanced Melanoma

(update 30-March-2018: sadly, Her Magazine has been retired from the internet, so the links to my articles there no longer work.  This article however, was re-published on HuffPost.  You can find it HERE - thanks!)

Thank you so much to HerMagazine.ca for giving the opportunity to share my story and that of the #NotJustSkinCancer discussion.  I love your site and the refreshing, informative, vibrant articles you share.   

Thanks also to the "contributing editor," you know who you are A ;-) - couldn't be doing this without you and your team.  Endless thanks to all who have embraced my participation in this project and enabled exploration of my passion to WriTe.  

Her Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women that are smart, strong, successful and inspiring.

Launched in Canada in 2013, Her Magazine is the brainchild of Tal Srulovicz and Stephanie Kleiman – two 35+ aged women seeking authentic online content on issues that really matter to their demographic.  

Their mission is to share tell-it-as-it-is content for women 35+ written by women 35+.

Contributors write about love, marriage, sex, life, womanhood, travel, work, money and health issues. It’s the stuff every woman really wants to read about.

PS - Please feel free to click on the article and share from their website onto your facebook/twitter/pinterest etc... it all helps share the message!  

Thank you 

 

(This photo is the first digital pic ever taken of us; Claire is on the left,
Cassandra on the right, Me with NOT-grey hair wink wink! ~ Elmvale Zoo, Sept. 2004)