In April 2000 our Mother received news that she was living with breast cancer. At the time we were teenagers and did not quite grasp what this really meant. It seemed like it had to be something minor which was going to pass quickly, because up until this point, the idea of her being weakened by something didn’t seem possible to us.

After the surgery and throughout the treatment period it was a challenge for the whole family to stay positive while witnessing the demands and side effects of chemotherapy on our mother.

Fortunately, the cancer went into remission and although there were still visits to the cancer center, things were looking really good.

About six years after she found out about the breast cancer, she was diagnosed with parotid gland cancer. Again there was some shock over this diagnosis because of the rarity of the cancer, and also because the previous six years had involved a few “just to be safe” biopsies which all had positive outcomes. Despite the shock, this experience was quite different from the previous one because our Mother was well informed about the disease and because she had gained a great deal of strength through her experiences. As a family we were also better able to support her, having acknowledged some of the emotions and fears which emerge when a loved one has cancer. Again we were fortunate; the cancer was localized in the parotid gland and surgery was the only treatment required. Despite this wonderful outcome, the second diagnosis was a reminder that our mother’s battle with cancer was not simply a difficult time in the past that we could push to the back of our minds; it was a reality of her life, and had a real place in ours.

We can’t imagine what it was like to deal with the uncertainty of living with cancer, the frequent appointments at the cancer clinic, the emotional and physical side effects of the treatment and the series of emotions, adjustments and transformations that come with it. Our Mother can, and we are very thankful that she is here to tell us about it.

Chris & Jenn

The Typically Canadian Group is riding with Chris and Jenn's Mom...

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