The most amazing and revealing sentiment about being survivor of two very distinct cancer episodes is the capacity as human to adapt to the worst possible life threatening situations.
I also discovered that our capacity to « heal thyselve » is real. I mean that our thoughts and acceptance in these circumstances are crucial.

We need to allow our mind and heart to foresee an outcome and have a « will » to fight and be positive.
My first cancer episode was a multiple myaloma, a form of bone cancer that was treated with radiotherapy followed by chimotherapy. I was forty three years old. My normal life resumed basically nine weeks after treatment and I returned to my work full time.

My second episode occured at the early stage of my retirement when I was diagnosed with a colo-rectal cancer requiring major surgery. At 63 years old I was enjoying a very active and fulfilling life. Needless to say that it was quite a shock to my system.
Because it was a second cancer, and for reasons of proximity to the first cancer, I could get only chimotherapy without radiotherapy.

Most of my life and career was dedicated to healthcare, serving on the management side of healthcare organizations. It was my life’s passion, no doubt about it. In fact, I never felt that I was « working » at something but rather I was serving my fellowman and enjoyed every minute of the quarter century doing it.
It made me realize that our Canadian Healthcare System works and the sciences and knowledge of the people working in the system know what they are doing and all are serving a higher cause.

Everyone I met in healthcare have a mindset of serving others, bring a worthy contribution and make a difference in their life and the life of others.
Combining the two worlds of healthcare management and my life, my trust in the system and the people working in it is genuine. When you are confronted by such a crisis situation, you discover how those factors come to interplay and act in your favor.

It is therefore very important to have this positive attitude and behaviour. Trust in yourself and in the people serving our healthcare system.
Today, more than three years after my last episode, I can enjoy a normal life, travel and enjoy the warm weather of the south during the winter months, still dedicate a good part of my time serving people around me, enjoying the company of my spouse that supported me through these ordeals, my children and grandchildren, spoiling them for all I can and thank God for all my blessings.
If I have a lesson learned it would be the following :
Life is worth living. Be positive and trust in yourself. Be active and serve your fellowman. It will give you a sense of worth and accomplishment in life. Is this not the purpose of our journey?

The Typically Canadian Group is riding with Michel Lalonde ...

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