Home                        Create An Account Member Login Browse Profiles About the Site Contact Us                                                                 Connect with designvixen:                                1 Photos Handle: designvixen Status: Cancer Survivor Cancer Type: Lymphoma, Burkitt's Gender: Female Age: 27 Country: CANADA Last On: Jul 1, 2008  Officially Diagnosed with Cancer by a Doctor: December 2003  Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis: III  Date I Began/Begin Treatment: December 2003  My Cancer Story: I am a truly fortunate person. Over two years in remission now and I'm feelin' fine! Christmas Eve, 2003... I was diagnosed with a relatively rare cancer in North America, especially in adults - Burkitt's Lymphoma. Talk about a Christmas present I wasn't expecting! Prior to being properly diagnosed I was feeling tired, bloated from edema, having sharp pains in my abdomen and just all 'round feeling crummy. I was misdiagnosed with having an ulcer, but after xrays, ultra-sounds, ct scans and finally an endoscopy and biopsy of my tumours.. they discovered it was Burkitt's - a fast-developing, aggressive NHL cancer that formed many tumours in my stomach and small intestine. Sure, I was scared... who isn't when they're told they have cancer. But the biggest key to survival for me was never to feel sorry for myself or get angry, but to surround myself with my loving family and friends. It also helped that many nurses on Unit 57 at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre were similar in age and soon became good friends. An intense regimen of chemo commenced right away. I would set up camp at the Tom Baker for about a month for each round and would get a week at home to recuperate and get my counts back up. To be honest, losing my hair was interesting more than anything. I always dreamt of shaving off my long curly hair... but it was my trademark.. haha, people knew me for having that wild hair! Though in the early stages when I was too weak to hold up my head because of the weight of my hair - I snapped... and had my Mum buzz it all off - though pausing briefly to have a mohawk (for about a minute)... it all had to go! The battle was tough and it's definitely the cure that kills you. After five months, my body rid itself of all the tumours. Dr. Jones and Dr. Valentine and all the nurses and intern doctors on Unit 57 are who I have to thank. To celebrate I hopped on a plane - bald and beautiful to Vancouver to visit my brother and his wife and to see the Pixies live in concert! What a treat. My only stipulation was that I had to administer my GCSF shot (a white blood cell count booster) to myself... though, haha... I never could actually do the actual puncturing and had my brother and friend do that... and then hand it back over while I pushed the contents in. To everyone that's battling cancer, please try and stay in a happy mind-frame. I know it's hard to do...when you're living in the hospital each day... you'll have your good days, but most will be bad. But it's best to just deal with what is set in front of you with courage, strength and determination. I now get tested every 6 months... another few years of check-ups and then I'm flying solo. It feels so good! Take care. |Home |Create An Account |Member Login |Browse Profiles |About the Site |Terms of Use |Privacy Policy |Contact Us | Copyright 2006 CDECS Inc. - All Rights Reserved.