LORRAINE LAING

It is impossible to know what you would feel if you were told that you have the dreaded "C" word.  Suddenly everyone's facial expression changes and voices get lower.  When it happened to me, I decided not to feel angry or pity myself but rather to confront this disease and do everything possible to conquer it.  Little did I realize how emotional I would become. WOW!

Always the clown, suddenly I had no jokes to tell and nothing to laugh at.  What a roller coaster ride I was in for.  Fortunately, two angels, Dr. Annette Richard and Johanne, came into my life and rescued me the day after my first surgery.  As a family doctor, she has been involved with breast cancer for quite a few years and has a wealth of information to help you as she did me.  

Dr. Richard and Johanne answered questions I didn't know to ask!  My "happy" pills turned my life around and enabled me to deal with my cancer.  After another surgery, rounds of chemo, loss of hair, and weeks of radiation I feel I have defeated this devil.  If not, at least I tried.

If you have been given this sad news please embrace all the professional people and friends who want to help.  Let your friends be your inner sanctum.  TALK, TALK as much as you want and it really helps if the person across from you is willing to LISTEN to you.  Remember, your cancer is about you and nobody else.  You must get your feelings out no matter how mundane or repetitive you may feel they are.

There is tons of help out there. My husband is now 2½ years free from cancer and I firmly believe that one day I will reach that goal as well.  This cancer journey, for me, has in some ways been a sad, stressful, mood-altering time but I have gained so much more.  I have learned the true meaning of friendship and the unconditional love of my family.