NOTE: Two parts to this note - the second part is completely optional (I fully respect that not everyone may want to read my updates, extra details or my points of view).
To my good family, friends, neighbours and colleagues,
In lieu of our annual Thomson Family Christmas party we wish you all the best this holiday season and continue to thank you for your thoughts, love, kindness, prayers, humour and generosity.
My sister Maria tried her best to make sure we had our party, but we are keeping things low key and really focussing on enjoying the simple things this Christmas – thanks for wanting to make it work Maria. Besides, we will make up for it either with a Christmas party in July or start again next year with bells on.
We are looking forward to a great 2012 as there is always, always, always something to be thankful for.
From our Family to yours,
The Thomsons.
Optional Part:
Now that I am past another major milestone (2nd surgery and an unexpected detour due to infection), getting back to normal life in time for Christmas and New Years is wonderful. Spending time with my boys, family and friends is absolutely what the doctor ordered.
In keeping with “there is always, always, always something to be thankful for” this is some of what I am thankful for:
1. Having a great and extensive “Breast Friends” network.
2. Time with my family and friends.
3. Good surgery/pathology results:
· No additional cancer in lymph nodes and surrounding tissue was found through post operative examination. This is another indicator that the cancer has not spread past the left breast. The previous results from a bone scan and CT scan also currently indicate that the cancer does seem to have spread anywhere else. As there is never a 100% certainty that there is no further cancer and, as the original diagnosis indicated, one characteristic of the my cancer does need some aggressive treatment. Based on this, in the New Year (starting in January), I will still need to go through up to eight chemo therapy treatments (two types – with various potentially side effects) every three weeks, another treatment to address one of the aggressive characteristics of the cancer (with no known side effects – yeah!), radiation and longer term hormone therapy.
4. Vastly improved chances of eliminating future recurrence, spread and mortality due to early detection and confirmed medical treatments:
· Although ALL this treatment sounds daunting, difficult, uncomfortable and “inconvenient”, the chances of recurrence or spread will ultimately be cut down to less than 5% from the current greater than 37% and survival is a definite option – so I am good with the “inconvenience” and “discomfort”:o)
5. New found drive for advocacy to support Rethinking Breast Cancer and All Cancers:
· Ironically, I found out, as I was preparing for surgery, that the Canadian Medical Institute is recommending the following (which I am totally and diametrically opposed to including the way this is represented through the media to the general public - this is very shocking and does not provide all information required to allow people to form well rounded and accurate opinions):
· Women aged 40–74 years with average risk for breast cancer do not need mammograms as often as thought, according to new screening guidelines announced November 21, 2011 by The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
· The new guidelines include these recommendations for Canada:
· - women under age 50 who are at an average risk of developing breast cancer should not have routine mammograms
· - clinical breast exams and self-exams have no benefit and shouldn’t be used
· - women aged 50 to 69 who are at an average risk should have mammograms every two to three years, instead of every year or two
· - women aged 70 to 74 who are at an average risk should have mammograms every two to three years (previous guidelines didn’t recommend screening for that age group)
NOTE: As many of you know, I know one or two things about business cases. I have a significant problem with the one-sided view of this recommendation, as your truly and many others, would have fallen through the cracks of this new business case. The main issue is that there is not a clear and effective alternative solution to better address early detection/diagnosis for women between the ages of 40 – 49 (as well as any women in other age brackets) and who do not have an “average risk”. I would fully support changes to the current financial burden if there were solid and less invasive ways to detect cancer (any cancer) much earlier in the process and to find improved, less invasive and less costly treatments (as always, if you fix a root cause/issue at the front end of a process, the results at the back end are much better, with usually much less, risk, quality issues and cost associated – sorry, my process mind is coming into play again...)
Needless to say, I will be spending some of my energy (when I am feel well) in support of advocating “Rethinking” Breast Cancer and ALL Cancers. If the analytical reasons for re-thinking Breast Cancer/all Cancers is not making you think or drive you to action, the attached note may provide some emotional drive:
<SEE BELOW>
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(NOTE: the message may sound like I am in the “denial” phase of this change in my life, however, I choose to believe that I am in the informed optimism phase of the journey and am REALLY looking forward to the completion phase (click on the link for one change cycle view - there are many other views of the change cycle that are very useful in all aspects of life and work):
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/change_management/psychology_change/positive_change.htm)
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/change_management/psychology_change/positive_change.htm)
ASK: With this, please consider supporting my sister’s (Maria Morano) participation in the “ 2012 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer” in support of the BC Cancer Foundation (especially because physical activity/fitness is one way of potentially preventing many health issues):
My Best as Always,
Carmela
PS: Coldplay quote from “Everything’s not lost” (Album – Parachutes):
“When I counted up my deamons and saw there was one for every day, with the good ones on my shoulders, I drove the other ones away. So if you ever feel neglected, if you think that all is lost, I’ll be countin’ up my deamons, yeahhh, and knowing everything’s not lost”.
NOTE: If anyone knows how to get Coldplay tickets, now that both shows in April have been sold out, let us know!! We are dying to see them live in concert.
PS - we did get Coldplay tickets for April 21st with many thanks from my sister-in-law Heather - Thanks Heather!! (crossing my fingers I will be well enough to go!!!)
Rethinking Breast Cancer (All Cancers):
Reasons why we should re-think breast cancer and all cancers:
The journey should never begin...
A life shouldn’t have to be shocked into a new reality of medical appointments, tests, surgery, physical deformities and “reconstruction”, chemicals, and statistics of recovery, spread or mortality
A society shouldn’t have to bear raising funds or budgeting for this financial burden when earlier detection should be supported in current or new, better and more efficient methods to inform improved, less invasive and less costly treatments. There is so much other need in the world that can use financial and emotional support
A community shouldn’t have to feel the pain of one of its own
A woman shouldn’t have to hear the news.
A patient shouldn’t have to learn to find strength, courage and have a good attitude - for what choice is there when surviving, for yourself and your loved ones, is not an option, it is a must
A career shouldn’t have to be put on hold
A team member shouldn’t have to say “I need to be away from work for a while”
A colleague shouldn’t have to hear the news and need to bear the load in support of a team member’s absence
A neighbour shouldn’t have wonder what to say, wonder “how can I help?” or take on day-to-day burdens to help
A friend shouldn’t have to feel like they don’t know how to help or how to feel from near or far
A brother shouldn’t have to see his sister’s journey and not know what to do
A sister shouldn’t have to feel a sister’s pain and fear for herself
A mother or father shouldn’t have to learn that their daughter is in harm’s way and live through worry and feelings of inadequacy
A husband shouldn’t have to worry, have doubts, need to seek strength and make up for two
A wife shouldn’t have to wonder “can he love me this way?”
A child shouldn’t have to feel afraid and helpless
A son should not have to cry at school because he is afraid for his mom
The journey should never begin....however, without alternatives for early detection and proven forms of treatment, current options for early detection should not be pulled from under us!
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