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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-10-21, Page 6Sunday, October 24 12 noon to 4 pm Knights of Columbus Hall, Goderich OVER 25 EXHIBITORS! ENTERTAINMENT Et MORE! GREAT DOOR PRIZES! Fashions by Julianne's Bridal at 2:30 pm ENTER TO WIN YOUR ed,db ottm C-Vie'reiceo Silent Auction for Local Breast Cancer Clinic Brides Complimentary Guests $3 Donation BRIDAL & FORMAL WEAR 44 Victoria St., Goderich 524-9975 PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2004. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month • • Survivor promotes education, awareness Moving on While breast cancer came as a shocking blow last year, Luann Taylor of Blyth is looking ahead and doing what she can to promote awareness. Through her business, Luann's Country Flowers, she has begun a campaign for October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which will see a percentage of the proceeds going towards the breast cancer screening clinic in Goderich. (Bonnie Gropp photo) By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor For Luann Taylor of Blyth a diagnosis of breast cancer was surreal."I figured that I would likely have breast cancer some day, but not at 39." It was August 2003 when Taylor noticed something wrong. Though there is a history of breast cancer in her family Taylor is the first in her family to have had genetic testing. "My breast cancer was determined not hereditary. Surprisingly only five to 10 per cent are." Busy with business and home, the mother of two sons had never taken the time for self-examination or regular visits with her physician. "I was fortunate that mine was visible . Otherwise who knows how long it would have been before it was noticed." The doctor ordered a mammogram and ultrasound within three days from her visit. An appointment was made in a week with a surgeon in Stratford. "She (Dr. Marci McCune) was phenomenal. She was very straightforward." The day Taylor saw Dr. McCune, the surgeon booked her for a biopsy. "The waiting was horrible. It was so difficult." During that time the only people who knew what was happening were Taylor's husband, Ken Hesselwood, and the employees at her store. "Because I was popping in and out of here all the time for appointments." Following the biopsy an appointment was arranged for the results. During this time I confided my concerns to my sister but I didn't want to worry anyone until we knew for sure." The treatment outlined for Taylor was a modified radical mastectomy to be follo\ved by six chemo treatments. The surgery would see the removal of the left breast. Lymph doctors were great and took my busy work schedule into consideration." The chemo was administered through a pic line, blood was taken from, and chemo pumped into her through a tube running through her arm into her chest. "I was terrified of the chemo." While a big scare with chemo is the sickness that often accompanies it, Taylor said she had her days, but was able to keep on working. "Just the idea of chemo can be terrifying, but I had a friend going through the same thing so it was a help. She made it much easier. The unknown is really the scariest. My friend was very positive and a wonderful support. And during this time I was determined to surround myself with positive people." Taylor said that the medications they administer now in conjunction with chemo help a lot with nausea. "I would feel fine for the first three or four days then a little -lousy for three or four, similar to the flu." What was really important that the reality was not as horrible as the thought. "Movies and TV shows don't convey a manageable life for someone going through chemo. This misinformation can be terrifying, but I guess as show about someone carrying on with their daily activities during cancer treatment doesn't make for a very dramatic story." Ken took on many of the household responsibilities, said Luann, because most of her energies were spent on business and treatment. "Ken and I wanted to make sure that our sons' lives didn't change because of my sickness. I went to hockey games and nagged about homework, just as before. My mom and mother-in-law sent baking almost weekly and between my husband and myself we were able to keep our household running fairly smoothly. Or at least as smoothly as any household can run with a husband working, a mom running a - business and two teenage boys." During treatment the immune system is lowered as the chemo kills the good with the bad. "I had to stay away from people. Fortunately, we have a healthy household and I didn't get a cold or anything until after the final chemo At the store I stayed in the design room a lot." Prior to each treatment, a blood test is done. If the counts are low, the chemo has to be postponed. "It can be frustrating, because you might feel just fine. And there isn't anything you can do td boost your blood counts but wait." Another side-effect is the loss of hair. "It sucks. The hardest thing for me was the eyelashes." Taylor had. een prepared. As soon as her hair began to fall out she had it shaved and began to wear the wig she'd purchased from a clinic in London. The only time she didn't wear it was at home with her sons and their friends. There she wore bandannas.. "Teenagers never seemed' to react. It was not a big deal. Actually the boys said they wanted to get me a leather Harley Davidson." The support of her family was everything through the ordeal. "Ken was really great and we were very upfront with the boys." "I told them they were not getting off that easy. I would be around for a long time to make their life miserable." Taylor also credits the community for being "wonderfully supportive, with offers to drive me for treatments, dropping off meals, kind words and prayers. We have always considered ourselves lucky to have a great community and family, but this makes you realize it even more." At the end of chemo, checkups were every three months, now six months, and eventually yearly. Her hair is back and curly. "April, May, June I had a nice little buzz cut and threw away the wig." She will soon have more surgery, to remove her right breast as a precautionary method arid_ undergo reconstruction. She is also becoming a bit of a champion, promoting breast cancer screening and self-examination. "I've felt if any good can come from my personal experience with cancer it would be to help other newly-diagnosed cancer patients with some of the anxieties. Others helped me so much." Through her business she has distributed pamphlets reminding women to do examinations and get regular checkups. As well she is donating a portion of the sales on a dozen carnations through the month of October to the breast screening clinic in Goderich "For someone who hardly ever visited a doctor the past year seemed like one appointment after another. But I feel so lucky to have our healthcare system and the service in our area. The supports and medical services for cancer patients have come a long way in the past 10 years." "I really want to encourage people to look after themselves. Even if you don't check yourself, book regular appointments with your doctor." nodes would be checked for cancer. Cancer cells were found in three, and a total of 11 were removed. If it had been more, radiation would have been required. The cancer was determined to be estrogen positive, meaning it was fed by the estrogen that Taylor's body was producing. Thus she is treated with tamoxofin, which is the hormone therapy she will be on for the next five years. The monthly chemo therapy treatments would begin in November and last six months. "I wanted to to wait until after our busy Christmas season, but the specialist in London said the sooner the better. I was, however, able to have many of my treatments don at Wingham, which is a branch of the London Cancer Clinic. The nurses and Get a flu shot! Protect yourself and those around you Attend one of the following community clinics to get your free flu shot. Wingham & District Hospital, 270 Carling Terrace, Wingham Tuesday October 26 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM -Wednesday °Glebe( 27 from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Thursday October 28 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion, 123 Main Street South, Sealorth Thursday November 4 from 4 -00 to 7:00 PM Thursday November 18 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 140, 95 Kirk Street, Clinton Tuesday November 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesday November 16 born 4:00 to 7:00 PM Grey Central Public School, 84925 Ethel Line, Ethel Thursday November 9 from 3:30 to 7:00 PM Remember to wear short sleeves. For more information contact the Huron County Health Unit. Tel: 482-3416 or 1-877-837-6143 Website: www.huroncounty.ca/healthunit Beat the Bug - Protect Yourself and Those Around You!