living with breast cancer - our personal journey presentation for wiisokotaadwin

Living with Breast Cancer -

Our Personal Journey

Presentation for

WIISOKOTAADWIN2nd Annual Health Conference

"Balancing mental, emotional, physical & spiritual health"Kenora, Ontario

February 15, 2005

At my 50th birthday party – January 31, 2005

“living with breast cancer”

Gabeanok – West Wind Woman

Obishikokaang – Lac Seul First Nation

Born on my father’s trap line

Spoke Ojibway

“living with breast cancer”Residential School Experience – 1960 - 1973

Pelican Falls – • started at five years old• attended for 6 years

Shingwauk – • started at 11 years old for 1 year• my mother died while I was here

Cecilia Jeffery – • started at twelve years old• completed high school in Kenora

“living with breast cancer”Family Gatherings

Christmas 2004 in my home with some of my brothers and sisters

Some of our kids and their kids,

Christmas 2004

My brother and sisters, 1966 (the last summer with my mother)


My Home•Living in Sioux Lookout with my husband, Brian•Raised 4 children, ages 27 to 17•2 grandchildren, Alliah-6 and Jordan-2


My Family

My husband after one of his wilderness canoe trips

(using Jesse Fiddler’s version of the story)

My kids (Stefanie, Clayton, Leilani, Serena) in summer 2004

My grandkids (Jordan, Alliah, Jaylynn) summer 2004

Kokum, Alliah (Lac Seul powwow) summer 2004

“living with breast cancer”My Grandkids


http://knet.ca/documents/Resiliency-Workbook.pdfhttp://piiwaseya.knet.ca

http://raisingthechildren.knet.ca

My WorkBii Waasaya

Residential School Healing Project


My Awareness about this disease

My involvement in fundraising


My Personal Awareness of a problem

• 10 years ago my family physician sent me for a mammogram in Kenora due to a suspected lump in my breast

• at that time, my family went through lots of different feelings but the tests proved to be negative

• Experienced a healing dream about colours and the healing ceremony

• in June 2002, I had an operation to remove fibroids

• I continued to work on physical fitness, diet and healthy lifestyle

“living with breast cancer”My first sense of a problem

- In the early spring (2004) I felt something might be wrong

- I felt twinges and shooting pain sensations coming from my left breast

- I put it off dealing with these feelings because it seemed so infrequent and I was hoping that it would just go away

- I was very busy with work and my family resulting in me hesitating to get it looked into

- Finally made appointment in June when these experiences would not simply “go away”


- I made an appointment for a physical examination in early June and got to see the doctor in late June

- I received a referral for mammogram and ultrasound that had to done in Dryden where the nearest unit was located

- There was little concern at this point because my breast felt normal, with a possible lump

- there was discussions around menopause and my physical condition which seems reasonable to the physician

My first appointment with my family physician (June 2004)


• mammogram on July 28/04• Mammography is an imaging technique that uses X-rays to

provide a picture of the internal structure of the breast. The X-rays can show abnormal growths or changes in breast tissue before they can be found by any other method, including breast self-examination.

• ultrasound on Aug 4/04• Usually completed at the same time but for some reason

this could not be done this time so we took two half days off work to travel to Dryden for these tests because there is no mammogram machine in Sioux Lookout

My mammogram and ultrasound


- Family physician calls and requests an appointment to discuss results of mammogram and ultrasound

- At the Aug 10/04 appointment my family physician informs me I require a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation

- Doctor’s advice is very frightening and that evening I broke down while washing the dishes

- After telling my family what was said, I asked everyone to leave me alone so we each could sort through our feelings

- My family physician gave me a referral to see surgeon about the lump she felt required this treatment

My follow up appointment


He thought an non-intrusive biopsy would be adequate

My first appointment with the surgeon

Normal breast with non–invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in an enlarged cross–section of the duct.

Breast profile:A - ducts B - lobulesC - dilated section of duct to hold milk D – nippleE - fat F - pectoralis major muscleG - chest wall/rib cage

Enlargement:A - normal duct cells B - ductal cancer cellsC - basement membrane D - lumen (center of duct)


• First Biopsy - Aug 30/04 - small needle aspiration• Fine needle aspiration (FNA): Procedure that removes a

sample of fluid and/or cells from a breast lump by means of a fine needle and syringe.

My biopsies

• Call from the surgeon indicated that the first biopsy was inconclusive and a second larger sample would be required

• Second Biopsy - Sept 28/04 - Core Needle biopsy

• The lump and discomfort became much more sensitive after the second biopsy


- Saturday October 30, 2004 – the Sioux Lookout surgeon called our home and set up the appointment for Saturday morning to discuss the biopsy results

- The test results have come back positive, meaning a decision had to be made concerning whether to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy

- Questions were asked and information provided concerning the choices and the different options available, in particular the option of going to Thunder Bay to access the new sentinel lymph node dissection

- Arrangements to see the specialist in Thunder Bay were made

MY NEWS from the surgeon


- Sharing the news about the results of the tests was left up to my husband who began writing to family and friends about our experience

- Everyone began writing to me and sharing stories and providing encouragement as well as their feelings about the importance for me to win this battle

- Building a support system with my friends and family became an important part of trying to find out as much as possible about breast cancer

- I felt fortunate to have access to both information and the support I needed to get through this experience

My family’s and friends’ reaction

“living with breast cancer”My family’s reaction to this news

I was stunned when I first heard, then I panicked. On the drive home, I cried all the way, I was so scared! … Throughout this whole experience, I've realized how important she is to our family. She is our glue of the family and she lives in the centre of our hearts. …

I did not want to cry in front of my mom, because I did not want her to worry about me. … I knew that we all had to stay positive. I know that my mom is a strong woman who could overcome this. My mother has taught me everything that I know. I feel as though she has prepared me for my life ahead.

I was just scared and the thought of it hurt me just as much as it scared me. Then everything seemed to happen so fast. … I was just trying to be as brave as you are and as strong as you. … I know if we believe it's going to work I know it will work. … I know everything is going to be okay.

“living with breast cancer”My family’s reaction to this news

I have gone through the full range of emotions during these trying times. As a son, father, brother, I would give my life fighting for my family but this has been something that I cannot fight for you. This is but one of the feelings that I have had. … The family that you have created for us all is the most important thing of all to me. I see myself as being half of you and am proud to carry on all the things that you have to teach us. …I have looked within myself to pray for you. Praying is something that I do not do enough but it has led me to look more closely for that balance in life that we all need.


- learning about vitamins, hypnotherapy- earth medicine- ceremonies - healing songs, drumming- Reiki treatment began

My alternative therapy

-Exercising-Participating in activities-Being outdoors-Taking care of myself


November 16, 2004 – the surgeon explained the process and provided the available choices

My visit to cancer specialist in Thunder Bay

Woman with modified radical mastectomy

A - pink highlighted area indicates tissue removed at mastectomy

B - axillary lymph nodes: levels IC - axillary lymph nodes: levels IID - axillary lymph nodes: levels III


- Preparations to take the time off work and plan everything in preparation for the surgery was very challenging

- On the day of departure, I was hesitating and feeling very anxious …

- The women who had participated in various canoe-a-thons over the years organized a surprise PORTAGE as a means of support to help me on my journey

Traveling to Thunder Bay


- Surgeon’s office made the arrangements to have all the preparatory work done the two days before the surgery

- November 29 -ultrasound, chest x-ray, injection, bone scan to provide the baseline information for my condition

- November 30, 2004 - appointment at Cancer Clinic to learn about the support services available

- December 1, 2004 – Surgery to complete the mastectomy and Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection

The surgery


-Home care nurse

-Drain pump removal

-Research about breast cancer including:

-friends and family suggestions

-Web sites

-Support

-Books

-Healthy lifestyle (exercises and continuing my alternative therapies)

My recovery and after care


- Arranged for appointment with family physician to get the results from the sentinel node dissection tests

- Feeling optimistic because the wound was healing well and I was feeling stronger

- December 17, 2004 – family physician was not available so a medical intern looked at the wound and went to see if the test results were available

- a second physician came in and broke the news that the majority of sentinel nodes tested showed positive

- I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach and collapsed

My follow up appointment


- The local physician made the necessary arrangements for us to travel to Thunder Bay to meet with the cancer specialist at the Cancer Centre

- There was the sense of urgency from both the local physician and the oncologist that I met with on December 20

- The recommendation was to start chemotherapy as soon as possible and then afterward a six month treatment schedule to return to Thunder Bay for 3 weeks of radiation

- All there recommendations and treatments are based on statistics for treatments of breast cancer

My appointment with the oncologist


December 27, 2004 – After meeting with the local chemotherapy nurse in Sioux Lookout to plan for the start of that treatment, I made the journey to visit my elders to seek direction from them about what had been going on in my life.

My visit with traditional healers


-Surprise Sunday evening telephone call from the oncologist concerning my decision not to do the chemotherapy and radiation treatments

-January 10, 2005 - follow up meeting with my family physician to discuss my decision, the consequences and possible hormone treatment

-Received the Staging of breast cancer information from physician

-Tamoxifen: blocks estrogen - a hormone necessary for the growth of some breast cancers

My consults with the medical system

Estrogen Receptors are very specialized protein molecules that reside within

many cells of your body.


-Traditional medicine routine

-Curves (early birthday present)

-Diet and exercise

-Traditional medicine

-Tamoxifin

-Vitamins

-Prayer and meditation

My ongoing self care


- Looking back over these past experiences that happened so quickly in my life is now helping me to be more accepting of what will happen in the future

- Today I am grateful to be here to share my story with each of you because in preparing this material, I have been able to once again relive an important part of my life

- As a woman, a mother, a grandmother, I understand the importance of caring for our bodies, as we care for our children and our children’s children

- I look forward to a healthy future, living each day with the support from my family, my friends and my work

Feeling thankful


Contact Information

Go out into the world today and love the peopleyou meet. Let your presence light new light in

the hearts of people. - Mother Teresa

Lorraine KennyBii Waasaya Healing Project Worker

Lac Seul First Nationtel: 807-582-3503 ext 243

fax: 807-582-3449E-mail: [email protected]

web site: www.raisingthechildren.knet.ca

mailto:[email protected]




http://www.raisingthechildren.knet.ca/





living with breast cancer - our personal journey presentation for wiisokotaadwin

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