My Cancer Story

Only the hint of a tiny scar remains, but 10 years ago today, I was lying on an operating table having 3/4 of my thyroid gland removed, along with a large Papillary Carcinoma (a type of malignant thyroid tumour).

My cancer story is one I am thankful for - I will elaborate further on that and I no way mean to offend anyone. I survived. I have a supportive, optimistic family. I never suffered and I my body systems are, to this day, working well, including my 1/4 lobe of thyroid gland that was left. Here I am, 10 years later, a new mom, fitness competitor and cancer-free - with no more likelihood of it returning than the average person. I have a beautiful, healthy baby boy, a wonderful, supportive fiancé and a passion for life. There is nothing more humbling than having your health questioned, to then be told, "you will be OK". Not just O.K., but with a better outlook and the drive to be a better person each day. My family. Optimistic, easy-going and supportive. Though they may have been scared for me at one point, my parents never led on that this was anything other than an obstacle life put in front of me to overcome. My sister and I even made light of it, like we do most things, and named my tumour "Richard". So, cancer became, "getting rid of Richard" - like it was an annoying boyfriend. This still makes me laugh. I was never felt "sick". I wouldn't have known I had cancer if I hadn't seen the tumour growing beneath the skin on my neck - it looked like I had a large atoms apple. **Please Note: I caught mine early. This is why it is so important to know your body and perform self-scans regularly. I mean it - stop reading this (I won't be offended) and look everywhere. Feel everything - neck, skin, breasts, open your mouth, under your tongue, all the nooks and crannies. If you are unsure - GET. IT. CHECKED. With things like cancer, early detection is often what saves your life. At the time of my diagnosis, I was offered to have my entire thyroid gland removed and radiation to ensure the tumour wouldn't come back. This would have meant a life of hormone supplementation and a list of possible side effects from treatment. We (my doctor, myself and my family) decided that partial removal (hemithyroidectomy) and close monitoring would be the best and safest path for me. It has been. Cancer Survivor. On the day of my surgery I was relieved and ready to move on, with a clean slate. At the time, I had no idea just how much it would impact my future - the first day of a journey to life-long health. Being a survivor means I was given a gift, a gift not to be wasted or taken for granted. To say I am thankful for my cancer story means that, I was reminded how my life is not something to go about mindlessly. For a brief moment in time, I got to be truly scared for my life. I got to want my life so badly at the thought of loosing it and then had it handed back to me unscathed. Because of this experience, I now get to live everyday with the gut-wrenching knowledge of how much it means to be alive and healthy - I am thankful for that. For every year that passes, scar fading, putting me further and further away from being someone with cancer, I get to be someone who will do everything possible to never be her again. Being a survivor has become a responsibility to live life with passion in the name of those who are still fighting or who were not as fortunate as I have been. This is why my recent change to a plant based life means so much more to me than just a new diet. Why being able to get on stage and compete in fitness within the last decade is more than just a day of glitz for me. These are milestones in my journey through life as a healthy woman. Though having a cancerous tumour was not a positive thing, in the big picture, having a cancer forced me to learn these lessons before they became things I wished I had known earlier - before it was too late. In short, I am thankful that cancer came into my life and left me with the life that I have. So many people are affect in some way by cancer. Some of the strongest people I know, and most likely that you know, have battled, won, lost, or watched loved ones fight - it is never easy for the people involved. What is easy, is making a conscious effort to invest in your own health and the health of your family. Making the right choices for you and the people you love, is all in your control. YOU do not need a health scare to push you. YOU just have to consciously care about life - it is truly that simple. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A big shoutout to my dear friend Marie, who is going on her second year breast cancer free and my Aunt Nancy, who is in her first year, breast cancer free. Ladies, you are fighters, survivors, life livers - much love to you! To my friends who have lost loved ones to cancer, a brother, a mother, I am thinking of you today. I have only 1 request, if not for me, for yourself or for someone you love, write ✅ or "checked" in the comment section when you have done a self-scan as a cancer-free cheers to 10 years! ... With a wine glass full of water 😉#thatpreplifetho