November 23 2010. That was the day I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. FigNewton the III. Time stopped for me that day. Looking back, I don't remember much from that day. It was a blur. I remember the ER doctor telling me it was likely malignant. And I couldn't breathe.
I guess this really all started in Amsterdam. I had just completed my Masters in Physiology and as a graduation present to myself I went on a 5 weeks trip to Europe. 13 countries in 28 days. A-MAZING!! It was our last night on tour and all 41 of us were going out for one last night on the town. And that's pretty much the last thing I remember because I had a seizure on the way to the bar. I definitely freaked everyone out. So my last night in Amsterdam was spent in the hospital. They told me it was likely epilepsy or exhaustion, and that I should get checked out when I got home. I initially thought it was nothing. And then I had another seizure on Nov 23rd. Luckily my younger brother was home that day, and he drove me to the hospital. After some blood work, a neurological exam, and medical history (I also have Ulcerative Colitis), they did a CT. There were abnormalities in my CT, and so I was sent for a MRI. I am wicked claustrophobic. Bottomline, I hate, hate, hate, hate MRIs. I've learned my lesson and I take a sedative before my scans. When they showed me the scan, I could see this little ball in my left frontal lobe. Not good. A brain tumour. A what? Are they talking to me?? It was like a bad dream. After I found out, I cried. I couldn't believe this was happening to me.
I had a consult with my surgeon the very next day, and I was scheduled for surgery on Nov. 26 2010. Hold the phone. Brain surgery?? Whoa, whoa, whoa. There wasn't a lot of time to twiddle my thumbs, and I guess that's a good thing. My surgery was under two hours and they were able to remove the tumour entirely. Audios FigNewton the III, you SOB. I felt like a million bucks after surgery and so it was back to life as normal.
A few days later, I met with my oncology team at Princess Margaret Hospital. Grade 3 Oliogdendroglioma. I'm 25 and I have brain cancer. I'm 25 and I have brain cancer. Did I miss something here? But then, in the days following, something changed. I felt differently about my diagnoses. And I decided from that point on that I was going to be positive. I looked at my diagnosis as a challenge. Just something else I have to do. A boxing match. Failure not an option. Yes, I'm a 25 year old cancer patient, but let me tell you something cancer, you picked the wrong chick. Don't get me wrong, I have moments where I feel overwhelmed and the weight is too much. But I refuse to be a statistic. And I refuse to let this define me. There a lot of things out of my control, but I'm making a conscious effort to control the things I can, whether it be diet and regular bonding time with the treadmill.
So here goes my journey with cancer. Round 1. And the aftermath that follows.
