Diagnosis & first steps
How was the cancer found?
One month before my diagnos I was having headaches and feeling very fatigue. And I thought it was because of my full-time job and Mom life that I was not sleeping well because my two children would not sleep through the night so I would have to sleep train them then it started to get worse. I started losing a lot of weight unintentionally the weekend that I got diagnosed. I felt my brain pulsing red pinpoints on my body, bruises all over my legs and arm, lightheaded, bad headaches, pale, looking the day of my diagnose. I couldn’t wake up and just slept all day until my husband told me to go to walk-in clinic then went to ER. Took my blood test and it showed that I had 160,000 white blood count when normal is 10,000 the ER doctor told us my husband and I that I had leukemia.
What went through your mind when you were told?
I felt very scared me and my husband cried a lot. We were both very shocked with the news and I had no idea what was gonna come next, but I know that it would be a very long journey.
What happened in the days right after the diagnosis?
After I got diagnosed, they had to admit me at the hospital overnight and I was very confused how this whole Cancer worked and I thought maybe I could go home recollect my mind and prepare my body, but it was so bad that I had to pee at the hospital for one month to be treated right away before it affect my organs. I got transferred to sunnybrook Hospital to do a bunch of testing get my Hickman line and get started with the chemo right away.
How did you handle waiting for answers?
I didn’t have to wait long for the answers, but it was all within a day
Telling people
How did you tell your family and closest friends?
For my parents, they were watching the kids while we were at the hospital and my husband had to go home and tell my mom and dad in person it was devastating news and I have the video that I have for myself from there. We did a lot of video chat with people close to us along with sending messages to our close friends and family.
If you have kids, how did you explain it to them?
We had told the kids that mommy will be at the hospital for a while then we bought Cancer books to explain what is Cancer about and why mommy is at the hospital for so long and we explained that it was not their fault and they didn’t cause it to happen and we had to explain that being sick is not like the normal cold or flu this is different
How did you tell your employer or coworkers?
I had to send a text to my boss and asked him to do a video chat and explain to him what was going on then he eventually told my team they were so good on taking my job over
How did you handle people's reactions?
No one has the right word to say when you hear sudden news and the word Cancer. I never took anything offended because there is never the right word to say and it is a tough conversation to have.
What did you wish people had said, or not said?
I am the type of person that can handle worse well because no one has the right words to say, and we shouldn’t be offended with the words that they say because they are also learning too
Treatment & your care team
How did you choose your hospital or care team?
Initially, we wanted to go to Princess Margaret Hospital, but there were no beds left so then I had to go to sunnybrook Hospital. And they only had one bed left for me so it is clear that any new patient that are diagnosed with cancer. There is no beds available so there is more cancer of patient than we know
What was the hardest part of treatment?
The chemo was really difficult because of the side effects and I’m not being able to eat along with nausea. And of course, all the sudden my hair was shedding and I have to shave my whole hair and it became completely bald so my physical image has completely changed. I looked pale, not looking great. I lost 20 pounds.
Side effects & your body
Which side effects did you have?
How did you manage nausea?
They gave me anti-nausea IV and oral medication
How did you handle taste and appetite changes?
I had to drink, soups, smoothies, boost, or ensure
How did you handle hair loss?
The doctor said I will be losing my hair and recommended to shave or cut it short. I had long hair so I end up cutting short. Once the hair shedding came, it was devastating and it felt so real so I decided to shave my hair. Body image and physical image matters to me a lot so it was hard.