Welcome to AuntieSusu.ca

Having a blog website has been in the back of my mind for a while now, but I never had a voice. Something fun or clever to say, something that has meaning, or something that would add value to make a difference.

I guess until now... this site may not tick all the boxes above, but it will provide an outlet for my thoughts and feelings. Welcome... I'm Susan. This is the story of my personal journey with cancer. Family and friends may have heard me say - cancer will never get me because heart and stroke run in my family.

This journey started before I even became aware that I was on a journey, and it has become a turning point in my health and my life. Here we go... as many women my age going into the menopause phase of life, I was looking for symptoms I thought were associated with the change. Although I wasn't experiencing the textbook symptoms, I was having some other symptoms I thought were related that couldn't be overlooked any longer. The time had come to seek medical advice. Thanks to the Covid19 pandemic having anything to do with medical services was pretty much not happening. The news was constantly saying stay home, stay safe. Oh OK then... I waited longer than I should have to seek out medical services... I couldn't wait any longer.

The emerg doctor listened as I explained my symptoms and after the medical exam, he would send me for an ultrasound. That was the moment it became serious. July 28, 2020 becomes the turning point and the beginning of my journey. The ultrasound uncovered a 6 cm mass next to my uterus. It also triggered heavy bleeding that kept me at emerg for several hours that afternoon. I was ready to clean up and go back to work. How silly girl my thoughts were that anything would be normal from this point.

A series of tests would come fast and furious thanks to the emerg doctor getting the ball rolling... the next day I was scheduled for an MRI, following week appointments were made for me to see two oncologist specialists, the biopsy, my first blood transfusion, the CT scan, the bone scan, blood tests to check hemoglobin and cancer... I was in 5 hospitals in two weeks.

NO I DON'T HAVE ANY COVID19 SYMPTOMS, that is not my problem. I am being told this mass is cancer, that is what the specialists are calling it, is that just a label? What exactly is cancer, when exactly does it become cancer and not just a mass, how do you know that it is cancer?? Then a realization sets in... as I explain to others I have a mass and they say it is cancer, then the narrative starts to change to "I have cancer, and I am waiting on a treatment plan to fight cancer." I was still not fearful.

Countless people told me it doesn't usually happen this fast that a person gets through testing to the diagnosis. I have been blessed that the emerg doctor took immediate action, and all those who have come on board to get a treatment plan specific to me. In three days, I go for the treatment plan... surgery to remove the mass and have a total hysterectomy. Immediate menopause. Once the mass has been analyzed, I will be told what stage of cancer I have. Will I need radiation and/or chemo? Let's just get through the surgery first. Baby steps through the process of my treatment plan.