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THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010 12 357 Queen St. (Hwy 7) Acton, ON 519-853-0200 info@achillesmazda.ca In Memory of Louise Help find the cure Achilles 9 Mill St. East Acton, Ontario L7J 2M3 519-853-8859 www.bluespringsspa.com Cancer can be beaten, Please give generously Cancer can be beaten 130 Mill Street East, #103, Acton (519) 853-0079 By Frances Niblock Cancer can be beaten is not just a smart market- ing slogan; it is reality for many, thanks to research into life saving treat- ments. During Aprils Cancer Month several local can- cer survivors will share their stories in a public celebration of life. This week, Ann Adema shares her triumph over breast cancer. Q: How and when did your battle with cancer begin? A: In July of 2002, I found a breast lump. We were doing some deep breathing that day - it was a shock. It didnt hurt, but it didnt feel right. I was kind of lucky because I work at the doctors of- fice, so I saw a surgeon the next week and he did a biopsy and told me it was cancer. Q: Being in the medical profession, was that com- forting or was it scarier because you knew more than most people? A: I think it made it faster to get surgery, but that was it. I think I was Cancer survivor discusses her triumphs - Cancer can be beaten numb and the surgery was so fast - you sort of dont understand it until down the road, until your brain gets up. Youre kind of go- ing through it. I didnt feel bad about it. I didnt like losing a breast, but I didnt need it anymore. Q: How did you cope? A: What I thought was good about it - it wasnt an organ. Losing my hair was worse than losing my breast. Thats what I didnt like I thought that I looked ill. I knew I had to take time off and I thought that Id read and watch TV, but I couldnt concentrate and I think that was from the chemo. But then we got a puppy and I wasnt bored any more because the dog had to go for walks. A: Many say that the chemotherapy is worse than the cancer. How was it for you? A: I had to have four sessions. For the first one, I was like bring it on but then it was oh no and then the last one I didnt want to have because I found the fatigue was cumulative, but then at least it was done. Q: What kind of follow up did you need? A: (Sheepish and hesti- tant.) Im supposed to get checked every year, but again, because I work at the doctors, if I had a concern I would just ask somebody. So I wasnt very compliant as being a cancer patient. Isnt that awful? Q: Have you been able to put cancer behind you? A: I dont worry about it and the best part of it, of my experience, was the support from the com- munity, family and friends I learned what is import- ant. Like a breast is not and relationships are. Q: Where did you get your support? I understand that you are part of a local breast cancer group. A: I did have a little issue. I wanted to talk to someone and when on- line all I could find was a B.C. support group. I did call a girl that had had breast cancer, so she came over thats how our little group started. We would go out to dinner once a month and we wouldnt talk about cancer so much, but talked about Acton and solved all the problems. Q: Are there any lin- gering issues following your successful treat- ment? A: The fatigue is an issue. It seems like a waste of health care money if its still a long-term re- sult from the chemo. No one says that memory and fatigue is going to be long-term issues. We laugh about the memory thing - there is something called chemo brain or chemo fog. Everybody has it - sometimes you cant find the right word or be mid-sentence and stop and wonder what youre talk- ing about. Q: Looking back, did you play an active role in deciding your treatment options? A: I dont remember. As a layperson, how do you make an educated decision about whether to have chemo or whether to have radiation? You cant. I find that the people who do the best are the people who do what their doc- tor tells them (to do.) The bottom line is you have to trust the doctor and theyre not perfect? Q: Was that lack of con- trol hard to deal with? A: I wanted to go off one drug and what she (the doctor) did by allowing me to go off that stuff was give me control. I didnt have that at the beginning. The way I can describe it is that all of a sudden someone plucks you out of your life and theres nothing familiar and you have no control. Q: What changes did cancer bring to your life? A: I dont dwell on it. I appreciate the life les- sons learned from it. Now, I have this thing that its more fun to plant a garden than to go to work. I enjoy nature more and I have my faith life too and thats a comfort. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger. Q: Do you have any ad- vice for someone with a new diagnosis or in treat- ment? A: Stuff isnt import- ant. Seek out support - they can call me and Ill put them in touch with the rest of us who have survived. It makes a big difference if you can talk to someone who has been through it and is walking, talking and working. Ann Adema Together we can find a cure. Please Give Generously when a canvasser comes to your home