Rethink Breast Cancer

Furniture, old books and magazines, clothes I’ve had since high school, unfinished art projects, stacks of old papers and research reports that I tell myself I’ll eventually read. It was with this in mind that on one snowy afternoon in early January, I tucked myself in bed and started watching Marie Kondo and her life-changing magic of tidying up. It’s a physical reaction in your body, a feeling that Kondo describes on her show by pointing one finger into the air, kicking the opposing foot off the ground, and chiming, But ultimately what I learned is that beyond Marie Kondo’s practical approach, her message to us is to simply have more appreciation and be mindful of the things, material and otherwise, that support our daily life.

I will always have five siblings and that is why this year being the first National Sibling Day without Cathy I will celebrate my highly coveted role as a baby sister and how my siblings influence has carved me into the person I am today. Most of all, I am going to try to surround my siblings with the remaining pieces of my heart because although we all grieve in our own ways, we share the same pain from the loss of our big sister. While navigating life after Triple Negative Breast Cancer treatment, Laura found purpose through supporting those diagnosed with cancer as well as those who like herself carry a genetic mutation that predisposes them to developing cancer. Laura currently volunteers for the Canadian Cancer Society as a Peer to Peer support facilitator and Co Run Director for the Blue Mountain/Collingwood CIBC Run for the Cure.

On June 11th, 2018 I ran my first 5km post-cancer treatment, still with very little hair and lots of extra steroid weight, but with my amazing and supportive brother, decked out in a cute little pink tutu. I was determined to run this race no matter how slow (let’s just say it was my slowest 5K ever), but the feeling when I crossed the finish line and gave my brother a hug was not like any other race I had ever run. So this year I am signed up for my third Divas 5km race and I am feeling better and stronger than I have felt in a long time. a seasoned marathoner or you’ll be walking the 5km, what really matters is that you’re part of a community coming together to change the lives of those affected by breast cancer.⁣ Use code RETHINK for $10 off!

Sometimes you need surgery and chemo and radiation and hormone blockers to hopefully get every last cell, prevent recurrence, and make it to 30 like you always assumed you would. Whether you are newly diagnosed and doing some research or your best friend is about to undergo a mastectomy surgery, here are the five items that helped me far more than I expected: I was gifted a robe by a dear friend right before surgery. Although I had full use of my left arm, I still didn’t feel like I could get all the face wash off my face. The point is, the rock is not a source of strength, but it does remind me that my strength on the mountain was a compilation of my own, my friend’s, and mostly my God’s.