Every day, 70 Canadians will hear the words"you have breast cancer." In April 2019, I was one of them, diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Then in September 2022, I received the news that every cancer survivor dreads.The breast cancer had returned but to the lung this time making it stage 4. Devastating, of course, it was treatable but no longer curable. But thanks to research at least it was treatable and there was hope that I could live with it for a while in the hopes that this lifesaving research will someday save me.  As I am writing this 2 years later, thankful to have survived chemo again and thankful that I am still here. I am thankful for the clinical trial I am a part of and hopeful that I am receiving a drug that can help minimize the odds of it moving to my brain. I am thankful that for now at least I am stable. My prognosis is no better...yet...that is why I need help, a cure is not impossible, I am going to continue to cling to that hope. I just have to outlive the cure.

I would be lying if I didn’t admit that this year has been unusual for me to say the least. If anything it has taught me a lot about self care and so in keeping with this new theme I am going to throw some self care my way and selfishly walk for myself. So that I can have hope of watching my kids finish growing up, graduate, get married and maybe just maybe someday even meet my grandkids. I walk because four years ago I received life saving treatment that allowed me to walk a little bit longer and for that I am eternally grateful. I walk so that someday a mom won't have to try to figure out how to explain to her children that she is plagued with this illness and so that her kids won't have to live through this fear and uncertainty that my kids have experienced for years. I walk for all the mom's out there who have shared in this journey and now live in fear that they may have passed on the genes to their kids. I walk so that our kids will have an even better outcome. I walk in thanks for the unimaginable support I have received from friends, family and colleagues who helped me get through one of the hardest times in my life and who have never wavered in their support. I walk in thanks for to all of the oncology staff who are some of the most caring and compassionate people I have ever met. I am walking in honour of all of these incredible people and I need your support!

Every year I dedicate the run to people who are in my thoughts and prayers. This year in particular to the new friends I have made through the regional cancer centre programs. You will all be on my mind on Sunday.   

Fun facts:

The nickname T.N.T. was given to me by my former work colleagues (aka science geeks). I have always been a worrier so I always assumed my superhero name should be Gastro Girl but when I had to have Titanium clips implanted in both breasts I figured it was time for an upgrade. So I asked my friends in the science department for some suggestions. There were many great contenders, Captain Jugs, Brazilla etc. But they quickly settled on T.N.T. I agreed as I didn't expect my new superhero nickname to come with a song and if it was good enough for AC/DC it was good enough for me.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Michèle (aka T.N.T.)