Healing, Community, and the Uncertainty of Cancer

August 28, 2026

Right before my breast cancer diagnosis, I was in probably the best shape of my life. I couldn’t believe this happened. The people around me were shocked too. They were like, “Are you kidding me? You’re one of the healthiest people I know. How did this happen to you?” Who knows? We take all these steps to lead a healthy life, but there’s no rhyme or reason when it comes to cancer. Cancer is very mysterious. It lives within us. 

I was hoping I’d only need surgery, but the tumour was larger than expected, and I ended up needing chemo too. I thought it was going to cause me a lot of harm. I was devastated and wished there was a better way. But I put all my trust in the doctors to do what was right for me, and I’m glad I did. I never googled anything because I didn’t want to find wrong information online, and I politely said “thanks but no thanks” to all the well-meaning people offering me unsolicited advice. I didn’t want fear-mongering, I didn’t want to hear about alternative treatments or the dangers of X-rays. I trusted my health care team and both the surgery and chemo went better than I could have ever dreamed.

I’ve been an elementary school teacher for 25 years, so I’m used to having a lot of structure in my life. I live by the bell. Being stuck at home while I was undergoing chemotherapy, with nowhere to be, was one of the hardest parts.

Having a good mindset and a routine – that sense of structure – really helped. I stayed positive, I kept moving forward. Family support and community connection were also huge parts of my healing. When my hair started falling out, one of my teenage sons shaved both my head and his own. We were both fully bald. That felt good, to do it together. My other son eventually shaved his, too. He had shoulder-length, wavy, surfer-style blonde hair, and off it all went. It was a big deal for him, and it felt monumental. He joined our little cancer solidarity group– and it meant the world to me. My caregiver circle also included Carly, who I used to mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She came all the way from England to support and advocate for me. My sister Marty and my close friend Janet also offered help and companionship.

The Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) workshop was part of my healing, too. There’s something about this “look” of cancer that felt impossible to escape. I could get away with my fake hair and a hat, but without eyebrows or eyelashes I just didn’t feel like myself, and my pale skin wasn’t helping either. It was making me avoid social interactions. I felt that people were uncomfortable around me – they didn’t know where to look or what to say. I signed up for LGFB thinking I’d learn how to paint on eyebrows. And I never quite mastered the eyebrows, but that workshop gave me such a positive vibe, with a long-lasting impact. All the women were laughing and sharing and listening. It was uplifting.

After my treatments, I also received support through a variety of programs. In addition to LGFB, I participated in expressive art, yoga, and mindfulness programs. Every form of support helped me in ways that I can’t explain.

This season of life won’t last forever. Soon my hair will grow back, I’ll be in the classroom again, and I’ll feel like myself. I’m still keeping myself busy at home – watching classic movies, rearranging my furniture, doing puzzles, making bone broth. I’m staying active – kayaking, biking, gardening, and participating in a 12-week fitness study for cancer patients through the University of Calgary. I’m waiting for a sense of normalcy to resume. And I’m getting to know the new me. I’m way more relaxed now and more accepting of what the world presents us with. I’ve come to understand that there is learning and growth in every experience, even if it can be hard to recognize at the beginning.