Help Nicole raise money

Hi there, I am running a 5k this October as part of the Gilda's Toronto community to raise funds for the incredible programs, support and life changing work they do for people living with cancer and those who are caring for those with cancer!

On October 1st, 2024, I had a follow up appointment after several weeks of diagnostics and imaging and was diagnosed with breast cancer. In March 2024, I felt a small lump and brought it to the attention of my family doctor during an annual physical exam. She thankfully sent me for ultrasounds and after the second round in July 2024, something about it looked concerning so I was sent to my local hospital for an assessment with their oncology team which entailed a physical exam, a mammogram, MRI and finally a biopsy. I recall asking the doctor after he finished with the biopsy, can I still play soccer and he said, “yes continue to do these things”! Despite everything going on, I wanted to try to live my life as usual! Following the biopsy, I was tasked with waiting a few weeks before receiving the results. Not a great thing to have had to wait for, but I made the most of that time and tried really hard not to worry. I contacted a therapist, regardless of the outcome, just to have an appointment ready to talk to someone about this. I knew that I would need that support if it was not the outcome I hoped for. 

I had to have surgery to remove the tumour in November 2024 where a wonderful team performed a lumpectomy. I will never forget what one of the surgeons said. Just before I was put under anesthetic, she said “We are going to take good care of you”. That was all I needed to hear. After about 90 minutes, I was in recovery and woke up with quite a bit of pain, but the nurses remedied that immediately. I went home about 3 hours later and had a week off from work to recover. Surgery went smoothly, healing went well and I recovered well thankfully. In December I met with the oncologist for a follow-up and discussed treatment options and radiation was the next course of action. I started radiation at Princess Margaret at the end of January 2025 for a month. That was an exhausting month as radiation leaves you feeling very fatigued on top of going to the hospital daily for 4 weeks. They were an incredible team at Princess Margaret, from the radiation oncologist to the radiation technicians - I was in very good, kind, gentle and caring hands! I am so grateful and will always be indebted to the incredible people in my life who were there for me - offered to help, got me out on walks and just out of the house, made food and were the support network I needed and appreciated very much so thank you to all of you! It has been a whirlwind of a year, but I am feeling really good and hopeful, continuing my animal rights work and volunteering with the pups, being as best a guardian I can be for Bud and Mynx and doing my best to live life the way I always have with curiosity, adventure, love, smiles and laughter as much as possible (humour really got me through this journey so far) and of course my fair share of tears as it has been challenging, terrifying thinking about death and life simply being forever altered. It has moved me to not take things so seriously because this has been a second reminder in my life that life is so fragile, it is precious and nothing is worth compromising your health and well being or your happiness and joy. 

Gilda's has quite literally been a rock for me throughout this past year. I learned about it a couple of years back and thought, what a wonderful organization serving those in need, never thinking I would be that person in need. I reached out to them shortly after my diagnosis to ask about their support and programs and became registered as a member after a few intake calls and paperwork - the process was very smooth and simple! I spent 8 weeks in an enriching and meaningful support group for young women, doing yoga on Wednesdays and zumba on Thursday nights, took part in a 6 week writing workshop group, and watched plant-based nutrition demonstrations! I continue to take part in Gilda's various programming and cannot speak highly enough of the quality of the programs and of course the beautiful humans who lead, guide and support us along the way! Gilda's has been instrumental in this journey and I know it will be for years to come! 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

With love and gratitude,

Nicole 💜