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My uncensored life through cancer

  • About
  • Cancer
    • My story
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    • Reconstruction
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    • hormone therapy
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Beauty Classes

Sephora Stands – Brave Beauty Classes 

Click on link to find local beauty classes near you

Look Good Feel Better

Offering workshops to learn hair, makeup and skin care techniques for women during or after treatment.

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Hey! I’m Kim!

9Hey! My name is Kim and I live on Vancouver Island, BC. Shortly after my 34th birthday, I was diagnosed with ER/PR+ Her2- stage 2b breast cancer. I underwent a lumpectomy, followed by 8 rounds of dose dense AC+T chemo, and 28 treatments of radiation. Read more

Recent Posts

  • Back to work – one year later
  • Why I took a break from hormone therapy
  • Scanxiety coming in hot
  • Three years
  • Breast cancer is a lifelong journey, but so are the friendships

Follow me on Instagram @kangell82

When you haven't slept all night but have a video appt with your doctor🤣 #halfdressed . I've been struggling with severe insomnia for years now. Between the anxiety, pain, and other side effects from hormone therapy and treatments, I cannot sleep. Going to bed and getting a restful night's sleep should be something we look forward to. But for me, it only brings on feelings of dread. Will I get to sleep tonight? How many times will I wake up tonight? Will this ever get better? . I've done counselling, trialed through different medications, natural remedies, complementary therapies, you name it, but still no relief. So I asked my doctor to refer me to a sleep specialist. Although I was supposed to be going in person today, it was thankfully rescheduled via Zoom so I didn't have to wait (and could lounge in my Mickey PJs too😂). . After filling out a 16 page questionnaire and going through the basics, there was nothing that specifically pointed to the root of the problem. So in order to rule out whether it's a physical disorder like sleep apnea or a mental health condition like anxiety or depression, I need to head into a sleep clinic and get hooked up for the night to see what my body gets up to when I try to sleep. . With all the clinics being closed though with #covid19, I don't have a date set when I'll get in. But just hoping that this is one step forward in the right direction to get me back to sleepy town again👍
Feeling myself! . Day late but better time than any to #feelitonthefirst . Check for any lumps, bumps, redness, or changes in your breasts and nipples and don't forget to check those lymph nodes too👌 . No matter your age, gender, or ethnicity, it's so important to keep up those self exams - even after breast reconstruction or going flat. Take a few minutes whether you're in the shower or lying in bed today and GET TO KNOW YOUR BODY! . Thank you to my thriver sister @nalieagustin for creating this amazing movement 5 years and empowering people to start taking charge of their health💪
Celebrate good times come on! . Just over here celebrating with a @tiktok dance party🕺🏼Thanks everyone for your messages and support. I'm so happy to be Henry free and still NED! #lifeisgood
No More HENRY!!!. . After a long back and forth relationship with Henry the Hematoma, I'm happy to report that he is gone! Susan the Seroma decided to show up for a hot minute following my surgery, but after getting it poked and drained, I've had no visitors since. Now let's hope it stays that way too🤞. . I was feeling really anxious leading up to my appointment this past Friday. To see the extent of the damage and most importantly to hear the results. Because the lump was deep towards my lower back, the plastic surgeon had to cut almost the entire length of my existing #latflap scar, 4.5 inches worth, to remove the thickly lined sac containing Henry and give him the boot for good. . The question still remained though, how did this all come about?? My surgeon couldn't see any visible signs of where the source was coming from. No micro tears, no blood vessels running to it, no physical damage. But the pathology report showed a large vein inside the mango sized sac with a big blood clot. Almost like its own little system that kept weeping and expanding all these months. . Good news is though, it is benign! No signs of cancer, no concerns, but still no clue really how this all came about🤷‍♀️ So although I earned 🦄 status on this one, I'm hoping it's nothing but onwards and upwards from here! And no more surgeries! #byebyehenry
Stay home. Save lives. . As isolating as it may be having to stay at home and break away from our regular routine, it's so important to do our part in helping to stop the spread of #COVID19 especially to those most at risk: our healthcare staff who are out working on the frontlines, the elderly, those who are living with autoimmune diseases, or with illnesses that have wreaked havoc on their immune systems. Unfortunately, I fall into one of these categories. . I've been self isolating for the last two weeks since my latest surgery and while it has felt incredibly lonely and challenging at times especially given my inability to do the simple things like cook, clean, or drive myself to the grocery store, I'm scared at the thought of getting sick and whether my body would be able to fight it. . Although I don't look sick, I am immunocompromised from the treatments I've had to go through for breast cancer and beg those of you who are continuing to go about your day and remain blissfully ignorant, to really think about those around you. There are some who will be able to fight this with little to no symptoms present but for others who you may be in direct or indirect contact with, it could mean life or death. . Stay home. Get caught up on a show you've been meaning to watch or book you've been meaning to read. Set up a Facetime or Zoom meetup with family or friends to feel connected with one another. Plan out meals and have one designated person do a grocery run once a week. . We are faced with a lot of fear and uncertainty right now but what we do have control of is our own actions to help tackle this pandemic. #stayhome . . Nominating my friends @rdaoust @megmounce @thedailylindsey @brittchurchill to do the same. Post on social and use the hashtag #StayHomeForCancer to urge everyone around us to keep the most vulnerable in our communities safe.
Drain free! . I went to my home care appt on Friday hoping to get this thing out because if anyone's had experience with JP drains, they are UNCOMFORTABLE! My back's been in a lot of pain this past week and rightfully so when the bandage was removed showing a 4 inch incision across my back where the initial lat flap was taken during my mastectomy 2.5 years ago. . But while I was grateful to get my drain out, I was terrified leaving the house and going into the clinic. My body focused on healing from surgery and warding off infection in an already immunocompromised system from breast cancer treatments. I felt comforted though seeing the staff go above and beyond with precautions set in place from the moment I walked in. And it warmed my heart as I left my appt and noticed a big THANK YOU written in chalk outside. . As someone who's been heavily involved in the healthcare system both working behind the scenes in healthcare for the last 7 years and as a patient for the last 4 years, I am so grateful for the selflessness and hardwork of all of the essential staff working on the front lines: the doctors, nurses, care aides, cleaners, food and transportation workers. . To those of you who are still out there working and potentially putting yourself at risk everyday, I commend you. You are the true heroes here! We love you and we appreciate you. And to those who may not be working as a result of the shutdowns, I want to recognize how much of an incredibly challenging time this has been and hope we can tackle this pandemic soon. Hang in there❤ . Stay safe everyone. #stayhome
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