As you have probably noticed by now, I usually kick off posts in the JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass series by giving a little backstory into my mum’s battle with cancer before diving into the post. However, I am electing to do things a little different today seeing as I am picking up my mum’s story … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 11 of 13: The Moments Of Happiness

After my mum was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer on Friday June 15, 2012, an ironically sunny afternoon, her oncologist recommended chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy then radiotherapy as her treatment plan. After eight rounds of chemotherapy my mum had a mastectomy in December 2012 followed by radiotherapy in January 2013 to target the … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 10 of 13: The Coping Mechanisms

My mother’s battle with breast cancer is not something I was open to talking about. I do not think I will even manage to fully delve into what that time of our lives was like for me because I am a really private person and it feels like I am sharing my deepest intimate thoughts … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 9 of 13: The Second Born aka The Nurturer

October 13th is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. It is a day meant to bring understanding to the most serious form of the disease. Many people do not realise that breast cancer itself does not become deadly until it spreads outside of the breasts. In honour of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day that was yesterday, … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 8 of 13: The Cancer

Anticipatory grief is the name given to the tumultuous set of feelings and reactions that occur when someone is expecting the death of a loved one usually due to a terminal illness. Grief that occurs before death can be similar to grief after death (conventional grief) but it is also unique in many ways. Grief before … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 7 of 13: The Anticipatory Grief

After my mum was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer on Friday June 15, 2012 her oncologist recommended chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy then radiotherapy as her treatment plan. After eight rounds of chemotherapy my mum had a mastectomy in December 2012 followed by radiotherapy in January 2013 to target the cancer that had metastasised … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 6 of 13: The Chronic Pain

I sustain myself with the love of family. Maya Angelou On an ironically sunny Friday afternoon in June 2012, my mum was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer that had metastasised to her spine. Upon diagnosis my mum’s oncologist recommended chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy then radiotherapy as her treatment plan. After eight rounds of … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 5 of 13: The Family

When my mum was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer one sunny Friday afternoon in June 2012, I knew my life would never be the same again. What I did not know was just how monumental the change would be. After being diagnosed with breast cancer my mum’s oncologist recommended chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 4 of 13: The Firstborn aka The Caregiver

Exactly eight years and one month ago on this day, on an ironically sunny Friday afternoon, my mum was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. My mum’s oncologist recommended chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy then radiotherapy as her treatment plan. After eight rounds of chemotherapy my mum had a mastectomy in December 2012 followed by … Continue reading JS Kicking Cancer’s Ass Theme 3 of 13: The Copious Hospital Admissions