It started off as a thank you letter to Rethink Breast Cancer. It ended up turning into a blog for Live Laugh Learn on the Rethink's website. Have a look to see how I got my inspiration in becoming a Massage Therapist. This was originally written at the beginning of 2016.
It’s been 4 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer (triple negative, BRCA1) and around this time every year I find myself reflecting back on my life pre cancer, the traumatic times during my cancer treatment, and where I am at this exact moment in time. This year was the first year that I realized how far I’ve come since my world fell apart with a cancer diagnosis. This reflection had me focus on one specific day. That day was when I attended a Live, Laugh, Learn event with Rethink. If it wasn’t for that event I attended on March 17, 2013, I wouldn’t be where I am today. That event changed my life.
After my treatment was completed, I was struggling with what I wanted to do with my life post cancer. At that time, I was only a year into starting my own travel business when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but after this whole ordeal I wanted to give back, do something that had a positive effect on people and possibly help out other people in the cancer community. I was at a loss and stressing myself out about what I wanted to do. I finally just let it go with the hopes that my next calling would present itself somehow, someway. I then went to the Live, Laugh, Learn event focusing on Massage Therapy and Breast Cancer. Leading the talk was a teacher from Sutherland-Chan. She spoke about breast massage, scar work and lymph drainage and it was like a light bulb went off in my head. This is what I can do! This is how I can help and give back! The next thing I knew I was signed up and registered for the 2 year massage therapy program at Sutherland-Chan starting September 2013.
It was a tough couple of years and I had to figure out a whole new way of learning as I was still experiencing issues with brain fog from chemo. Things had always come quite easily before, but after chemo I had to read things at least 10 times before it sinking in. My classmates always joked about all my flashcards that I would make but what they didn’t realize was that if I didn’t obsessively make and study those flashcards, information just wouldn’t stick. I worked my butt off and probably drove myself slightly crazy but I did it!
I’m now a fully licensed Registered Massage Therapist working at a couple of different clinics in Toronto and Aurora. I couldn’t be happier and I love my new career! My goal now is to spread awareness about the benefits of massage treatment for breast cancer patients. I didn’t know anything about breast massage before that event and I’ve been trying to spread the word on how much breast massage can help post mastectomy/lumpectomy/reconstruction. I’ve seen some amazing results from breast and scar work and every time I work on a patient, they always say “I wish I knew about this earlier”. It can also be of comfort to my patients that I know exactly what they are going through, scars and all. Been there, done that and unfortunately, I have the freaking t-shirt!
So a big Thank You to Rethink! You gave me the inspiration for a whole new career and life post cancer and I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for that Live, Laugh, Learn event. I am forever grateful!
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