Hi! I’m Rich’s Aunt Lynda and am very proud of him and supportive of his plan to fundraise for cancer research.
I am also a cancer survivor and Rich wanted me to tell ‘my story’.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 the same summer I competed in my first triathlon. I found the lump while showering two months after my annual mammogram (there’s a message there!).

Although the lump was considered very small, it was already Stage II and had spread to the lymph nodes. Thus began almost a year of treatment. Fortunately wait times were relatively short so I was able to have the biopsy, lumpectomy, and begin chemotherapy all within two months.

My treatment did not always go smoothly. My white blood cells proved hyper sensitive to the drugs and I can recall on several occasions returning home very disappointed because my chemo treatment had to be delayed because of this. That problem was remedied when I was put on a new drug which I injected daily for weeks at a time to bolster the white blood cells so that they could tolerate the chemotherapy.

I agreed to be part of a clinical trial and have learned since that the drug regimen I was on is now considered ‘standard’ treatment. My six-plus months of chemotherapy was followed by five weeks of daily radiation.

I consider myself fortunate to have had such good care from the Oncology Departments at the hospitals that treated me and the Canadian Cancer Institute.

In addition, I have always felt that my continued training for triathlon during treatment and recovery was an integral part of my therapy.

Which brings me back to Rich. I am impressed that he is taking on a challenging physical endeavor to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Best wishes Rich!

-Lynda Lemon (Welland, Ontario)