Bill Walton is an official member of the Warriors of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Racing Team
Like his other teammates, Walton is a breast cancer survivor. In his late 70's, Walton was diagnosed just over a year ago in June. He has since had his breast removed, along with lymph nodes under the arm.
"They looked at everything. They found another little spot, but they're fairly certain that they caught everything. They didn't think I needed chemo or radiation, just hormone treatment. Now I'm on the usual Tamoxifen that women take. I even had a couple hot flashes," laughed Walton. "But everything looks fine, so that's good."
Walton initially wrote off his discomfort off as a pulled muscle from golfing.
"When I moved my arm I thought 'that feels funny' but when I checked, I found a little lump. As soon as I felt it, my wife and I said, 'Oh, yah, here we go.' I knew," said Walton. "Our son, of course, is worried, but when the genetic testing came back clear, it was good news, but he obviously will be doing self-exams, and my three brothers too. They said they're going to be checking now. When I was at the cancer clinic, they told me their concern is seeing more of it in men but they don't know why."
Statistics provided by the Canadian Cancer Society estimate that in 2017, 230 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Walton was one of two speakers to share their breast cancer recovery story Sunday, at the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure at the North Bay waterfront.
The other speaker, Tara Blake, told the crowd her story began last October. On the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, she was busy prepping dinner for the next day. When her hand happened to graze her breast, Blake felt a fair sized, hard, marble-like lump. She was 43 years old at the time. The mother of five, wife, fitness instructor and dietitian said she immediately had that 'sinking feeling.'
The Tuesday following the long weekend, Blake was able to move up a scheduled doctor's appointment. She underwent a series of tests, which lead to surgery and a biopsy, knowing deep down that breast cancer was the direction in which she was headed.
"I ate well, exercised regularly, breastfed all my children for a long time, so the rational side of me said 'you're at very low risk', but these things happen. Most breast lumps are benign, but it's important to take quick action."
Once the cancer diagnosis was made, she elected to have a mastectomy, which was followed by aggressive chemotherapy.
Her message to anyone in her situation is to stay strong and believe in yourself.
"Even when life takes a turn, there's always an opportunity to stop and reflect and just to live your life fully."
Often times family and friends are anxious to help, but don't know what they can do, to ease the burden and make things better.
At the time of her diagnosis, Blake's children ranged in age from three to 14 years. In addition to her husband's help, Blake says the constant presence of friends was reassuring.
"Some of the most thoughtful things were just a regular text, or an e-mail or a phone call just to talk about anything, not just the cancer. Just letting me know they were there was so important," said Blake.
"I am a very independent woman, so it was very hard for me to have other people come in and just take over child care and cooking, but it needed to happen.So for me and my temperament, I found it easier when people said 'I'm going to help. I'm going to bring a meal on this day, would you like 'A' or 'B.'' The help and generosity of everyone was so appreciated."
Life at the Blake home is slowly returning to normal.
"I'm well. Physically I feel pretty great. I'm still working on the emotional piece, because it's traumatic, and I think as a family we're recovering and enjoying each other, and life."
Each breast cancer survivor who took part in the Run for the Cure, has a personal story to share.
Twelve years cancer free, Doris Lane knows what Blake is going through.She was brushing water off herself when she found a lump. She was 47 years old. Always one to do regular self-examinations, she says the lump seemed to appear out of nowhere. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive, stage four tumour. Following surgery, she began chemotherapy.
"I didn't smoke, I ate well and exercised. My image of breast cancer patient survivors really changed because I found out they're just like me, regular people. It can happen to anybody," said Lane. "Once you get diagnosed you have to stay positive and surround yourself with positive people, you can't let it control you. I continued working and I continued going to school, I did everything. The day of chemo is pretty rough, but I got through it. We only told a handful of people. We wanted to keep it positive so people wouldn't share their horror stories and the people who they know who died. I hate when people say that."
She makes it a point to join the run/walk every year.
First-time participant Lyn Reasbeck is a 24-year breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed at the age of 41.
"I found the lump myself. My advice is to do breast self-examinations every month, see your doctor annually and get mammograms done, " advised Reasbeck. "I feel wonderful now. I'm enjoying every minute of every day. I can't believe I'm doing this, it's my first time here. I guess the timing was just right for me."
In the 12 years leading up to this years event, North Bay has raised more than one million dollars for the Run for the Cure.
Following Sunday's event, just over $40,500 can be added to the total.
Executive director, Melanie Gainforth says money raised is donated to the Canadian Cancer Society for breast cancer research, awareness, education and peer support programs.
"Currently one in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime," says Gainforth. 'The mortality rate has improved 47% since the 1980's. So that means in the 80's breast cancer was often a death sentence. Now, 47% more women are surviving their diagnosis."
Gainforth says early detection is the key.
"Taking care of yourself, being aware of your own body and bringing to the forefront concerns that you have is so important. You have to advocate for your own health. Age doesn't seem to matter. It was once considered an older woman's disease, it isn't anymore. Only 8 to 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary. The catch is, if you have the heredity background, you are 50 to 80 percent more likely to get breast cancer."
Two hundred and thirty people participated in this year's fundraiser in North Bay.
