My Name is Dionne Warner and I am a Cancer Survivor to some of the most lethal Cancers and metastasis one could have.

At the age of 30, and just married, I found a lump in my breast. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer Nov. 10th 1995. A lumpectomy was performed followed by 6 months of intense chemotherapy and radiation. I returned to work a year later.

In the Summer of 1997 feeling great and dancing up a storm at my girlfriends wedding, the next day I was on the phone with a friend and had a seizure, paralyzing my right side. My girlfriend called 911 and I found the strength to drag myself on my left side to the front door to unlock it for the paramedics. The evening of June 30th 1997 I was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. 2 brain surgeries later the tumor was successfully removed. Radiation treatment followed.

In the year 2000 many changes occurred in my life, such as , a divorce, an engagement to the man I should have married (he asked me to say that) and a big move to Saskatchewan January 2001.

I was definitely looking forward to starting my new life with my future husband and celebrating 5 years Cancer free.

Living in Regina 3 months and planning our wedding, I was not feeling very well one afternoon. My Fiancé took me to the hospital and I was admitted. That evening. March 28th 2001 I was diagnosed with Liver Cancer.

I called my family back in Ontario and gave them the news. They all wanted me to come back home because the doctors there knew my case history and me very well. It was now time to share my tests results with my future husband, upon doing so I told him that he did not have to marry me and that I would go back to Ontario. The next words he said at that moment to me took my breath away, they were "You never leave your wing man". I knew then that I was home, and that together we would get through this.

The hunt was now on to find a doctor I felt comfortable with in Regina , we found him.

The next question was "Is the tumor operable"? Calgary said no, The Mayo Clinic was eager to meet with us, and then with great relief a surgeon in Saskatoon was willing to discuss my case.

We postponed our wedding and my fiancé and I headed up to Saskatoon. The tumor was successfully removed along with 51% of my Liver and Gall bladder. I remained in hospital for 2 weeks. Intense Chemotherapy was to follow when I returned to Regina.

I knew I would lose my hair for the second time, so I decided to take control, instead of watching it fall out, I had a shaving party. My girlfriend shaved my head and my fiancé volunteered to shave his, I looked at him and I said "Hunny I know my hair will grow back, however, I cannot guarantee yours will". We all chuckled. I caught the look of relief in his face.

Feeling great and back to planning our wedding, I felt the need to give back for all the wonderful patients, families, nurses and Dr.'s I have met along this journey, so with my fiancé's encouragement I began volunteering at the Allan Blair Cancer Clinic in Regina.

It was time for my 6 month check-up. I completed my scans and met with my Dr. August 27th 2002. I could tell by his face that it was not good news. I said to him "What now". I remember he looked at my fiancé and I and said "My dear I dreaded coming through this door and telling you anymore bad news after all you have been through", and then he continued to say that the CT Scan showed another tumor in my Liver this time on the other side. The look of shock was in all of our faces. I took a deep breath and asked, "could another surgery be performed"? My Dr. replied, he had already placed a phone call to the surgeon in Saskatoon and was waiting to hear from him. The news was good; they were willing to operate again.

Before I had the surgery I was given the time to marry my soul-mate back in Guelph, Ontario surrounded by family and friends all wearing angel pins. It was simply heavenly.

My husband and I returned from Ontario and headed to Saskatoon the next week for the surgery. This time the tumor was removed along with 31% of my Liver. Two weeks later we were on our way home to Regina. I counted my blessing all the way.

It was decided that having children was not an option in my life due to my Cancer history. My ovaries were removed. At the age of 36 I was now welcomed into the world of Menopause and Osteoporosis, like I have been in from the moment I began to share my story.

On my 1-year check-up, results clear, my Dr. shared an interesting story with my husband and I. He told us that at a conference he attended in the states, over lunch he brought up my case history plus the recent discovery of Cancer in my Liver and asked if they would operate. 8 of the 10 Dr.'s replied "no". My Dr. then proceeded to tell them not only did she have one surgery but she has had two and you would never know it to look at her. Apparently they were all stunned and my Dr. told my husband and I "That sometimes it pays to think outside the box". Today at the hospital he calls me his walking miracle after all I have survived.

I am happy to say that I just celebrated 10 years as a brain cancer survivor, something two doctors have told me they have never seen. See you can beat the odds and give other patients hope.

I will never say this journey was easy, I always gave myself 24 hours to say "WHY ME" and then after those 24 hours I would come to my senses and say "WHY NOT ME , and what am I going to do to beat this"!!!!!!!!!

I began to reevaluate my life and realized that each of my Cancers has occurred shortly after a high stress period in my life. I try now not to sweat the small stuff, unless I am in a menopausal moment, like I have been in from the moment I began to speak.

Each diagnosis has brought many wonderful, caring and supportive people into my life I call them "My Angel Network".

The message I would like to send to Cancer survivors is this:

- Dig deep into your soul and find the courage and strength to fight
- Believe in hope, faith and miracles
- Talk to your loved ones, they want to be there for you
- Let laughter in, It is the best healing treatment to surround you.

Keep all of the above close to you and you will be amazed how strong you can be in the fight.

I have been a volunteer now at the Allan Blair Cancer clinic in Regina, Sk. , for just over two years. My doctor has called on me many times to sit and visit with his patients to share my story of survival to help them find the strength and courage with in to fight this disease. I know in my heart I am right where I belong helping others.

Take care,

Regards,

Dionne Warner
4X Cancer Survivor
Living life to the fullest and bringing "HOPE" to others