Paddling Algonquin in November: The Big Trout Loop

In November 2023 my husband Pat and I went out for our final canoe trip of the year. We chose a popular 80km loop in Algonquin Provincial Park off highway 60 called "The Big Trout Loop". As it was cold and late in the season, we saw only one other person on a route that is very crowded in the summer. We loved it!

Although I pride myself in having fun and being light hearted, in this video I discuss a more serious and personal issue regarding my own health. I want to raise awareness regarding this issue in the hopes that I can help even just one other person who may not have known to ask for testing.

Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Screening:

If you watched this video and want to know more about these topics, I have included the following links to help you educate yourself. The links are from a reputable website recommended by my own genetic counselor/health care team. I had "medical grade" bloodwork done and genetic counseling. My results are NOT from "ancestry" or "23 and me" testing kits which are far less reliable. Sharing sound healthcare information is very important to me as I am Critical Care RN and I believe strongly that people should be using scientific information and expert advice to guide healthcare decisions. Although oncology and genetics are not my areas of expertise, I do have knowledge on where to obtain reliable medical information. Hopefully the following links may provide you with a place to start:

Should you get genetic testing done:
https://www.facingourrisk.org/info/he...

What is genetic testing:
https://www.facingourrisk.org/info/he...

My Genetic Screening Backstory:
When I was 26 (almost a decade ago), I asked my former family doctor if I could have genetic testing done. I am not sure what his reasoning was, but he told me I did not need this testing. At the age of 33, I was lucky enough to have another physician do a comprehensive family cancer history and urge me to get genetic testing done. The process was lengthy and I only received my positive results two weeks prior to my 35th birthday.
"My" cancer gene (called BRCA2) means an increased risk of: breast (women and men), ovarian (women only), prostate (men only), pancreatic and skin cancers. Other than my mom having breast cancer, my own family history also includes prostate cancer, leukemia, colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. You do not need a history of just one type of cancer in your family in order for you to test positive for a hereditary cancer gene. The gene can come from either your mom or dad. There are currently over 20 "major" hereditary cancer genes recognized, BRCA2 is just one of them. Research is constantly progressing and "new cancer causing" genetic mutations are being discovered. Approximately 10% of all cancers are hereditary, yet it is estimated that 90% of people carrying these genes are unaware that they have them. If you are concerned, ask your family doctor about hereditary cancer screening (genetic testing). I wish that I had heard a story like my own when I had asked for the testing in my 20's. I would likely have been more persistent in asking for testing if I had. I feel lucky that I became aware that I have this gene before cancer actually developed. I am now on a waiting list and hope to have my mastectomy done this spring. I hope that my story and the links I have provided may give you a good place to start and a bit of hope.
(all above info was obtained from the FORCE website and my own genetic screening results)

#camping #paddling #canoeing #algonquin #adventure #swift #winter #backcountry #wilderness #cancer #geneticcounseling #brca #breastcancerprevention