Published May 01, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 2 minute readAnne M. Crossman is a former journalist and media manager. She now does volunteer work in her community of Annapolis Royal. Photo by ContributedIn these times of an important Canadian election, the death of a Pope and the rash actions of our neighbour, the United States – I am reminded that there are even more important events in our lives.Read More ANNE M. CROSSMAN: Scammers scheming to take your money ANNE M. CROSSMAN: Don’t forget to vote You will find my thoughts today are on my youngest daughter, Holly Sansom, who lives on the other coast. She has other concerns on her mind, as do I. Below is a post of hers on Facebook earlier this week.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content Holly Sansom is columnist Anne Crossman’s youngest daughter. Photo by ContributedMe, April 27, 2020 – waiting to go in for a complete hysterectomy after an ultrasound found a “large fibroid.” I had been wearing a catheter 24/7 since April 3 at that point. Shortly after surgery, I was given the diagnosis: uterine leiomyosarcoma. Very rare. Nothing I did, nothing I could have done. I was told that if it came back, my prognosis was poor – about 1 to 1.5 years.Fast forward to today:16 months of chemotherapy (2021–2022)Port-a-cath surgery (2021)Radiation therapy (twice – 2022 and 2023)Lung resection surgery (2024)5 months (and counting) of more chemotherapy (2024-2025)Countless CT scans, PET scans, IVs, needles, appointments…And yet – I’m still here. 5 years later. Defying the odds.My oncologist is quite pleased; I’m “beating all the statistics.”It feels like living on a knife’s edge sometimes.And while I don’t want to be defined by cancer, it’s hard not to be when it shapes every day – even when there are no active tumours. It decides when, how, and if I can do things.Article contentI’m home most of the time now, often alone as chemo takes its toll again. (Apologies if I blather on whenever we talk!) Learning to ask for help – mostly from friends, co-workers, kind strangers – has been humbling.If it wasn’t for my family, my friends, the incredible medical community, co-workers, and all the kind-hearted people around me, I honestly don’t know how I would keep going.Thank you – for standing with me, for listening, for helping me find moments of hope, even when it’s hard.❤️ HollyAnne M. Crossman is a former journalist and media manager. She now does volunteer work in her community of Annapolis Royal and can be reached at acrossman2@gmail.com.Article content
ANNE M. CROSSMAN: Other things to think about
