Arthritis is a degenerative condition that is characterized by inflammation and sometimes derangement of the joints. It can be both painful and debilitating. The classification includes commonly known conditions such as Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, but is also used to classify conditions such as Gout, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia.
Our national anthem was composed by a man named Calixa Lavallee in the year 1880 in honor of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. My grandfather always told us that Calixa was a distant relative of ours and that we should be proud of our musical roots and the role our family played in shaping the history of our country.
I have no personal experience with breast cancer. The women in my family have been mostly blessed with good health and perhaps good genes. My maternal grandmother battled bone cancer that metastasized from breast cancer, but I was only five at the time. My only real memory is of the last time I spoke to her and she told me that I was her favourite.