Spring • Summer 2013 - Canadian Cancer Society

believe
A Canadian Cancer Society PUBLICATION
spring | summer 2013
An ace up the sleeve:
Scotiabank’s A-team
The tobacco industry’s
secret weapon
75 years
of milestones and
cancer breakthroughs
believe
contents
years
OUR SUPPORTERS
A royal honour
6
An ace up the sleeve:
Scotiabank’s A-team
14
School spirit
17
Research
History in the making
22
Meet the researcher
23
Look what we can do in a year 24
Join the fight by taking part in Relay For Life.
celebrate
Get your friends, families and co-workers together to fight cancer
with the Canadian Cancer Society in a unique overnight event.
Raise money and fight back against a disease that 2 out of 5
Canadians will be diagnosed with during their lifetimes.
Ban the tobacco industry’s
secret weapon
relayforlife.ca
The more you know:
pancreatic cancer
29
Forever grateful
32
remember
26
SUPPORT SERVICES
AND Information
fight back
Photo Credit: Len Cyca
Photo Credit: Christine Hopaluk
Photo Credit: Michael Ericcson
ADVOCACY
In EVERY issue
Volunteers have been selling daffodils for
close to 60 years to raise money for the
Canadian Cancer Society, which adopted
the flower as its official symbol in 2000.
From the editor's desk
5
Cancer fighters
9
An ounce of prevention
10
Good for you
13
Team players
18
When you need us, we’re here
30
Voices
34
believe
from the
EDIToR's desk
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based
organization of volunteers and staff whose mission is
the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the
quality of life for people living with the disease. Our vision
is a world where no Canadian fears cancer.
1938
Canadian Cancer
Society is founded.
Editorial and Creative Director
Tiffany Kraus
Managing Editor
Deanna Kraus
Believe is a semi-annual publication of the
Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division. It
is distributed free of charge to people living with
cancer, Canadian Cancer Society volunteers, donors,
researchers and community health partners.
Contributors
Deanna Kraus, Tiffany Kraus, Jen Little, Jennifer Nate,
Emily Pratt, Lauren Sharp, Paula Trotter
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
If you would like to reach us, please email us at
believe@cancer.ab.ca or send letters to:
Design
Jen Little
Believe Magazine
200, 325 Manning Road NE
Calgary, AB T2E 2P5
1971
Clinical trials
funded by the
Society are
established.
Happy
Printing
Fundraisers begin
selling daffodils.
1950s
1960s
The Society begins educating school
children about the risks of tobacco
use and lung cancer.
Mailed under Canadian Publications
Agreement number 40065069. Please return
undeliverable items to:
Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division
200, 325 Manning Road NE
Calgary, AB T2E 2P5
If you would like to be added or removed from our
subscription list, please call 1-800-661-2262 or
email believe@cancer.ab.ca.
Thank you to the Calgary Herald, whose generous
support makes Believe possible. If you too would
like to become a Believe sponsor, please contact
Tiffany Kraus at tiffany.kraus@cancer.ab.ca.
office locations
Calgary and District
200, 325 Manning Road NE
Calgary, AB T2E 2P5
Phone 403-205-3966
Fax 403-205-3979
Lethbridge and District
317 – 10 Street South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 2M7
Phone 403-327-5452
Fax 403-327-5883
Red Deer and District
101, 6751 – 52 Avenue
Red Deer, AB T4N 4K8
Phone 403-347-3662
Fax 403-347-9690
Edmonton and District
201, 9452 – 51 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6E 5A6
Phone 780-455-7181
Fax 780-455-0277
Medicine Hat and District
102, 1865 Dunmore Road SE
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z8
Phone 403-528-2125
Fax 403-528-2235
Northwest Territories
PO Box 2007, 4817 – 49 Street
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P5
Phone 867-920-4428
Fax 867-920-4162
Fort McMurray and District
150 MacDonald Crescent
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B2
Phone 780-791-0174
Fax 780-791-3178
TOLL-FREE
Alberta 1-800-661-2262
NWT 1-877-920-4428
Grande Prairie and District
103, 9805 – 97 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 8B9
Phone 780-538-8205
Fax 780-538-2707
For information about cancer,
our support services or to make a
donation, call us at 1-888-939-3333 or
visit cancer.ca. We are here to help.
Working at the Canadian Cancer Society is many
things – it is crazy busy and some days are crazy
sad. But I know it is by far the most rewarding job
I will ever have.
Every day, I get to talk to people touched by
cancer: survivors, loved ones left behind, donors
and volunteers. It is an honour and a privilege to
have strangers tell me their motivation for joining
the movement we call the fight against cancer –
the fight for life.
Recently, I met our new national president, Pamela
Fralick, and she commented on the special quality
that all cancer fighters seem to have. I don't think
it has a name but it has something to do with
passion, strength and determination. I do, however,
know where it comes from. It comes from enduring
the wait for test results, the pain of watching
someone lose their battle with cancer, or the pure
life-changing joy that comes from hearing that
treatment has been successful. And it comes from
all the moments in between.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the
Canadian Cancer Society. For me – and many of my
colleagues – the celebration is bittersweet. I could
not be more proud of all the accomplishments and
impact we have made in the last 75 years. Back in
the 1940s if you were diagnosed with cancer, you
had a 25 per cent chance of surviving the disease.
Today, your chance is over 60 per cent.
Forty years ago, it was not uncommon to see your
doctor smoking. Now we know that tobacco use
is responsible for more than 85 per cent of lung
cancers. And, of course, because of early detection
discoveries, we can beat breast cancer, prostate
cancer, colorectal and skin cancers if found soon
enough. And when I think about all the people we
helped through our financial assistance programs,
our transportation program and others, I am
overwhelmed. This is all because of cancer fighters
like you.
1970s
Support programs
for cancer patients
are introduced.
But with all the progress we have made over the
years, we still lose too many people to this awful
disease. To me, that is what truly matters. Until we
stop losing our co-workers, our friends and our
loved ones, the Canadian Cancer Society won't
stop. That is our promise.
All I keep thinking is, it would be amazing to
have a 100 per cent survival rate for our
100th anniversary!
Tiffany Kraus
Editorial and Creative Director
1990s
Relay For Life
is launched.
Special feature
a
Christine McCourt and her
daughters, Isabelle (L) and Elizabeth.
honour
Most anniversaries are cause for celebration – maybe a cake,
a party and – if you’re lucky – some presents. But when you’re
royalty, that’s not going to cut it. Last year marked 60 years on the
throne for Queen Elizabeth II – in royal speak, the Diamond Jubilee.
To make it a celebration fit for a queen, the Diamond Jubilee
Medals have been awarded to the most outstanding and deserving
citizens in the Commonwealth countries. The Alberta/NWT Division
of the Canadian Cancer Society can boast of six extraordinary
supporters who received the prestigious medal.
shaping
the future
An inspiring legacy
Anyone who knew Alyson Woloshyn would tell you she was an extraordinary
young woman. Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at just 32, she refused
to give in or give up. In fact, she continued to excel as a volunteer and in her
role as a University of Calgary director. At a time when others might have
understandably retreated, Alyson poured her energy into advocating for brain
cancer research and fundraising, motivational speaking and encouraging
others faced with a similar situation. Alyson passed away May 2012, but her
legacy continues to inspire.
Since losing her husband to cancer at a young age, Christine McCourt has
dedicated endless hours to the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual fundraiser,
Relay For Life – bringing in more than $270,000 to date. She also recruits,
trains and mentors fellow volunteers throughout Alberta and Canada. No
small feat for anyone, much less a working mother of two. Christine’s passion
and energy have helped shape the future of Relay For Life, helping to make it
the largest cancer fundraiser in the country.
Taking the wheel
In it for the long haul
6 | Spring • Summer 2013
Tom Shindruk is a three-time cancer survivor and an outstanding
ambassador for the Canadian Cancer Society. Since his first diagnosis,
he’s made it his job to be the poster boy for good health. Tom is also a
long-standing CancerConnection volunteer, providing peer support to
newly-diagnosed cancer patients and is a regular speaker at schools and
organizations, helping raise cancer awareness.
express YOURSELF
Once diagnosed, cancer patients often have many things to contend with,
including getting to and from medical appointments. Behind the wheel as
a volunteer driver since 1997, Jim Riddoch has been helping to ease that
burden by providing thousands of rides to patients in Edmonton and the
surrounding area.
The Canadian Cancer Society is built on a foundation of donor and volunteer
support – something Donald Logan exemplifies. Pitching in to support
nearly all of the Society’s fundraisers and campaigns, Donald has made
himself a very familiar face around the Edmonton office by logging more than
5,000 volunteer hours over the last 20 years.
Three-time cancer survivor
Alyson Woloshyn
By shining a light on the impact that emotional distress can have on
cancer patients, Dr Barry Bultz has brought about tremendous change
for Canadians living with cancer. His work prompted a new focus on the
emotional, psychological, social and spiritual well-being of patients and their
families, in addition to their physical health. Dr Bultz is the Director of the
Department of Psychosocial Resources at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and
Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary.
To join the fight for life and volunteer with the Canadian Cancer
Society visit cancer.ca.
Canadian Cancer Society Executive Director Dan Holinda, medal
recipient Tom Shindruk, volunteer Board Chair Jason Holowachuk,
and Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson, who presented the medals.
believe | 7
Cancer
Fighters
The Canadian Cancer Society has a tremendous army of cancer fighters – people from every walk
of life, including young, old, and in between. And every one has their own unique perspective.
12
How cancer has touched my life:
Kirstina
Rickes
What are you
Waiting for?
9
Another Canadian is
diagnosed every
Age: 8
Hometown:
Calgary, AB
How are you fighting back
against cancer?
When my aunt did a head shave two years ago,
I decided that I wanted to grow out my hair and
have it cut to make wigs for people with cancer.
I wore my Canadian Cancer Society daffodil pin
to support my classmate, and now I will wear
it to remember her fight. I also fight back by
promising never to smoke cigarettes.
3
Why do you fight back?
I want to show my support for people with
cancer because cancer is evil.
3 MINUTES.
If cancer was in the room, what
would you say?
Go away and don't ever come back!
What is the most important thing
in your life?
My family and friends because they love me for
who I am.
6
Who is your hero?
My mom and dad are my heroes because they
take good care of me.
What is your favourite movie?
Favourite book?
Invest your time as a volunteer in the fight
against cancer. Don’t wait for it to strike again.
cancer.ca | 1-800-661-2262
A classmate of mine was diagnosed with cancer
when we were in kindergarten. She was very
strong and brave. After going through lots
of treatments, she lost her battle with cancer
when she was only eight years old. I know of
two other little boys and relatives of mine who
have also died of cancer. It is very sad.
My favourite movie is Frankenweenie because
I find it entertaining. My favourite book is the
Dear Dumb Diary series because it is funny and
makes me laugh.
One day I hope to… See a world
with peace and no more cancer.
If you could meet someone
famous, who would it be?
Taylor Swift because I think she is a good singer.
believe | 9
prevention prevention
Recapture A
AN Ounce of
Prevention
a spot of
In 1988, what did the
World Health Organization
add to the list of the
highest level of cancercausing substances?
Hint: You may have it in your fridge or
on your kitchen counter right now.
New analysis from Canadian researchers this year has revealed
that smokers who quit by age 40 can regain the life-span of a
non-smoker. The same researchers reported that people who
never smoked were twice as likely to live to age 80, compared
to smokers. Typically, smokers cut at least 10 years off their lives
with tobacco use.
But these new findings indicate quitting can add about nine
years back. The research group examined health records from
the US National Health Interview Survey and the National
Death Index, focusing on approximately 16,000 people who
had died but who had reported smoking earlier in life.
If you’re ready for a change, find the tools and support
that you need to quit at cancer.ca.
Alcohol.
Researchers at the Boston University School
of Medicine released findings earlier this
year in the American Journal of Public
Health, concluding that at least 3.5 per cent
of all cancers can be blamed on alcohol. In
fact, the Boston team found breast cancer
was the most common cause of alcoholrelated cancer death. According to this latest
study, even moderate drinking is linked to
almost one-third of alcohol-related cancers.
FYI
FYI
After water,
tea is the
world’s most
popular drink.
Maybe you like it on the go in something disposable. Or maybe you’re a
traditionalist who prefers it served in fine china. Either way, make tea a
habit. Because the evidence that tea is good for you continues to pour in.
Green tea has been linked to a lower risk of certain cancers, including
breast and ovarian. And black tea – think Earl Grey, English Breakfast and
Orange Pekoe, for example – isn’t without its health benefits too. Whatever
colour you choose, tea is a rich source of antioxidants which are believed to
help protect cells by removing free radicals before they cause damage.
Learn more about tea and the power of antioxidants in the online
Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia at cancer.ca.
10 | Spring • Summer 2013
prevention
Drinking approximately 3.5
drinks a day can double
or even triple your risk of
developing cancer of the
mouth, larynx (the “voice
box”) and esophagus.
your risk
Men should have no more
than 2 drinks per day, and
women should have no
more than 1 drink per day.
years
of milestones
The Society was one of the first organizations to share information
about different types of cancer with Canadians. In 1954, the Society
developed its first brochure, called Seven Danger Signals of Cancer,
to alert Canadians to the signs and symptoms of cancer so they
would seek early medical attention.
a
changer
Known to cause more than 70 per cent of the cases of cervical cancer, the
human papilloma virus will infect about a quarter of Canadian women by the
age of 25.
HPV: human papilloma virus
Until a few years ago, there was no such thing as a vaccine against cervical
cancer. But that all changed when groundbreaking research – funded in part
by the Canadian Cancer Society – resulted in a breakthrough that would
change cervical cancer forever. In 2006, Health Canada approved Gardisal
– the HPV vaccine – for use in this country. Although it hasn’t been without
some controversy, the vaccine is offered to the public in all provinces and
territories today.
• If you're a woman who is sexually active, you should start having
routine Pap tests by the time you're 21 – something you’ll need to do
every one to three years, depending on your previous test results.
• Girls and women between the ages of nine and 45 should be vaccinated
against HPV to help reduce their risk of HPV-related cancers. Even if you
receive a vaccination, you still need to have regular Pap tests.
• Boys and young men between the ages of nine and 26 should be
vaccinated against HPV to help reduce their risk of HPV-related cancers
and genital warts.
special day, caprese
On
your
AN Ounce of
Prevention
recognize a loved
prevention
good for you
one
with a Wedding Tribute.
appetizer
Servings: 12
Preparation time: 10 minuteS
prevention
ingredients
24 grape tomatoes
12 cherry-size fresh mozzarella
cheese balls/bocconcini
24 fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
directions
Using 12 small skewers, alternately
thread two tomatoes, one cheese
ball and two basil leaves. Place on a
serving plate. In a small bowl, whisk
the oil and vinegar; drizzle mixture
evenly just before serving.
Quick and easy to make, so pretty on a
plate – all that and just five ingredients!
Not to mention these mouthfuls are tasty
and nutritious. These appetizers are infused
with the flavours of Capri, the picturesque
island off the southwest coast of Italy.
Make your wedding day
even more memorable and
meaningful by contributing to
the Canadian Cancer Society.
You can ask for donations
instead of wedding gifts or
make a donation in lieu of
wedding favours.
For more ideas, visit
cancer.ca/weddingtribute.
Spinach salad
with avocado
This very well could be the world’s best spinach salad. In fact, if
this doesn’t make a spinach lover out of you, nothing will!
ingredients
• 4 cups of fresh baby spinach
• fresh lemon juice
• 2 avocados, peeled and
cut into thin wedges
• olive oil
• grape tomatoes
• salt and freshly-ground
pepper to taste
directions
Divide spinach leaves onto four salad plates or into salad
bowls. Alternately arrange avocado and tomatoes over
spinach leaves of each salad. Drizzle small amount of
lemon juice and olive oil over each salad. Lightly sprinkle
with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
12 | Spring • Summer 2013
Servings: 4
Preparation time:
15 minutes
believe | 13
our supporters
our supporters
ACE
an
up the sleeve
–Scotiabank’s A-team–
We wanted to choose a cancer that was
underfunded and has a high mortality
rate so we could assist in putting a stop
to that and provide some hope.
F
or Anne Bratton, Relay For Life provides
another opportunity to celebrate her survival
of breast cancer.
matched our contribution right down to the
penny,” Anne says of the accomplishment. “There
was a lot of high-fiving going on.”
For Gina Leahy, the event provides another
opportunity to remember her brother who passed
away from cancer 11 years ago.
Scotiabank Bright Future is the bank’s global
philanthropic program, which brings together
charitable efforts and employee volunteer
activities under one banner. Through Bright
Future, Scotiabank supports its employees’
fundraising initiatives to be responsive and
relevant at a grassroots level across the fields of
health, arts, education, social services, sports and
the environment.
Cancer may have had a different impact on their
lives, but from those experiences comes one
common bond – their drive to fight back.
It’s a commitment, the women realized, they also
share with their fellow Scotiabank colleagues.
In their team of 40 employees, everyone has
their own cancer story to tell — be it a personal
diagnosis or that of a loved one.
That’s why, for the past two years, Gina and Anne
have gathered some of their fellow Scotiabankers
together to participate in the Calgary Relay For
Life. In 2012, the team’s fundraising success
surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Gina credits the group’s early start to fundraising
for the achievement. The 13 members of team
A.C.E. – which stands for Assisting Cancer
Elimination – started fundraising in January 2012
and continued right up until the event in June.
Through bake sales, bottle drives, a head shave,
the sale of Relay For Life merchandise, allowing
colleagues to wear jeans to work in exchange for
a donation and more, A.C.E. raised over $14,000 –
nearly $5,000 more than their goal.
A.C.E. team members researched a list of the most
underfunded and deadly cancers, and came to
the decision to dedicate Scotiabank’s matching
contribution to pancreatic cancer research.
“We wanted to choose a cancer that was
underfunded and has a high mortality rate so we
could assist in putting a stop to that and provide
some hope,” says Gina. She was particularly
pleased that her teammates chose to designate the
matching gift to pancreatic cancer research, the
same disease that took her brother.
Relay For Life is the largest cancer fundraising
event. The inspiring event celebrates cancer
survivors, remembers loved ones lost to the
disease, and unites Canadians in the fight.
To find a Relay For Life event near you or to
register a team, please visit relayforlife.ca.
“On top of our own fundraising efforts,
Scotiabank, through its Bright Future program,
Last year across Canada:
years
of milestones
14 | Spring • Summer 2013
TEAMS: 17,265
36,000 survivors
over
Scotiabank's Team A.C.E at the Calgary Relay For Life in 2012. From
left to right Kevin Leahy, Anna Sorensen, and Anne Bratton.
171,000
enthusiastic
participants
Improving
the odds
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest
and least understood of all cancers.
Only six per cent of patients diagnosed
with the disease survive five years after
a diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect as
symptoms usually do not develop until
it’s in a late stage, making successful
treatment unlikely. It’s also a particularly
aggressive cancer that spreads rapidly.
Because of this, most pancreatic cancers
have already spread – or metastasized –
at the time of diagnosis.
FYI
Pancreatic cancer is
the fourth leading
cause of cancer
death in Canada.
The Canadian Cancer Society is
committed to supporting researchers
who are delving deeper into the
mystery of pancreatic cancer. Since
1999, we have invested more than $4.7
million in a variety of pancreatic cancer
research projects. Most recently, the
Society awarded an Innovation Grant
to a team of scientists in Toronto who
created a living 3-D organ model of
a pancreas. Their study of this model
could lead to new ways to detect and
treat prostate cancer.
To learn more about pancreatic
cancer, please turn to page 29.
1999
The first Relay
For Life event
in Canada takes
place in Toronto.
believe | 15
our supporters
OOL
H
SC irit
sp
Charitable giving
starts young
Dorthe, daughter
of a uterine
cancer survivor.
During the month of April, wear the daffodil pin as a symbol of hope and support for those
living with cancer.
Join the fight. Wear a daffodil.
Please give generously.
fightback.ca
Official DaffODil MOnth Partners
After losing her grandmother to cancer, Destinée
knew she wanted to do something to honour her
memory. When she heard about the opportunity
to donate her hair to cancer patients, Destinée
jumped on the idea and gave her naturally
highlighted long hair up for a good cause.
Along with Destinée’s hair donation, the
Fort McMurray resident also raised close to
$500 for the Society.
Who will you fight for this April?
My mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 52 when I was still a teenager, and she
fought it with amazing strength and optimism that was an inspiration to our whole family.
Today, she is a happy, healthy woman who continues to inspire the people around her.
O
n a Sunday afternoon in
September, a time when most children
are playing with their friends, 10-year-old
Destinée Harvey-Goodwin was doing something
inspiring – and thinking of others.
Bu
W
ye
e
lls
ith a steady hand, precision and
accuracy, 12-year-old Holden Heppler’s
head was shaved to support and honour
his loved ones, and others, touched by cancer.
Supporters in Warner, Alberta, gathered in the
public school to cheer on Holden as his shoulderlength blond locks, grown out for over a year, fell
to the floor.
“I was nervous and excited for it to happen,” says
Holden. “There was a lot of preparation done
before I shaved my head, but I was mostly excited.”
Holden’s fundraising plans hit more than just
his $2,000 target – the young archer raised over
$16,000.
Holden will donate 60 per cent of his funds to the
Canadian Cancer Society and the rest to his school’s
archery program.
t
c
a
g
n
i
Juggl
B
etween juggling projects, part-time
jobs and finals, 15 students – including
three cancer survivors – organized one of
the University of Lethbridge’s most successful and
unforgettable Relay For Life events.
“The Fight Back Ceremony was definitely the
most memorable and impactful moment of the
event,” says Dee. “Everyone was so inspired by one
another and from that moment I knew we’d see a
day without cancer.”
Event committee representative, Dee Goyal,
believes it all stems from the fire lit in all members
and participants.
The event’s 140 participants raised an impressive
$28,000 – almost doubling last year’s total.
believe | 17
our supporters
team players
I fIght for:
❏ My DaD
❏ My MOM
❏ My SIStER
❏ My BROthER
,
e
c
n
o
Going
!
d
l
o
s
.
.
.
e
c
i
ing tw
❏ My GRanDpa
go
A
lberta farmer Robert Pelzer thought
it was just another day at the auction. Sure,
his then 15-year-old son Jaxson’s lamb was
on the block but that is something his three kids
regularly take part in as members of the 4-H Club.
But this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill auction.
Robert’s good friend, Ben Payne, had organized
it so that he and another friend bought the lamb
– only to put it immediately back on the auction
block for sale again.
Within 30-odd minutes, the same sheep had been
bought and sold nearly 10 times – raising more
than $8,700 for the Canadian Cancer Society
18 | Spring • Summer 2013
❏ My BESt FRIEnD
Jaxson Pelzer and his lamb.
in honour of Robert, who’s fighting cancer for a
second time in less than 20 years.
“To think that they kept this a secret right up until
the auction, and to know they think enough of me
to do all of this – I was overwhelmed with emotion,”
says Robert, who lives in the town of Rosemary,
where he grew up. “It’s still very emotional to talk
about it now.”
If you’re motivated to fundraise and
want to put that money to work fighting
cancer, go to cancer.ca/fundraiseforlife
to get started.
Did you
know?
e
s
i
a
r
d
n
fu IFE
L
R
FO
❏ MySELF
Who are you fighting for?
Every three minutes, cancer strikes again.
Odds are, we all know someone who has
been affected by cancer.
Join the Canadian Cancer Society and fight
back. When you Fundraise For Life, you’re in
charge – not cancer.
cancer.ca/fundraiseforlife
Independent fundraisers
brought in more than
$1.5 million last year
for the Canadian
Cancer Society.
believe | 19
our supporters
g
n
i
y
a
pl
to the
our supporters
S
d
w
o
cr
eeing buskers for the first time motivated Brysen Head to follow
suit – except the five year old wanted to play music to raise money for
the Canadian Cancer Society. Armed with a brand new ukulele, the
kindergarten student played a total of three shows in the fall and winter of
2012 at his uncle’s café in Grande Cache, raising just over $2,000.
His efforts caught the attention of the local newspaper and a community
member nominated Brysen for the Great Kid Award (which he received on
March 3). But the proudest person in the crowd was always Brysen’s great
grandfather, who was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011 and the inspiration
for the youngster’s fundraising initiative. Brysen plans to turn the fundraiser
into an annual event to raise money for the Society in honour of his great
poppy, who passed away in January.
Not your father’s insurance company
F
orget all the stereotypes about the insurance business. Western
Direct Insurance is mixing it up – and part of its vision is making a
difference in the fight against cancer.
Its first foray into the ring was called Quote for a Cure, a campaign launched
last year in October to mark Women’s Health Awareness Month. For every
home or car insurance quote completed that month, the charitable-minded
company donated $10 to the Canadian Cancer Society.
been designated to Canadian Cancer Society-funded research specifically
targeting women’s cancers. This year, more than 89,000 women in Canada
will be diagnosed with cancer. Although there are more than 200 cancers, the
primary offenders among women’s cancers are lung, colorectal and breast.
But in addition to funding research, the company’s campaign reminded
women to talk to their doctors about screening and early detection, two of
the most important tools in the fight against cancer. In most cases, catching
cancer in its early stages is the key to successfully beating it.
To date, the money raised through the campaign totals $25,000 and it’s
Teeing off
against cancer
Brysen Head,
5, strummed
up support for
the Canadian
Cancer Society
in the fall by
playing his
ukulele to
raise $2,000
for the fight
against cancer.
SAVE LIVES
CHANGE LIVES
Whether you choose to designate
your money to cancer research,
or support programs for people
living with cancer – or fund both
– take a stand against cancer.
20 | Spring • Summer 2013
Ma k e i t p ers o n al
Fight cancer in a way that’s meaningful to you. Everybody’s different
– and that’s why the Canadian Cancer Society offers numerous ways
for donors to contribute. Maybe a monthly contribution is your style
– in which case, our HopeWorksTM monthly giving program would be
a perfect match.
Take the hands-on approach
If you’re the kind of person who likes to get involved – how about
organizing your own fundraiser? We can help you through the
Fundraise For Life program. Get started at cancer.ca/fundraiseforlife.
F
un and fundraising – both are equally
important at the People’s Golf For Cancer
tournament.
Hosted by Corinne and James Jewell every
summer at the Buffalo Rock Golf Course in
Elnora (about 70 km southeast of Red Deer),
this popular community event attracts up to 90
participants between the ages of eight and 80.
Wacky costume themes (think the Blues
Brothers). Funny putters. Head shaves. Potluck
dinners. Dunk tanks. Face painting. Camping.
All of these and more are part of the annual
tournament that raises money for the Canadian
Cancer Society. In 2012, the 12th annual
People’s Golf For Cancer tournament raised over
$8,200 for the fight against cancer.
See for yourself all the options we have for fighting
cancer. Go to cancer.ca and find out what works
for you.
Because we need you.
And the more than 16,000 people in Alberta and
the Northwest Territories who are going to be
diagnosed with cancer this year need you too.
years
of milestones
Over the past 20 years, more
than 100,000 Canadian lives have
been saved because of research
breakthroughs – many of them funded
by Canadian Cancer Society donors.
believe | 21
research
research
Un•con•ven•tion•al
Not based on or conforming to
what is generally done or believed.
Sacha Carey, WICC Alberta co-chair
History
IN the
making
Finding a cure will help all of us.
We just want to put an end to cancer.
A
long-time supporter of the Canadian
Cancer Society made a groundbreaking
donation that will significantly boost the
next wave of cancer research.
That’s why the group chose to award its inaugural
Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade Alberta
Innovation Grant of the Canadian Cancer Society to
Dr Frank Jirik of the University of Calgary.
In December, the Alberta chapter of Women in
Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) became the first
donor in Alberta to fully fund a research grant on
behalf of the Society.
“We wanted to back his research because it aligns
with our goal of being universal,” says Sacha.
“We believe in the potential of finding a cure,” says
Sacha Carey, WICC Alberta co-chair. “Cancer affects
every single one of us one way or another, whether
it’s a co-worker or a family member or a friend.
Finding a cure will help all of us. We just want to
put an end to cancer.”
Don’t let the name fool you. WICC ambitiously
wants to have an impact on all forms of the
disease, not just women’s cancers.
22 | Spring • Summer 2013
Dr Jirik’s novel examination into increasing blood
flow to tumours has the potential to revolutionize
the way treatment is administered to various cancers.
That is why Dr Jirik’s research caught the attention
of the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute’s
highly competitive review panel, which approved
his work for funding in 2012.
“Innovative research is crucial in the fight against
cancer,” says Jason Holowachuk, board chair of the
Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division.
“Thanks to WICC’s generous contribution we’re
able to support the work of innovative thinkers
like Dr Jirik, who will potentially uncover a new
approach to combat cancer – a disease that
two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with in
their lifetimes.”
improve the ability of the immune system to fight
back against cancer. They’re developing a new
screening technology that will quickly identify
which cancer cells the body’s defences can most
successfully target and destroy.
WICC has committed $200,000 – which will be paid
over two years – to Dr Jirik’s unique project. “It is a
privilege for my lab to be the first recipient of the
WICC grant,” says Dr Jirik. “I have deep admiration
for WICC’s dedication to this cause, and for all the
hard work that this entails, and also to the Society
for its tireless efforts in the battle against cancer.”
While his work is currently focused on prostate
cancer, Dr Kane says his screening system, once
fully established, could be used for any cancer
target – breast, ovarian and lung, for example.
WICC also designated another $100,000 to Dr Kevin
Kane of the University of Alberta this past year.
This amount covers more than half of the
Innovation Grant that the Society awarded to
Dr Kane early in 2012.
Dr Kane and his research team are striving to
“We truly believe that by supporting hard-working
researchers, WICC can help turn the idea of a cure
for cancer into a reality,” says Sacha.
WICC Alberta has mobilized the local insurance
industry to generously support Canadian Cancer
Society-funded research for the past 13 years.
Since 2000, WICC Alberta has raised more than
$1.5 million for the fight against all cancers.
meet the RESEARCHER
years
of milestones
Since it began
funding cancer
research, donors
have allowed the
Society to invest
more than
$1.5 billion
into the
best research.
I
t’s safe to say Dr Frank Jirik’s current research project is
unconventional. It is, in fact, exploring the exact opposite of how
conventional science says to approach the treatment of cancer.
Cutting off the blood supply to a tumour has long thought to be one of the
best ways to kill the cancer as well as prevent the spread of cancer cells,
which is known as metastasis. But recent evidence indicates that doing so
also hinders the ability to deliver cancer-killing drugs.
So Dr Jirik is investigating how small molecules can be harnessed to
increase blood flow to tumours in an attempt to better administer
treatment to patients.
Thanks to WICC’s contribution, the work of Dr Jirik is part of the Society’s
expanding innovative cancer research portfolio. The idea is that nurturing
creative and pioneering research has the greatest potential to significantly
impact our understanding of cancer, thus paving the way for new
approaches to successfully prevent, treat and beat the disease.
believe | 23
research
research
look what we can
Developing smarter treatments for
RARE young adult Cancer
do in a year
Synovial sarcoma is a rare and often fatal form of
cancer most commonly occurring in young adults –
specifically in their limbs. Dr Torsten Nielsen and his
Vancouver team have unravelled how the genetic
mutation that leads to this cancer interacts with
proteins in the cell to cause cancer. The researchers
found that drugs or genetic inhibitors used to
suppress these proteins can kill tumour cells, helping
researchers develop more targeted treatments.
With every passing day, Canadian Cancer Society-funded researchers are learning new ways of
preventing, detecting and treating cancer. Their discoveries are saving lives by reducing cancer
incidence and improving survival rates. Their work is also improving the quality of life for Canadians
living with cancer. The following discoveries represent the highlights of 2012 in cancer research and
illustrate the inroads we’re making in the fight against cancer.
Obstacles delay referral to
palliative care
CONTROLS PROTEINS TO STOP CANCER
Focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind vitamin D’s
cancer-fighting abilities, Dr John White’s research group studied the protein
that is elevated in at least 50 per cent of cancers. The researchers found many
ways vitamin D can block the protein in human cells, adding to our growing
knowledge of vitamin D and certainly sparking future studies in further
understanding its role in stopping cancer development and growth.
A 2012 study found that Canadian oncologists
refer terminally ill cancer patients to palliative
care too late – often in the last few months of life,
and sometimes not until the final few days. The
primary obstacles were identified as both a lack of
availability and comprehensive services needed
by palliative patients and their families. Referring
patients sooner allows care teams to relieve
symptoms and distress, provide appropriate
social services, and offer advanced care advice to
patients and their families to improve the quality
of life.
Improving survival for patients with rare form of pancreatic cancer
Drug found to destroy
human cancer stem cells,
but spares healthy ones
Dr Mick Bhatia, an international
leader in cancer stem cell research,
discovered that an anti-psychotic
drug successfully kills the
cancer stem cells responsible
for leukemia without harming
normal stem cells. Cancer
stem cells can sustain the
growth of cancer and may be
involved in cancer recurring
after treatment. Researchers
aim to test the drug in clinical
trials, focusing on patients
with acute myeloid leukemia
whose disease has relapsed
after chemotherapy.
Funded by the Society, a NCIC Clinical Trials Group study found that patients with a rare form of
pancreatic cancer live longer if they are treated with surgery plus chemotherapy. This finding is an
important step towards improving typically poor survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients.
New ways to treat
malignant childhood
brain cancer
breast cancer
will lead to more
personalized treatments
24 | Spring • Summer 2013
acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone
marrow that can become very aggressive if not treated quickly.
Dr Aaron Schimmer and colleagues in Toronto tested several
drugs already approved for other conditions to determine if
any of them could also target AML cells. The researchers found
that the anti-malarial agent called mefloquine specifically
causes AML cancer cells to burst, uncovering a potential new
therapeutic strategy for this leukemia.
Hodgkin lymphoma
patients live longer with only chemotherapy
A trial led by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group found patients
with limited-stage Hodgkin lymphoma live longer when
treated with standard chemotherapy, as compared with
those also receiving radiation. The findings mean these
patients can be effectively treated while avoiding the
long-term side effects of radiation.
years
of breakthroughs
1947
The National Cancer
Institute of Canada
(NCIC) – the Society’s
research partner – was
created.
1950s
Funded by the
Canadian Cancer
Society, Dr Vera Peters
pioneered the use of
radiation in cancer
treatment.
1960s
Decoding a deadly form of
For the first time, an international team
of scientists has decoded the complex
genetic makeup of what’s called triplenegative breast cancer, a hard-to-treat
form of the disease. Dr Sam Aparicio in
Vancouver led the study, which found
a wide variety of mutations in patients,
making an important step towards
better understanding this deadly form of
breast cancer. Knowing more about the
genes involved could change the way the
disease is diagnosed and form the basis
for the next generation of treatments.
Drug shows promise in fighting
Natural sea sponge product
prevents cancer-induced
muscle wasting
Dr Imed Gallouzi and his research team have
found that a natural product from sea sponges
prevents muscle wasting in mice. Approximately
30 per cent of cancer patients die due to muscle
wasting. The researchers found that the natural
product, known as pateamine A, can be used at
low doses to not only prevent muscle loss, but also
stop muscle wasting that has already begun.
Dr Michael Taylor in Toronto was part of an
international team called MAGIC – short
for Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics
International Consortium – which
identified several genetic abnormalities
that lead to the development of a
malignant brain tumour. This research
has identified a number of genetic
targets for more effective
treatments and may spare some
children the side effects of
unnecessary radiation.
The application of
modern chemotherapy
is based on a discovery
made by Dr Robert
Bruce, funded by the
Society.
2009
NCIC was integrated
with the Society,
becoming the
Canadian Cancer
Society Research
Institute. Today, the
Society continues to
be the largest national
charitable funder of
cancer research in
the country.
believe | 25
advocacy
advocacy
BAN the tobacco industry’s
secret weapon
Local legislation
is essential
T
the growing awareness
of the link between
tobacco and lung
For one thing, loopholes allow the tobacco
industry to continue targeting young consumers
with an array of other equally dangerous
flavoured tobacco products.
cancer, the Canadian
Cancer Society launched
a public education
Flavour additives are one of the
industry’s secret weapons for
snaring new customers.
program for secondary
school children.
And neither ban restricts menthol – that minty
flavour additive commonly used in cigarettes
and other tobacco products.
Start talking about a ban on menthol though
and things seem to get complicated.
“The tobacco industry is very protective of
menthol,” says Angeline. “And why wouldn’t it
be? It helps sell a lot of tobacco.”
of milestones
In the 1960s, due to
he Canadian government banned
flavoured cigarettes two years ago. Not
long before that, Barack Obama did the
same thing south of the border. So why are we
still talking about it?
“The tobacco industry knows what it’s doing,
and flavour additives are one of the industry’s
secret weapons for snaring new customers –
especially the young ones,” says Angeline Webb
of the Canadian Cancer Society. “And menthol
just happens to be the king of all tobacco
flavours – you can’t overstate its insidious role in
tobacco addiction.”
years
Get ‘em
started young!
According to a 2012 survey of nearly 3,500
junior high students in Alberta, one out of
six was using flavoured tobacco products.
Approximately 80 per cent of new
smokers are under the age of 18.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer
death for men and women in Canada. Last
year, more than 20,000 Canadians died of
lung cancer, one of the most preventable
types of cancer.
when
minty fresh
is dangerous
Menthol masks the harsh flavour of tobacco –
that’s no secret. And the evidence that shows just
how dangerous the minty flavouring is when used
in tobacco products is compelling.
Recent research shows that:
• New smokers who smoke menthol-flavoured
cigarettes are more likely to become
addicted.
• Menthol numbs and soothes the throat,
allowing for deeper smoke inhalation and
enhancing nicotine absorption – ultimately
increasing the risk of related health problems
and tobacco addiction.
• Menthol cigarettes are the second-most
popular flavoured tobacco product among
Canadian school children (Health Canada).
• Considered to be a “starter product” for
kids and young adults, the use of menthol
cigarettes is higher among new users than
adult tobacco users.
Although there is a federal ban on flavoured tobacco products – excluding menthol – a
comprehensive provincial ban would be more effective and more likely enforced. Add your
voice to the call to protect Alberta’s kids from big tobacco companies. Stop the industry
from targeting youth with products that are fruit, candy and mint flavoured, which all make
it easier to push past the harsh unpleasantness of tobacco, ultimately making it easier for
new smokers to become addicted.
Get involved – help prevent addiction before it even happens. Visit cancer.ca.
e
h
t
Ban
n
a
t
Smoking rates in
Canada were at an
all-time high in the
1960s when nearly half
of all adults smoked.
Just 10 indoor tanning sessions
can double a person’s risk of
developing melanoma — the
most dangerous of all skin
cancers and the most common
cancer among youth.
Join us in calling on the Alberta
government to ban underage
indoor tanning.
cancer.ca
• Health Canada data indicates that menthol
cigarette use among youth smokers is only
second to cigarillos/little cigars at 36 per cent.
26 | Spring • Summer 2013
believe | 27
CanCer Can be frightening, but
you are
noT alone.
the
information
more
you know
When you
need to know
If you or someone close to you has been
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – or any
type of cancer, for that matter – contact the
Canadian Cancer Society to find out more.
We will provide you with the most up-to-date
information on diagnosis, treatment and
available resources in your community.
Call an information
specialist: Cancer
Information Service
1-888-939-3333
pancreas
The Canadian Cancer Society is here to support you.
We are your best partner in the fight against cancer. We offer practical
and emotional support services as well as the most up-to-date information
about cancer for patients, caregivers and their families – all provided free of
charge thanks to the donations of our generous supporters.
CanCerConneCTion
1-800-263-6750
online CommuniTy
CancerConnection.ca
CanCer informaTion ServiCe
1-888-939-3333
Talking to someone who has been through
what you are facing can make a big
difference. That’s what our CancerConnection
program is all about. We match people who
have had similar experiences as a patient or
caregiver. Our trained volunteers listen and
offer emotional support and practical advice
about living with cancer.
Cancer patients, their family and
friends can share their experiences
and develop supportive relationships
in our safe and secure online
community. Start an online discussion,
join a specific group, or start your
own blog – CancerConnection.ca is
waiting for you.
The Cancer Information Service is a
national, toll-free service offering
comprehensive information about
cancer and community resources. Our
information specialists take the time
to answer your questions in clear,
understandable terms and search for
the information you need about cancer.
cancer.ca
28 | Spring • Summer 2013
a double-duty organ
Originally named
“Pan-Kreas” by the
ancient Greeks
This dual-function gland is
part of the digestive and the
hormonal systems.
Its roles include:
• making pancreatic
juices to help digest
food
• producing insulin
which converts food
to energy
• making hormones that
help our bodies use or
store energy from food
Pick up pamphlets: contact your nearest
Canadian Cancer Society office
pancreatic CANCER
breakthrough
Last year, a clinical trial funded by the Canadian Cancer Society
found that patients with a rare form of pancreatic cancer – called
periampullary adenocarcinoma – live longer if they are treated with
surgery plus chemotherapy. It’s an important step towards improving
survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients.
Read about more cancer research breakthroughs on page 25.
believe | 29
support services
support services
WHEN YOU NEED US
WE ARE HERE
Online support | cancer.ca
fills the tank
The Volunteer Driver Program is fueled by
volunteers but, nevertheless, it does cost
money to run the service that provides
safe transportation to cancer patients to
and from treatment. The Society provides
training for drivers, subsidizes the cost of
gas, and staff work to coordinate drivers
and patients Monday through Friday.
Financial Assistance Program
Providing financial assistance to Albertans who need help covering
transportation and accommodation expenses when travelling to cancer
treatment facilities in other cities.
Compassionate Financial Assistance Program
For end-of-life costs, the Compassionate Financial Assistance Program
provides modest support to those who have been diagnosed as
palliative and have exhausted all other means of financial support.
Patient Care Kit
A cancer diagnosis can prove to be very challenging, so we put together
some practical items and lots of information with newly-diagnosed
patients specifically in mind – making things just a little bit easier.
Volunteer Driver Program
Volunteers, who donate both their time and vehicles, provide
much-needed transportation for patients who can’t otherwise
get to and from their cancer appointments. Rides are offered
free of charge to patients and their caregivers in Calgary,
Edmonton and Lethbridge.
30 | Spring • Summer 2013
Cancer Information Service | 1-888-939-3333
The Cancer Information Service is a national, toll-free service offering
comprehensive information about cancer and community resources. The
free-of-charge service is available to cancer patients, their caregivers, family
and friends, or any member of the general public.
Edmonton foundation
PRACTICAL Support
information
Last year, the Edmonton Community
Foundation made a generous donation
to the Canadian Cancer Society,
designating its gift to pay for the
Edmonton expenses of the Volunteer
Driver Program. And that meant more
patients in the Edmonton area had one
less thing to worry about during their
cancer journey.
Wig Lending Program
A good hair day might seem like a small thing compared
to cancer, but there were days when I couldn’t even bring
myself to look in the mirror. When the volunteer stylist
fit me with my wig at the Society office, I was thrilled.
Sometimes it is the small things that make all the difference.
~ Daphne
Wigs go a long way in
restoring confidence
in patients who have
lost their hair after
chemotherapy, but
are a luxury that many
cannot afford. For that
reason, the Society
maintains wig banks in
Calgary and Red Deer,
where the operation
is supported by
motivated volunteers.
Finding the answers you need about cancer might be easier and more
comfortable at your own computer, and cancer.ca is always there, 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. The website includes a broad range of cancer
information, including an online database of relevant information called
the Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia. years
of milestones
Help someone get back
on their feet and face
treatment head on
During the 1970s, the Society focused on
providing support services for people living
with cancer. By the late ‘70s, these services
included financial support, transportation,
and comprehensive cancer information.
Every 3 minutes,
another Canadian
is diagnosed with
cancer. Contribute to
the Canadian Cancer
Society and fund the
vital support programs
and services helping
patients right here
in Alberta and the
Northwest Territories.
For more information,
go to cancer.ca.
Emotional Support
CancerConnection | 1-800-263-6750
Our telephone peer support program matches patients and caregivers
with trained volunteers who have experienced cancer themselves or as
caregivers, offering support, understanding and hope.
Inspiring Hope Support Group Series
Even if you have a strong support system, cancer can be an isolating
experience. Together with community partner organizations, the Canadian
Cancer Society provides group support than can minimize those feelings
of isolation. Inspiring Hope Support Groups are led by experienced
professionals and survivors throughout Alberta, and can make an incredible
difference for newly-diagnosed patients. Online community | CancerConnection.ca
A trusted online community for cancer patients, caregivers, friends and
family, CancerConnection.ca offers a wide variety of discussions, blogs and
groups. It's a meeting place where you’ll find caring, supportive people who
want to share and talk about what they’re going through.
For more information about these programs and services,
go to cancer.ca.
believe | 31
support services
We are running
dangerously
low on drivers.
Don’t leave cancer patients
without a ride to treatment.
orever
fgrateful
Don’t leave a
cancer patient
without a ride
when they need
it most.
We need drivers –
particularly in the
Edmonton area – to
help us keep up with
the demand.
In the Edmonton area,
call 780-437-8406.
For Calgary/Lethbridge,
call 1-800-263-6750.
W
hile it was a difficult time, Lenore
Lammi says she has plenty of good
memories from the two-and-a-half years
that her husband, Edward, battled brain cancer.
There were nights that the couple, who had been
married for more than four decades, would sit on
the porch of the family farmhouse where Edward
was born in 1928.
During the afternoons, they would sometimes sit
out on lawn chairs amongst the hay, watching the
youngest of their three children work.
There was an outpouring of support from family,
friends, the greater community and medical
professionals following Edward’s 2007 diagnosis.
Lenore also fondly remembers how Canadian
Cancer Society volunteers always provided a
comforting experience while transporting Edward
to his radiation treatments. “I don’t know how we
would have dealt without the Volunteer Driver
Program,” says Lenore, 75.
The couple travelled more than 200 km from their
home near Glendon, AB, to stay with their middle
child in Edmonton while Edward underwent
treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute.
32 | Spring • Summer 2013
Patients in Edmonton and Calgary urgently need your
help. Call 1-800-661-2262 or volunteer@cancer.ab.ca.
If you can spare even one weekday per week, you
can make a tremendous difference to cancer patients
in your community.
years
of milestones
In 1977 the Society developed
new emotional support
programs for cancer
patients and their
Although staying with their
loved ones.
daughter in the city was a blessing,
getting to treatment proved to be difficult.
Lenore doesn’t drive, public transportation wasn’t
readily available where they were, and cab fare was prohibitive.
Then someone at the Cross Cancer Institute told the couple about the
Society’s Volunteer Driver Program, a free service that provides safe and
reliable transportation to people undergoing cancer treatment in Calgary,
Edmonton and Lethbridge.
“They were all so friendly,” says Lenore, who accompanied her husband to
all of his appointments. “Everybody was so concerned about making things
easier for us.”
The volunteers were always prompt with their pick-up and drop-off times,
courteous and cheerful, and quick to offer uplifting conversations, she says.
“It was a tough time, but all of these little things made a big difference.”
Lenore and Edward were so pleased with the service that they made
a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, designating their entire
contribution to the Volunteer Driver Program.
Edward ultimately lost his battle with brain cancer in the summer of 2010.
Nevertheless, Lenore will fondly remember her husband’s final years.
“I spent every minute that I could with him,” she says. “He was so easy to care
for and he appreciated everything.”
cancer.ca • 1-800-661-2262
VOICES
either IT wins
I WIN
Heather Strange has been
surrounded by cancer
her whole life – losing her
parents, grandparents,
aunts, uncles and two best
friends to the disease. But,
at age 41, she didn’t think
for one minute that it had
its ugly eyes on her.
I
n 2003, I was happily married with
two active, vibrant and beautiful daughters,
aged six and three. The day after my very first
mammogram, I was called back in for further
imaging. I wasn't the least bit concerned – cancer
was the last thing on my mind. I was very healthy,
happy and active – surely this was a mistake!
It wasn't a mistake, and so began our journey with
doctor appointments, two surgeries, chemo and
radiation. I made a decision: “Either it wins or I
win”. It was as simple as that. And I wanted to win.
Losing wasn't an option.
Throughout my treatments, I continued to swim
with my masters group and walk when possible.
My husband, Jim, was our rock. He took care of
his job, our family and our home – and didn't miss
one of my appointments. I often worried and felt
guilty wondering who was taking care of him.
A GIFT
that keeps on giving
Nearly 10 years later, severe abdominal pain lead
to CT scans, revealing the cancer had spread to
my liver – making it twice its normal size and full
of dozens of tumours. Chemo began immediately
and, after just one treatment, I knew it was
working. I believe strongly in the power of positive
thinking, and I am so thankful for the loving
support of my husband, our families and friends.
On December 20, we received the best Christmas
gift of all: a scan showed that approximately
80 per cent of the cancer was gone and my liver
was back to its normal size.
My cancer isn't curable, but with the assistance of
hormone therapy, our goal is that I’ll live a long,
happy life with a chronic condition. And that is
exactly what I plan to do!
Heather Strange lives in Calgary with her family.
Your parents have done so much for you. Now they can
make a difference in the lives of others.
Give your parents a more meaningful gift this Mother’s
Day and Father’s Day – the gift of a cancer-free future.
Find unique presents in the Canadian Cancer Society’s
online Gift Guide to celebrate your mom and dad.
34 | Spring • Summer 2013
cancer.ca/giftguide
cancer
changes
everything
unless
we
change
Change depends on you. To donate
or volunteer, visit cancer.ca.
cancer