Patient Stories Archives - CancerCare Manitoba Foundation

Fernanda’s Story

September 5, 2024 was the day Fernanda had been waiting for – the due date of her third child. Instead, it marked the first day of her treatment for an aggressive type of stage 3 breast cancer − urgent treatment that unfolded alongside her newborn baby’s first year of life.

“Finding out I was pregnant – it was a miracle. Then, I discovered the cancer…”

Fernanda and her husband Marcel were overjoyed to be growing their family. Then, at 36 weeks pregnant, their lives were turned upside down.

Can you imagine getting a cancer diagnosis when you’re expecting a newborn?

They were devastated and worried about what the future might bring for themselves, their unborn baby and their two young children.

Thankfully, because of donors past support of local research, Fernanda’s medical team used leading-edge genetic testing to examine her cancer cells. Years of donor-funded research helped to shape her treatment plan. A plan that could save Fernanda’s life.

The moment Fernanda’s cancer diagnosis was confirmed, doctors ordered an emergency c-section. On August 21, Nathan was born.

Fernanda’s care team needed to move quickly. She had numerous scans and tests to prepare for cancer treatment. Her body also needed time to recover from the birth.

“I was eager to start my treatment. I thought, I have a baby, I have a young family. This is my life and I want to live it.”

Their son’s arrival should have been pure joy. Instead, it carried the weight of fear and what felt like endless unknowns.

Within two weeks of Nathan’s arrival, Fernanda began what would be an incredibly difficult eight months of treatments. These treatments left her feeling so weak that she needed blood transfusions just to keep going. Once her chemotherapy was complete, she faced complex surgery and a long recovery.

It would be a lot to handle for anyone, let alone while caring for a young family.

Thankfully, Fernanda’s loved ones have been by her side every step of the way, and as a donor, so have you.

Donors’ generous investment in leading-edge research has made it possible for Fernanda to access the critical care she needs to beat her cancer.

You can make an even greater difference right now.

By becoming a monthly donor today, you are supporting innovative research at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba. Your gifts will give Manitobans, like Fernanda – who face an unthinkable cancer diagnosis – access to treatment options built on years of donor-funded cancer research. Treatment they desperately need.

Your support of cancer research gives families like Fernanda’s a fighting chance.

Almost 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetimes. Your thoughtful contribution towards life-saving local research is truly an investment in the people you love. Thanks to donors, patients like Fernanda have a chance to live their lives.

Your gift today is a powerful reminder that every step forward in treatment begins with people like you.

Fernanda and Marcel know how much your gift makes a difference.

As you read this, Fernanda has recently completed 25 doses of radiation, yet still faces several months of immunotherapy. She holds on to the strong drive to overcome her cancer, spend more time with her young family, and the vision of one day travelling all together.

For now, Fernanda endures her treatment, grateful that she is supported by years of research, made possible by donors like you.

*We are grateful for the generosity and vision of International Truck Body Inc. who have matched all gifts up to $10,000.

Jordan’s Story

Five years ago Jordan was in the best shape of his life and never imagined that cancer would be a part of his story. Then, everything changed.

In January 2020, he started to experience persistent back pain that grew worse over time. Ten months later an MRI revealed large tumours along his spine, leading to a diagnosis of spinal ependymoma, a rare type of cancer affecting the spine and brain.

“It was a very surreal experience,” he shared. “I was 25 years-old and in great shape. Considering how young and healthy I was, it was a shock to be delivered such terrible news.” Thanks to donor support, important services and programs specific to young adults were available for Jordan, giving him hope.

Jordan demonstrated remarkable courage through major spinal surgery. As he recovered, Jordan received the devastating news that his tumors were inoperable and he would need 27 rounds of radiation. With a difficult path before him, Jordan was grateful for the unique care available to young Manitobans facing cancer, thanks to donor support.

Jordan’s cancer would remain stable for the next two years.

Then, in 2023 his symptoms returned and he began treatment once again. This time, chemotherapy followed by radiation. The hardest moment came in September when Jordan’s cancer progressed, leading to paralysis and leaving him permanently wheelchair-bound.

Jordan was now a young father and husband, navigating the joys of these roles while also confronting the harsh reality of cancer. The impact on his life and his young family is profound and donors’ continued support is needed to ensure research into rare types of cancer continues.

The donor-funded Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program at CancerCare Manitoba offers young people with unique needs like Jordan connection, specialized rehabilitative services, support and belonging.

“The AYA program has been absolutely amazing,” he shared. “Being 25 years-old and living with a rare disease can make you feel different, lonely and a whole host of other emotions. But connecting with people in similar situations has been incredibly helpful.”

Your gift today can help ensure the AYA program continues to deliver the supports needed for Jordan and his family.

“In a way, I’m happier now than I was before my diagnosis,” he reflected. “I’m a better person today than I was a year ago. And a much, much better person than I was before cancer.”

His dreams remain strong: to provide the best life possible for his two-year-old daughter, to push the limits of his independence, and to be the best husband and father he can be.

“When cancer happens to someone like me, it can happen to anyone,” Jordan reminds us.

Jordan’s cancer journey is far from over.

After discovering his oral chemotherapy treatment had been ineffective in stagnating the growth of his tumors, Jordan began IV chemotherapy in January of this year.

Thanks to donors, Jordan and other young adults like him can face cancer alongside a meaningful community, and with services tailored for their specific needs. You can help today.

“Your donation makes a world of difference. Being diagnosed at a young age is life-altering, but having the AYA program makes the journey easier to navigate. It’s something I will forever be grateful for.”

Your support today will continue to fund these critical support programs and services that make all the difference to Jordan, and patients like him.

Raven’s Story

In October of 2022, 17-year-old Raven from Neepawa, received a call from her doctor. “We found stage 3 cancer,” he shared.

Earlier that year, Raven started experiencing occasional nosebleeds and discovered a bump on her neck. A visit with her doctor prompted further investigation, including a biopsy. What followed were months of doctors’ appointments and diagnostic tests like MRIs and ultrasounds, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare form of cancer.

In an instant, Raven’s life shifted from navigating the routine of a high school student to grappling with the reality of a cancer diagnosis.

Instead of attending school with her friends, planning trips and playing sports, she now faced three months of chemotherapy, seven weeks of radiation and frequent visits to the hospital in Neepawa. Committed donors ensured that services and programs for young people with cancer like Raven, are in place for when they are needed most.

“I could see my high school from the window in my hospital room. Knowing that people my age were able to do whatever they wanted, was very upsetting. It was a very isolating experience. Even though I had really great support with family and friends, it felt like I was alone for a very long time.”

Thanks to the donor-funded Adolescent & Young Adults (AYA) program at CancerCare Manitoba, Raven found a community and the support she needed to get through such a challenging time. The program provides space for AYAs with similar experience to lean on each other through a support group. The generosity of donors makes this possible.

Your support today ensures AYAs will continue to receive counselling, including specialized counselling related to career and fertility, supporting this demographic’s unique needs.

“There were people who went through the same thing as me. I felt like I was being heard. Like people just knew what I was going through. That changed everything.”

Today, Raven is in her first year of university and has big dreams. She is determined to become a lawyer. Raven has a new-found confidence and tools to guide her journey as a cancer survivor thanks to the AYA program, a program funded by donors. You can be a part of this impact.

When asked about the future and her ability to pursue her dreams, she shared: “I think for me, just because of the fact I had cancer, I have more determination now to do this. I have nothing to lose. I’ve gone through the lowest part of my life. I can only go up from here.”

Now, Raven is transforming her experience into action by giving back. As part of the patient and family advisory team, she is helping other young patients through both advocacy and support.

Thanks to donors, young adults like Raven don’t have to face cancer alone. You can join them in making a difference.

Your donations make programs like AYA possible, giving young patients the support, services and connection they need. “I have a lot of gratitude for donors. They are very, very inspiring and the support that they give is so amazing. And it helps people like me and so many others.”

Your support today will continue funding these critical programs and services that make all the difference to Raven, and patients like her.

Dani’s Story

In the summer of 2023 Dani was focused on her health, building strength at the gym and feeling her best. It was around this time that she found a lump in her left breast and wondered, “could it be a pulled muscle?”

Within weeks the lump grew rapidly. Dani called her family doctor who referred her for an ultrasound and mammogram. During the ultrasound Dani sensed something wasn’t right.

Following a biopsy, her worst fears were confirmed. Dani was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer.

“It was a moment of numbness and disbelief,” she recalled.

A treatment plan was put in place by the care team at CancerCare Manitoba. Right away Dani underwent six months of chemotherapy, 20 rounds of radiation, a lumpectomy, and immunotherapy that all finished in October of 2024. Physically, the journey was demanding, but emotionally, it was even harder.

Friends and family struggled to understand what she was going through and some pulled away. Dani found herself feeling isolated like many young adults facing cancer often do. Dani’s experience completely changed when she found the donor-funded Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program at CancerCare Manitoba for patients aged 15 to 39-years-old.

Donors make supports like the AYA program available to young people living with cancer. Your donation ensures this care remains available when its needed most.

Through the AYA program Dani connected with a psychosocial specialist who offered emotional support and coping strategies. Dani also joined online support groups with people her age who truly understood what she was going through. She no longer felt alone.

Even now after treatment, she continues to meet with her support team as she navigates the complexities of survivorship. “Having the AYA program through every stage of my experience with cancer has given me the tools to move forward with confidence.”

Today, Dani is back at work and settling into new routines while making space for all she has experienced. Dani continues to engage with the AYA community, proudly sharing her Indigenous culture by leading beading workshops with other AYA participants. Most importantly, your gift today makes it possible for Dani to focus on her future.

“Your donations make such a difference,” she said. “If I hadn’t received the services I did from CancerCare, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Consider making a gift today to ensure that critical support programs and services continue to be available to young people in Manitoba, like Dani.

Tootsie’s Story

Your investment in research has given Tootsie more time with her loved ones.

Donors’ generous support has made an impact on many Manitobans affected by cancer, including Tootsie. Channeling her own cancer diagnosis, Tootsie has deeply connected to people in her beloved community of Winnipeg Beach in a new way.

Tootsie’s first experience with cancer was in 2018. Following a routine surgery to remove her gallbladder, she was shocked to learn that she had cancer. Her future felt uncertain as she underwent numerous tests. Fortunately, doctors determined that the cancer had not spread, and the initial surgery was a success.

Then in 2022, after experiencing some concerning symptoms, she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The news was devastating for Tootsie and her family. She began radiation immediately, and soon learned that she was eligible to receive a new type of immunotherapy treatment.

Tootsie’s treatment was developed through years of donor funded research. This therapy trained her immune system to attack the cancer cells in her body.

Over the next two years Tootsie received immunotherapy every three weeks. During this challenging time in her life, she came to understand the importance of cancer research. She is grateful for donors’ support which helped her care team to access an innovative treatment that has given her more time with the people she loves.

Tootsie’s next scans revealed positive news – the tumour on her lung had shrunk significantly. Today, she continues with regular appointments to monitor her cancer. Overall, she is feeling positive thanks to donors and the loving support of her family.

Tootsie openly shares her story with people in her community of Winnipeg Beach to create awareness, and to fundraise in support of other people impacted by cancer. “I’m so lucky to live in a town where people support me. I enjoy fundraising because I know it is for a good cause,” said Tootsie. “It’s amazing to me the connections that have come from sharing my cancer story. It has been rewarding in so many ways and helped me meet so many new friends.”

Tootsie is grateful to donors who have helped her have more time with her family including five grandkids and two great-grandkids. Manitobans generous support of local research has truly made a difference for Tootsie and for her community. “If it wasn’t for donor support of research, I truly believe that I wouldn’t be here today.”

Les’s Story

Thanks to your support, Les is cancer-free.

Thanks to donor support of research, Les recently celebrated four years of being cancer-free.

Eight years ago, Les was diagnosed with differentiated liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer. Hearing that he had cancer was difficult to process. Fortunately, years of donor funded research meant that his care team at CancerCare Manitoba had a plan, even though his cancer was uncommon.

“A week after my diagnosis I met with my medical specialists and they had a plan. It was reassuring and gave me hope.”

It is thanks to generous donors that doctors at CancerCare Manitoba are able to identify effective treatments for rare types of cancer.

Les went through 25 rounds of radiation and then took some time to recover before undergoing surgery. The journey throughout his treatment was difficult.

Thanks to donors, important resources were available to support his path to recovery. Les used the psychosocial services available to patients and their families.

“They were really good at helping me deal with the emotions of having a personal experience with cancer.”

Today, Les lives in Sandy Hook, Manitoba. A naturally social person, he surrounds himself with a community of supportive friends, many of whom have also been personally affected by cancer.

One year after his surgery, Les decided to become involved in Challenge for Life with a commitment to give back. He’s part of a 14-person team with people from the Interlake area, all working throughout the year to raise awareness and funds for Manitobans experiencing a cancer diagnosis.

Les is thankful for donors’ generous support, which has given him more time to enjoy the people and things he loves.

“I’m so thankful and so grateful to donors for helping to save my life.”

Kingston’s Story

Our names are Nick and Dina and a little over a year ago, we received the most devastating news of our lives when our
11-year-old son Kingston was diagnosed with cancer. In an instant, our joyful, active boy was thrust into a fight for his life.

Donors’ generosity has improved Kingston’s chances for survival.

Thanks to generous donors like you, our son has access to the latest treatments to help him fight this terrible disease. Donor-funded discoveries and clinical trials have paved the way for families like ours to receive leading-edge care, right here in Manitoba. Still, we have a long way to go before Kingston will be considered cancer-free. And before we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

We are sharing Kingston’s story with you today in hopes that it will inspire you to support Manitobans with cancer this holiday season.

Kingston’s diagnosis came out of nowhere. He was an energetic young boy. And then, quite suddenly, he wasn’t. In the span of a week he went from playing soccer with friends to being tired and weak. His deteriorating health quickly led us to the emergency room.

Within hours of arriving at the hospital, Kingston was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

We were taken to the intensive care unit where Kingston would spend the next 10 days. Doctors discovered a 14-inch mass on the left side of his chest that left him struggling to breathe. This was the beginning of the fight for his life.

“It was heart-breaking to see him in a hospital bed, hooked up to so many machines.”

Kingston began chemotherapy that very night. For the next month he remained in hospital.

The fevers, exhaustion and nausea he experienced were extreme. He received chemotherapy multiple times a week. He endured painful lumbar punctures and regular doses of steroids.

We never left his side. And we never gave up hope — just as Kingston never stopped fighting.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Kingston was able to return home from the hospital.

Continued chemotherapy meant our lives remained unpredictable. The side effects were awful. Sometimes he couldn’t leave his room or eat for days. We’ve had too many hospital stays to count. Sometimes they were three days, four days, even 10 days long. We lost track of how many emergency room visits we made because his fever spiked dangerously. It was overwhelming.

“We had no idea, until Kingston’s illness, how much we would come to rely on the generosity of others to keep our son alive.”

By donating today, your gift will help discover new ways to treat blood cancers like the leukemia affecting our son. Without ongoing donor support, there is no guarantee discoveries will continue to be made and treatments will continue to advance. What would we do then? We can’t bear the thought.

We hope you will consider making a gift today to ensure children like Kingston continue to receive the leading-edge care they need.

Recently, Kingston completed the most intense part of his treatment, but his immune system was ravaged. His blood counts dropped so low that we had to wait for them to rise before he could move forward with the next phase of chemotherapy.

At the end of the summer, we learned he was strong enough to begin the next stage of his treatment.

This would entail a series of daily medications that would continue to combat the cancer cells in his body.

While it’s still very difficult, this is the first time our family has felt anything close to our ‘normal’ life in over a year. After months of isolation from family and friends due to Kingston’s compromised immune system, we are now able to spend time with loved ones again.

I’m sure you can imagine the relief we feel.

Research is the cure for cancer.

Gifts from monthly donors help fund local cancer research. Vital research that may discover a new treatment for leukemias or other cancers. We hope you will consider joining this loyal group of donors with a monthly gift, knowing your partnership may enable important discoveries.

There is still a long road ahead until Kingston completes his treatment in February 2026.

We are grateful to donors like you for advancing cancer care in Manitoba.

Kingston is not out of the woods yet, and every step of the way brings new challenges. This is why it is so important to have your support.

Kingston’s resilience and determination motivates us to stay strong. For now, we are taking things day by day and trying to keep laughter in our home.

You give us hope.

Your gift this holiday season ensures that Manitoba kids like our son Kingston have the best chance to beat their cancer. You enable innovative treatments and enhanced patient care.

Your donation will once again make a difference for so many families like ours.

Our deepest gratitude,

Nick and Dina

Sandra’s Story

In 2017, Sandra was given one year to live. Today, seven years later she is travelling the world and living a full life thanks to the support of donors like you.

In the early fall of 2016, Sandra’s doctor referred her for a scan which showed spots on her lungs. Specialists reviewing her scans believed the suspected tumours were cancer, but Sandra would require surgery to confirm the diagnosis. In February of 2017, the surgery was completed, and pathology results later confirmed she had stage 3 lung cancer.

“When the results came back and they told me I had cancer, I didn’t believe it,” said Sandra. “It was really hard news to take in.” Sandra was told that even with treatment, she likely only had one year to live. She began chemotherapy but unfortunately had a negative reaction and had to stop.

Thanks to donor support of local cancer research, Sandra’s doctor was able to identify a different treatment option that would use her body’s natural immune system to specifically target the cancer cells in her body.

Sandra began immunotherapy, and for the next two years made the most of the time between treatments and scans by travelling the world. “Travelling is my way of looking forward. Now when I go in for my appointments, people don’t ask me how I am or how I’m feeling, they ask where I’ve been and where I’m going.”

In the fall of 2019, Sandra was able to take a break from treatment and for the following three years, the cancer remained stable.

Then in 2023, one of her scans showed the development of new tumours on her lungs. Sandra qualified for a new type of radiation therapy developed thanks to years of donor-funded research in Manitoba.

The treatment offers qualified patients the opportunity to reduce their in-person visits and requires minimal targeted radiation appointments.

She required a second radiation treatment last March and today, thanks to donors’ support, Sandra is doing well and her cancer is stable. She continues with regular appointments and scans and spends a lot of her time doing what she loves – travelling.

Sandra has seen the progress and experienced the life-changing impact of donor-funded research at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba. Thanks to donor support more Manitobans like Sandra are living well with cancer. “Knowing I was only given a year or so to live, and here I am today…it’s pretty amazing that research can do this,” said Sandra.

Brenda’s Story

Like so many Manitobans, Brenda’s family has been deeply impacted by cancer. Their lives were changed forever when two of her sisters passed away from cancer within a short period of time. Today, 16 years later, Brenda herself is living with cancer and making the most of every day surrounded by the people she loves.

Brenda is thankful to donors like you, who support research at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba and the options your generosity has provided for her own cancer treatment.

“When my sisters were sick, immunotherapy wasn’t an option for them. And today, it’s saving my life.”

Prior to her diagnosis, Brenda was focused on living a healthy lifestyle and intentionally trying to reduce her own risk of developing cancer. She maintained a healthy diet and walked daily with her husband Frank.

In the fall of 2021, following an MRI, she was surprised to learn that there was a tumour on her lung.

“I was completely caught off guard and in shock,” said Brenda. “At the time, both of my daughters were pregnant, and I was determined to get well and meet my grandchildren.”

Following radiation, Brenda learned that she qualified for an immunotherapy treatment that would train her immune system to attack the cancer cells in her body.

It’s through donors’ continued support of cancer research that Manitobans like Brenda have access to new treatments and therapies that can give them more time with the people they love.

The therapy was successful and today, Brenda’s cancer is stable.

Throughout her journey, Brenda’s family has always been her inspiration to keep going, stay healthy and not give up.

“My family has been so deeply impacted by this horrible disease to which we have lost far too many. They have provided me with the strength and encouragement to fight. I am so thankful and appreciative to all the people who invest in programs and local research at CancerCare Manitoba, they are giving me hope for the future.”

World Cancer Research Day

Your support this World Cancer Research Day gives Chantal hope for the future.

It was the fall of 2020 when Chantal was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to her liver. An all-around positive person, she made it through a challenging two years of chemotherapy thanks to the support of her family – and generous donors like you.

While the initial treatment was successful, Chantal’s cancer was only stable for one year.

In May 2023, after experiencing intense pain in her neck, scans revealed the cancer had progressed to her spine and several other areas of her body. She was quickly able to start radiation and while it gave her relief from the pain, she would need a more aggressive form of treatment to save her life.

Donors’ past support of research helped Chantal’s care team at CancerCare Manitoba identify a novel treatment that would specifically target the cancer cells in her body while minimizing the side effects.

“I understand so much more now about how critical research is to creating opportunities for people like me to access new treatments when there are no other options,” said Chantal.

Today, Chantal tries to live every day to the fullest as she continues with treatment. Her three children are her guiding light and inspiration to keep moving forward. She is hopeful that with your continued investment in research, new treatments will be available for her when she needs them the most.

Please consider making a donation this World Cancer Research Day to ensure a reliable supply of liquid nitrogen is available to help make important discoveries for Chantal, her family and other Manitobans like them.