Believe | Fall 2014/Winter 2015 by Canadian Cancer Society

believe A Canadian Cancer Society PUBLICATION

fall 2014/winter 2015

FALSE

advertising A Calgary mom sets her kids straight

PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK

Benefit you and your charity of choice

NOT JUST KIDSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; STUFF Young fundraisers team up

#FaceOffAgainstCancer

#BarkForLife

#CancerFighter

#CurlForCancer

#WhyIRelay

#JailNBail

#RelayForLife

#MyDaffodil

There really is something for everyone. All you have to do is choose. To find out more about how you can fundraise, go to cancer.ca.

believe contents

on the cov e r

Prevention An ounce of prevention

Good for you: Healthy recipes

You are what you eat

False Advertising A Calgary mom sets her kids straight

OUR SUPPORTERS

P12

Not just kids' stuff Young fundraisers team up

Don't ever underestimate kids

Her mother’s daughter

Put your money to work

All in the family

The top 7 mistakes in giving

Sunny days ahead

SUPPORT SERVICES

P18

Put your money to work Benefit you and your charity of choice

Just what the patient ordered

Practical support

The difference a day makes

Let us help

Research

u p front

P19

5 From the editor’s desk

IN BLOOM

Edmonton’s Lauren Ross enjoys some hands-on volunteering during the

6 How cancer changed my life

Canadian Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Month. Her mom has made community volunteering a family affair.

7 Save your own skin

In it for the long haul

A no brainer

Caring for our communities

ADVOCACY Bring it on

Get #FITat50 31 Alberta government to do the right thing

Ban the tan

Voices Just call me Sally

LOOK FOR THESE SYMBOLS Read the enhanced online issue of Believe at cancer.ca/believe.

Read more about this topic on another page in this issue of Believe.

Visit cancer.ca for further information.

GET CONNECTED JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

believe

Thanks to our donors and volunteers, the Canadian Cancer Society has the most impact, against the most cancers, in the most communities in Canada. Building on our progress, we are working with Canadians to change cancer forever. Make your gift at cancer.ca. Editorial and Creative Director Tiffany Kraus Managing Editor Deanna Kraus Contributors Colleen Ferguson, Christine Hopaluk, Mark Kolke, Deanna Kraus, Tiffany Kraus, Deja Leonard, Alyssa Quirico, Second Star Photography, Mike Skrypnek, Donella Swan, Paula Trotter

Copyediting and Production Deja Leonard, Emily Pratt, Paula Trotter Design Jen Little

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 Believe is a semi-annual publication of the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division. It is distributed free of charge to the people of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, including people living with cancer, Canadian Cancer Society volunteers, donors, researchers and community health partners. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please email us at believe@cancer.ab.ca or send your letters to:

Online Development Emily Pratt

Believe Magazine 200, 325 Manning Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 2P5

Printing

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.

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.

office locations @CancerSocietyAB

Calgary and District 200, 325 Manning Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 Phone 403-205-3966 Fax 403-205-3979

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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.

from the

EDITOR's desk

Crazy tragic, awful beautifuL

all has always been my favourite time of year. Back in the day, it meant new school outfits – Rainbow jeans and Adidas sneakers. Today it means an annual trip to Oregon’s awe-inspiring Willamette Valley and, if I’m very lucky, kitchen dancing to George Jones while a Thanksgiving turkey is roasting in the oven.

There are many ways to get involved in the fight against cancer. Go to cancer.ca to find out how you can help save lives, or honour people you have lost.

But this fall is even more special to me. October marks my 10th anniversary working with the Canadian Cancer Society. It seems like just yesterday that I accepted the position and was cautioned by my loved ones, “Just be careful not to take your work home with you." I didn’t listen to that advice. The work hits you. It hits like a lightning bolt to your heart, when a text interrupts your boardroom meeting to let you know the nine year old who wasn’t expected to make it through her surgery to remove a tumour, made it through. And it hits you like a sucker punch to your soul, listening to the seven year old trying to understand why his dying dad needs to sleep after chemo, instead of playing Lego with him. In the last 10 years, one of the questions that I get asked more than any other is, “Why haven’t you found a cure?" The fact is, we are not looking for one, single cure. There are over 200 types of cancer, and our work – and your support – has led to many life-saving breakthroughs. To name just a few, we now know that women who take

life

the drug letrozole after tamoxifen therapy have a greatly reduced risk of the cancer returning, changing the way breast cancer is treated worldwide; research has taught us that stem cells can be triggered to become blood cells, paving the way for new therapies for leukemia; and the discovery that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer led to the HPV vaccine – helping to prevent cervical cancer for thousands of women each year worldwide. But it’s not the science I take home with me at night – it’s the people. I recently chatted with our Board Chair Michael Permack and CancerConnection volunteer extraordinaire Sandra Skrober. Michael is a brain cancer survivor and Sandra is a pancreatic cancer survivor. Both of these cancers are extremely tough to beat. As I listened to them share stories and express gratitude to the Canadian Cancer Society, I couldn't help but think that these two beautiful souls in front of me were there because of the hard, hard work fundraisers, donors and supporters do every day. Thank you for all you do! To me, fighting cancer is a crazy tragic, almost magic, awful beautiful life. That said, I can't wait to work myself out of a job!

Tiffany Kraus Editorial and Creative Director

believe | 5

how cancer

changed my life Photo by Alyssa Quirico Becky Lynn with her daughters (clockwise from left) Lexy, Jada, and Savannah.

Q A 6 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

What's one thing you learned through this experience that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taught your children? My children know to be sun smart and they know never to use tanning beds. I think they also are learning to question and think about what is presented to them through marketing and advertising; to question that pressure to look a certain way and to fit into the beauty myths that are out there. They're also learning even though people can be diagnosed with cancer, they can survive and live really long lives; it's not necessarily the case that everybody dies of cancer. You can be diagnosed with cancer, take care of it, do all the right things and have a full life. Ăś

FALSE

advertising By Alyssa Quirico

SAVE YOUR OWN SKIN

After getting a biopsy, Becky was told it was melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Within just a few months, she went under the knife to remove the tumour. “I just never thought about any kind of cancer,” Becky says. “I was admittedly uninformed.”

Melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer.

hen Becky Lynn was 26 years old, she thought she was invincible – that was until she was told she had cancer. While bedridden recovering from spinal surgery likely caused by the wear and tear of university-level gymnastics, Becky noticed a spot on her leg that had changed colour. She decided to get it checked out.

Becky believes her melanoma was caused by spending time in tanning beds as a young adult. She says she never knew of their harmful effects when she stepped into her first tanning bed at the age of 16. “We all followed the rules; we all thought it was okay. So it was a shock to find out about melanoma,” says Becky, who grew up in Indiana. Luckily she found it early. Nevertheless, for years after, she still had to have chest x-rays to make sure the melanoma had not spread. Becky, 46, now lives in Calgary with her husband and three young daughters. Her experience with melanoma has made her grateful for her family and her health. But she is frustrated to know that many people seemingly don’t know tanning beds are a serious cancer risk. “So many people just assume that it's safe because they (the tanning industry) advertise it as a healthy option and they make you feel good when you go there. I think everyone gets lulled into this false sense of security thinking that it must be okay because they're allowed to tell me all these things.” ö

What type of cancer is increasing at a concerning rate despite being largely preventable?

The melanoma incidence rate has increased by nearly 50 per cent in men and by more than 35 per cent in women since 1986, according to the Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014 report. As with most cancers, the risk of melanoma rises exponentially with age, reflecting the fact that skin cancer can take many years to develop as a result of repeat overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Melanoma, however, is one of the most common cancers in youth and young adults between the ages of 15 and 29. Melanoma is not the most common skin cancer, but it does cause the most skin cancer deaths. While it’s fairly easy to treat when caught at the earliest stage, melanoma tends to spread quickly to other parts of the body – making it much more challenging to successfully treat. The good news is you can easily reduce your risk of skin cancer – use proper skin protection when you’re outside and don’t use tanning beds. Visit cancer.ca/sun to learn more about SunSense.

Overexposure to UV rays from the sun and tanning beds causes up to 90% of melanoma cases in Canada. Turn to page 32 to find out more about indoor tanning. believe | 7

prevention

AN Ounce of Prevention

You can prevent about one third of all cancers by eating healthy, staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight.

By Deja Leonard

Stay Active

All Year! Don’t hibernate just because it’s getting colder out there. Being physically active provides you with energy and many health benefits – including lowering your risk of cancer.

fall

is a great time to: • go for a hike – remember to pack healthy snacks and water for the trip • attend an outdoor fall festival • explore an unvisited part of your city or town on foot or by bicycle

winter

activities to try: • grab a sled and hit a nearby slope with the kids • plan a snowshoeing or cross-country skiing trip • use your local fitness centre – and consider warming up in the hot tub after

Society-funded cancer researcher Dr Christine Friedenreich is examining the negative impact of sedentary behavior as part of her Breast Cancer 8 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

Exercise Trial in Alberta.

ood for you

Before you head outdoors to have fun and get some exercise, power up with a healthy breakfast. Pumpkins are packed with carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants. So feel good about having this sweet treat to start your day!

½c 1/4 t ½t 1/8 t 2T 1/4 c 1/4 c

rolled oats vanilla cinnamon nutmeg maple syrup or 1½ packs stevia canned pumpkin milk of choice, or nondairy creamer

Preheat oven to 3800 F.

prevention

Pumpkin baked oatmeal From chocolatecoveredkatie.com

Combine raw oats, spices, pumpkin and milk. Pour into a greased 1-cup ramekin or a mini-loaf pan. Cook for 20 minutes or more, until it’s firm. Finally, set your oven to “high broil” for 3 more minutes, until it reaches desired crispiness.

Pumpkins are full of betacarotene, an antioxidant that may play a role in preventing cancer.

believe | 9

prevention

broccoli STIRFRY Broccoli is known as a cancer-busting food, so we found a recipe that makes this green veggie more delicious than ever!

1T 1/2 c 1T 1T 1 lb 2 1T

sesame seeds chicken or vegetable stock soy sauce sesame oil broccoli cloves garlic, minced minced ginger

Toast the sesame seeds in pan on medium heat, 3-4 minutes until lightly browned and then set aside. Mix the stock, soy sauce and sesame oil together, set aside. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large pan, sautĂŠ broccoli for 1 minute. Add in ginger and garlic. Add remaining oil. Add in chicken stock mixture. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat and cover 2-3 minutes, until broccoli is still firm, but can be pierced with a fork. Remove broccoli with a slotted spoon. Boil down the liquid until just a couple tablespoons remain. Turn off heat, return broccoli to the pan, add the toasted sesame seeds and toss with the liquid. From simplyrecipes.com

10 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

FAST fact: Broccoli is versatile in the kitchen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; use it in soups, salads, and finely chopped in homemade pesto.

prevention

FAST fact: Broccoli is high in vitamins C, A, and folate – not to mention, soluble fibre which makes you feel full and can help control weight.

You are what

you EAT

By Deja Leonard

We get vitamin D from the sun and from our diet. Research shows it may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, particularly colorectal and breast cancers.

When winter rolls around, so can the winter blues. Here are some foods that will keep you energized and full of essential vitamin D: • eggs • mushrooms • fatty fish like mackerel, tuna, salmon • any food or drink that is fortified with vitamin D, including milk and cereals

Bring on the sushi

Raw fish packs even more of a punch with vitamin D than cooked.

Read more about eating well in the online version at cancer.ca/believe.

going out For dinner? Tips for eating healthy at restaurants:

OUT forG nutritional OIN GAsk facts before you ? NERorder N I your meal. To help D R FOyou make a healthy choice, compare the fat, calories, sodium, fibre, sugar and other key nutrients.

Keep it small. Portion sizes at fast food counters and restaurants are usually bigger than what you would normally eat at home. Share a large meal with a friend, or ask to take leftovers home. Pick nutrition over value. Special super-sized meal combinations might seem like a good deal, but they're often packed with "extras" – extra fat, calories, sugar and/or sodium. Preparation is key. Order foods that have been steamed, baked, broiled, grilled, stir-fried or roasted. The hidden fat and calories add up quickly when food is fried, deep-fried, breaded or served with rich sauces. believe | 11

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever underestimate

By Deja Leonard

12 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

our supporters

ree Garnier was enjoying swimming with her friends last summer, when one child pointed out a curved scar on the six year old’s stomach.

had surgery to remove the growth from her abdomen, as well as her right kidney and adrenal gland. Nine months of chemotherapy followed the surgery.

Bree’s parents had told her she previously had an “owie” that was taken out when she was little. But, after this incident, her parents decided it was time to explain to Bree what really happened. Bree had more than just an owie when she was a baby – she had cancer.

Janelle said that Bree was very resilient during her chemotherapy. “Kids bounce back fast and they don’t have the psychological part that adults have,” she says. “She was too young to know and I think that was a blessing.”

Photos by Second Star Photography Opposite page: Classmates Marek

Wilms’ tumour is a rare kidney cancer that affects children.

Learning about her past Up until Bree was three months old, there had been a bulge on the side of her stomach. Her mom, Janelle Garnier, showed the lump to a nurse at the local Whitecourt Health Centre where it was suggested that Bree head to the hospital. After arriving at the emergency room, Bree had an ultrasound right away – Janelle remembers it being a Wednesday. Bree had a Wilms’ tumour. That night they were sent to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and, on Saturday, Bree

Crawford (left) and Isabelle Davio, on either side of their friend Bree Garnier. Top:

Although Bree was able to bounce back from her surgery and chemotherapy, Janelle says that the experience was devastating for the whole family, noting that the unknown was the scariest part of Bree’s cancer journey.

Bree Garnier (yellow shirt) and her 2014 Relay For Life team.

“It was a crazy whirlwind experience,” Janelle says, “but I don’t think I would have wanted to be anywhere else.” Team Breezer fights back This summer, a healthy, spunky, seven-year-old Bree could be seen running around the Relay For Life track with her young friends. believe | 13

Please give today. You’ll be supporting life-saving cancer research and life-changing programs and services. Visit cancer.ca to make a convenient and secure donation online.

Thank you! Your generous donation will help change cancer forever. Please accept my gift of:  $35

 $65

 $120

 $285

 Other $ ___________________

Method of payment: Relay For

 Mrs ofthe Ms  Mr  Other ______________________________ Life needs you! Be part biggest cancer  Visa  MasterCard  American Express Name ____________________________________________________ fundraiser and make the biggest impact in the fight against cancer.  Cheque (make payable to the Canadian Cancer Society) Name _______________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

survivors, rememberCity and honour loved ones, and fight (as it appears Celebrate on card) ______________________________________________________ back against cancer. Join your community and make a difference. Card no. ________________________ Expiry _______ Province ____________________ Postal code ___________________

Signature ____________________________________

Home phone ______________________________________________ Register. Volunteer. Donate. Please direct my gift to: Business phone ____________________________________________  SupportFind programs out more at relayforlife.ca. Email ___________________________________________________  Research  Where it’s needed most

Please send me an e-receipt:  Yes

 No

Mail to: 200, 325 Manning Road NE • Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P5

our supporters

Bree Garnier (left) holds little sister, Hannah.

Photo by Second Star Photography Photo by Christine Hopaluk

It’s a proud moment.It’s hard to even describe. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling to be able to be part of it.

When the Garnier family wanted to do something to show the community their gratitude for the support they were offered during their time of need – and show that cancer affects kids too – Relay For Life was the perfect option.

difference,” Janelle says. The event was enjoyed by all members of Team Breezer. Aside from joining in on the track, the children were busy building sandcastles, playing games and chatting with their friends.

Team Breezer was formed – an enthusiastic group of kids aged five to nine joined their friend Bree in the fight against cancer. Bree was excited, and came up with the idea to cut her hair – just one of the team’s many fundraising efforts.

Bree also helped kick off Relay by leading the Survivors’ Victory Lap along with all of the other cancer survivors in their yellow T-shirts.

Bree’s friends had never been to a Relay event before. “Now they know what cancer is and they know there are sad stories, but through raising money to help find a cure, they can do their part,” Janelle says. And Team Breezer definitely did its part. The kids raised nearly $5,000 – the secondhighest amount raised by any Relay team in Whitecourt this year. “I think the hope is that it creates awareness. That others see Bree as someone who is making a

“It’s a proud moment,” Janelle says. “It’s hard to even describe. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling to be able to be part of it.” ö

JOIN US IN 2015 Bring Relay For Life to your community in 2015, or join an event as a volunteer, survivor or participant. Sign up at relayforlife.ca or contact your local Canadian Cancer Society office.

believe | 15

our supporters

HER MOTHER'S

daughter By Deja Leonard

She used every opportunity and every ounce of life to share faith and let young people know that life is not hopeless as long as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still breathing.

TOP: From left to right, Jennifer Greentree, Malina Dawn, Someh Niengor, and Celeste Walsh at their 2014 Ignite the Fight fundraiser. LEft: Lynette Orilee Bowers with her grandchildren (left to right), Jada, Mehki and Niveah. ABOVE: Lynette receives an award of excellence for her work from Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s then Minister of Children and Youth Services.

our supporters

omeh Niengor, who lives in Grande Prairie with her children, remembers her mother as a strong-willed fashionista. Decked out in white from head to toe, with loose fabric flowing dramatically as she walked, Lynette Orilee Bowers knew how to make an entrance – something Someh’s mother prided herself on. Lynette, born in St Kitts, Virgin Islands, passed away from cancer in 2012 after it had returned for a second time. At that time, she had been living in Grande Prairie since 1972. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, and in 2012 it came back with a vengeance, having spread to her liver, lungs and bones.

Finding inspiration Someh, a single mother of four, found inspiration in her mother’s legacy and started a project called Ignite GP 4 Youth. The project provides opportunities, workshops and safe parties for all age groups. The mandate of the project is to provide counter-culture messaging promoting the idea that a woman’s “sexiness” is not just due to her body, but it is her ability to emotionally connect, and take care of others. A special part of the Ignite GP 4 Youth project is the annual Ignite the Fight event, when Someh invites the community to join in on fun – taking part in educational activities and raising money. Every other year, the money raised is donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. Last year, Ignite the Fight raised $2,000 and included a fashion show, burlesque dancing performed by women touched by cancer, and women sharing their cancer stories via video. Someh chose to donate to the Society because of the support offered to her mother in her time of need. Lynette had used the Financial Assistance Program to help with the expense of travelling back and forth to Edmonton for treatment. She was also able to secure special equipment that the family needed at home for her palliative care through the Society’s Compassionate Financial Assistance Program, which provides modest support for patients at the end of life. Honouring her mother “I wanted to do something to support the Society, to celebrate my mom’s life,” Someh says. “My favourite part of the event was the stories – they were incredible. They moved me and helped me better understand my mom and what she went through,” Someh says. She remembers one cancer survivor named Alice, who wore a pink flower in her grey hair. She shared her story about how she had beat cancer and how she was now taking care of her husband who had been diagnosed with the disease. The crowd roared with applause and cheered in support of the cancer fighter.

BE A CANCEr FIGHTER Be a Cancer Fighter like Someh. The Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Fighter program is an easy way to join the fight for life and hold your own fundraising event in support of the Society's work. Have your event your way, connect with your community and share your story. Holding your own event is easier than you think, so get creative and let your imagination take over! The Society provides the tools and information you need to hold safe, enjoyable and successful fundraising events. Need some ideas for hosting your fundraiser?

sweat it

“The last 10 years of my mom’s life were exceptional,” Someh says. “She started a non-profit for families and children on the island of St Kitts and she coordinated a huge community sports day each year on the island while she lived in Grande Prairie.”

C U T IT

BAKE IT

Create your own event at cancer.ca/fundraise.

Someh found inspiration in her mother and says: “She used every opportunity and every ounce of life to share faith, letting young people know that life is not hopeless as long as you’re still breathing.” ö

believe | 17

our supporters

PUT YOUR MONEY

TO WORK By Mike Skrypnek

If you plan to make a lasting gift of the money that you worked so hard to earn, make sure it counts.

Learn more about making a legacy gift in the online issue at cancer.ca/believe.

met my good friend, Glen, for coffee the other day. We were sitting at a ridiculously small table in a crowded café discussing his recent experience donating money to charity. He mentioned that a month prior, he was golfing with a friend who supported a charity that he thought could use some more help. Inspired, Glen decided he wanted to make a charitable gift, so he met with his financial advisor and they figured he could sell some stock in a company he’d held for a while, then donate some of the proceeds and gain a tax credit. He was pleased, as he was told that the charitable contribution tax credit would help decrease the capital gains taxes triggered by the sale. After he made his donation, Glen told me that he found out some things about the charity. He said the charity actually used his funds to pay its office rent – the month before it was evicted! He lamented that he should have done more homework. He genuinely wanted to support the cause, but didn’t realize the organization itself was in such dire straits. Hearing that, I gulped back my espresso and tried to reassure him, although I understood that instances like that happen quite often. I then shared some of the glaring, but typical mistakes that made his philanthropic gift count for less than it should have. I told him that, first of all, he could have avoided all his capital gains tax by donating the shares directly instead of selling them. His advisor should have been able to provide him with that much information. Next, I mentioned that there are a number of resources that he could have

18 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

used to do just a little more homework on the charity. A little knowledge of its basic financial circumstances, found on the Canada Revenue Agency charity information website, could have shone a light on the impact versus the futility of his gift. As the café emptied, we talked about how he might maximize his next gift. I think Glen went away with a pretty sound understanding of the unfortunately common mistakes Canadians make when they give their hard-earned cash to charities. In fact, I have seen these mistakes happen so often, I incorporated the top seven of them into a special report. Of course, none of this could rectify Glen’s experience, but he now knows his options and he is still committed to a larger, meaningful legacy gift. ö

Turn to page 20 to read Mike's special report.

our supporters

Nicole Ross and her daughters, Lauren (left) and Cassie.

All in the family By Deja Leonard

very day more than 500 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer. The disease is one that affects us all in one way or another. Nicole Ross from Edmonton knows first hand that cancer hits close to home. Cancer has struck many people in her life, including her two maternal aunts who passed away, her father who is a survivor, and her best friend who had cancer in university and has now been a survivor for over 20 years. That’s why Nicole and her two daughters, Lauren, 9, and Cassie, 7, recently chose to give the gift of their time to help the Canadian Cancer Society during Daffodil Month in April. “We were looking to make a difference in the community and I wanted to introduce the girls to some sort of community service,” Nicole says. Daffodil Month is the Society’s longstanding annual springtime tradition of selling fresh bunches of daffodils and signature daffodil pins to raise money and awareness for the fight against all cancers.

Research has shown that volunteering not only helps you live longer, but it makes you healthier too!

Volunteers are crucial to the success of this campaign. They prepare the bunches of daffodils, get them ready for deliveries, as well as sell the flowers and pins at various community street sale locations. Nicole says the greatest benefit was having the opportunity to spend time with her daughters and knowing they would be helping people and their families affected by cancer. Nicole remembers scrambling to keep up to the pace of her daughters as they stood in production-line formation, excitedly picking out different colours of foil in which to wrap the flowers. “It was something easy and fun, and my girls love flowers,” Nicole says. She added that even if your child does not fully understand what cancer is, they can still participate and know they are helping the community. ö For more information about volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society visit cancer.ca/volunteer.

Give the gift Volunteers are the backbone of the Canadian Cancer Society and we need your help to change cancer forever. It's your call how you help.

• Help with fundraising events and campaigns. • Drive cancer patients to treatment. • Be an advocate to help prevent cancer. • Volunteer at your local Society office. • Use your cancer experience to help others. believe | 19

our supporters

the top

mistakes in giving By Mike Skrypnek

You don’t know that eventually your RRSP or RRIF will be your most-taxed asset. Most people I speak to do not realize their registered plans are probably the worst way to pass wealth to their heirs. They are surprised when I explain to them that, upon the passing of the remaining spouse, the value of their registered plans is considered disposed of and is realized as income in their final tax return. And when I explain that roughly $200,000 of an RRSP or RRIF worth $500,000 will go to taxes, they are aghast.

You don’t consider your legacy. My grandmother was a beautiful, kind-hearted woman and when she died at 97, her great-grandchildren knew her well. They knew what she stood for. Charitable giving requires contemplating your legacy. I direct people to view their legacy through the eyes of their grandchildren as they consider their giving.

You aren’t aware that we’re all involuntary philanthropists. Taxpayers are involuntary philanthropists! You probably believe you’d be more effective directing your wealth than through taxes, and guess what? The government generally agrees. The government rewards voluntary philanthropists by allowing the tax-free gifting of securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) and providing a healthy tax credit for your charitable donations.

You fail to understand how you can make your gift go further. People might think they can do less for charity than they actually can.

20 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

Sitting down with an expert who understands planned giving will help. There are many tools and tactics that can be used to leverage surplus wealth to give more and pay less tax.

You focus on the wrong metrics. Investigating a charity on the basis of its expense ratio alone, or who the chair of the board is, isn’t enough for a good decision. Asking about the success of the charity in accomplishing its mission will provide helpful insight.

You make the wrong gift at the wrong time. Deciding to make an impactful gift is the first step. The second is to maximize the impact both for the charity you wish to support, and for your financial circumstances. Reviewing your financial, tax and estate planning will identify opportunities in maximizing your gift’s impact. Do you give now or give through your estate? How can you make your current surplus cash flow do more? There are ways to give multiples of what would otherwise be a small annual gift with some thoughtful advice.

You don’t seek professional help. You don’t have to become a specialist in areas of your life that you don’t know. Hey, you don’t perform self dentistry, do you? Establishing a relationship with a professional who is an expert in planned giving and starts conversations with, “What is important to you?” or, “Where do you want to make a difference?” means you’re on the right path. ö

Mike Skrypnek, author of Philanthropy: An Inspired Process, is an expert in guiding families in the journey to make a bigger impact in their lifetimes and beyond. Please contact Mike at mike.skrypnek@richardsonGMP.com.

Please contact Tania Loftsgard of the Canadian Cancer Society at giftplanning@cancer.ab.ca if you’re interested in attending a complimentary seminar about income tax reduction and estate tax elimination, or if you’d like to speak to one of our volunteer financial advisors.

y n n Su

our supporters

days ahead By Donella Swan

ancer can be called many things, but discriminatory is not one of them. For Tony Archer-Shee, a 69-year-old retired firefighter, this is a truth he knows all too well. As he pointed out his proud handiwork – a deck and a canopy he built that allows him and his partner of 14 years, Loretta Clarkson, to enjoy the sunshine – it’s hard to believe that just three years ago he celebrated his 66th birthday in the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2010, and having the tumour removed in March 2011, it’s even harder to believe that he started building his solarium just four months after surgery. “Once I got some energy back, I said, ‘I’ve got to do something. I want some fresh air and [to be] outside," Tony says. “That solarium has been great.” It was just a regular PSA blood test that turned up the devastating news – but for this, Tony

Photo by Donella Swan

was grateful. “You know even 50 years ago they wouldn’t have known I had cancer,” he says. “I would have just rotted away.” Firefighters diagnosed with particular kinds of cancer are eligible for a financial benefit through the Workers Compensation Board because they are considered to be placing themselves in high-risk situations for developing the disease while on the job. Because of this, Tony was awarded a lump sum of money. As a retired member of the Calgary Fire Department, Tony says he has witnessed a scary moment or two in his career but that he considers himself lucky. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to donate over $13,000 – half to the Canadian Cancer Society and half to the Prostate Cancer Centre in Calgary.

You know even 50 years ago they wouldn’t have known I had cancer. I would have just rotted away.

“I didn’t feel I deserved it,” Tony says. “I decided I was going to give it back to cancer. That’s why I got it – it was for cancer.” ö

believe | 21

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Join the fight against cancer and bring spring to your workplace this coming April. Support Daffodil Month, the Canadian Cancer Society annual fundraising tradition, by coordinating flower and daffodil pin sales. Your support means the Society can continue funding life-saving cancer research and helping people living with cancer.

For more information, please visit cancer.ca or call 1-800-661-2262.

support services

what the

patient ordered By Paula Trotter

aurette Wolvansky wondered what her future might hold when she was diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary in 2006. The only thing she felt fairly certain of was that she was going to lose her hair. And she did. The chemo also made her nauseated and she had to stop working so she could focus on treatment. All of this left Laurette searching for some sense of normalcy, which she says she found in the Canadian Cancer Society Wig Lending Program. “Some days you just want to be normal, not someone with cancer – not that you’re hiding under (the wig),” she says. Using the Wig Lending Program was Laurette’s first encounter with the Society; it was such a positive experience that she has been a dedicated supporter of the Society ever since.

support

support services

practical

Compassionate Financial Assistance Program

For end-of-life costs, the Society provides modest support to those who have been diagnosed as palliative and have exhausted all other means of financial support.

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.

Patient Care Kit Providing just the right combination of practical items and information to help recently diagnosed patients.

“I know too many people who have been affected by different kinds of cancer, so it’s nice to support an organization that fights them all,” she says. After receiving a clean bill of health, Laurette began volunteering with the Society. She became a volunteer driver, helping cancer patients get to and from treatment, and talking to patients through CancerConnection, a peer support program she used when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma – a cancer that starts in part of the body’s immune network. “Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, but my CancerConnection match had survived exactly what I had,” Laurette says. “Talking with someone who shared this experience is really comforting becuase you know what you’re going through isn’t abnormal.” Unfortunately, Laurette had to stop volunteering as a CancerConnection match and driver when her cancer returned a couple of years ago. But she has been able to continue volunteering for the Airdrie Relay For Life, an event she has helped organize for the past five years. She has been hooked ever since attending her first Relay event as a survivor, joining many others in the opening Survivors’ Victory Lap. “It was very

I know too many people who have been affected by different kinds of cancer, so it’s nice to support an organization that fights them all. special for me to see those 10-, 20-, 30- and 40year survivors. It gave me strength,” Laurette says. “It shows that there have been advancements in this disease and that’s why I have to keep fighting.” Laurette has finished her second round of active treatment, but will continue to receive maintenance chemotherapy for two years to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. She is looking forward to getting back to volunteering more for the Society. ö

Volunteer Driver Program Trained volunteers provide safe and reliable transportation to patients, ensuring they get to and from their cancer appointments. For rides in Edmonton and the Red Deer area, call 1-855-477-8998; in Calgary and Lethbridge, call 1-800-263-6750.

Wig Lending Program 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. Society volunteers maintain wig banks in Calgary and Red Deer.

For more information about our programs go to cancer.ca/support.

24 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

Last year, the Canadian Cancer Society directly supported more than 11,000 people living with cancer in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

support services

The difference a day makes By Colleen Ferguson

The Society provides emotional and practical support to people diagnosed with cancer – not long ago, that led Mathieu Francoeur directly to Colleen Ferguson, who leads CancerConnection, a one-on-one support program. It was a memorable and life-changing day for Mathieu and Colleen. ABOVE: Mathieu Francoeur, just after his operation, with his mom Lucette, who joined her son in Calgary during his treatment. Left: Mathieu's selfie, taken in the hospital during treatment.

earing you have cancer can be quite shocking. Finding out in your twenties, even more so. But learning he had testicular cancer one Wednesday in April and would need surgery that weekend was particularly hard news for Mathieu Francoeur, 28. He had just recently moved to Calgary from New Brunswick for a new job and didn’t have family or a support system here. Mathieu didn’t know where to turn for help. So he left the doctor’s office, boarded a city bus and, unsure of where else to go, went to the local Canadian Cancer Society office. We don’t usually get walk-ins for support, but that didn’t slow us down in giving this young man the support he needed. Mathieu was overwhelmed with everything – the cancer diagnosis, realizing that being young doesn’t mean being invincible, the financial costs of his family travelling to be with him, and treatment and recovery.

He really needed people who could make him feel calm; people to help walk him through the first steps of his journey. So that’s what we did. Mathieu first met with my colleague, Brenda, who started the process of connecting him with the psychosocial department and social workers at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Then I had the chance to meet Mathieu. He shared with me that his greatest concern was breaking the news to his mom and dad. “They are going to be devastated,” he said. “How do you tell them something like this over the phone?” I told him that he just needed to make that call. They needed to know and he would feel better having told them. I also told him about CancerConnection, the Society’s telephone peer-support program that matches patients with survivors who have shared similar experiences. I told Mathieu that I had a

testicular cancer survivor around his age who might be available for him to talk with. Mathieu was so happy to think that he would be able to speak with someone about his upcoming surgery. Mathieu spent a couple of hours with us that day. He phoned his parents, set up appointments with social workers and was introduced to CancerConnection volunteers. At the end of the day, he gave me a big hug and left with a big smile on his face. I followed up with Mathieu after his surgery and was thrilled to hear it was a success. Everything had gone very well. His mom managed to travel to Calgary to be with him for the surgery. Mathieu is now back home in New Brunswick finishing the last of his chemo treatments. He promised he would keep in touch and would return to Calgary with hugs for Society staff. ö Go online to cancer.ca/believe to find out about all the cancer-related resources in your community. believe | 25

support services

just

a phone call away...

help

let us Online community CancerConnection.ca

A trusted online community for cancer patients and caregivers, CancerConnection.ca offers a wide variety of discussions, blogs and groups. Find caring, supportive people who want to share and talk about what they’re going through.

CancerConnection | 1-800-263-6750

This 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 cancer.ca/inspiringhope Together with community partner organizations, the Canadian Cancer Society provides Albertabased group support led by trained facilitators and survivors, and can make an incredible difference for recently diagnosed patients. 26 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

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, caregivers, family and friends, and the general public. Call the Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333.

Let the Canadian Cancer Society connect you with someone who’s been there – it can make all the difference.

Community Services Locator Log on to cancer.ca to use the Canadian Cancer Society’s Community Services Locator to find even more community services and programs for cancer patients and their families. If you can’t find what you need, call an information specialist at 1-888-939-3333, Monday to Friday, from anywhere in Canada.

Online support | cancer.ca 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.

For more information about all of these programs and services, go to cancer.ca/support.

research

in it for the long haul By Paula Trotter

wen Davies’ aunt, a rectal cancer survivor, lived to be 101. She didn’t give it much thought at the time, but Gwen now believes her aunt lived as long as she did because she was physically active her whole life. She would even get off the bus a couple of stops early to walk the rest of the way. “Exercise is probably what keeps you going,” says Gwen, who lives in Edmonton. That’s part of the reason why Gwen was eager to sign up for an exercise-based clinical trial once she completed treatment for colorectal cancer. Even though she had no symptoms, Gwen was advised to have a colonoscopy – her first – because the test had detected non-cancerous polyps in her mom’s colon. A family history of benign polyps increases your risk of colorectal cancer. “I thought there was nothing to it when I went in,” she says of her 2010 test. “When I woke up, they said it looked like cancer. I was shocked.”

Treatment started just two weeks later – surgery followed by chemotherapy. At her last chemotherapy appointment in 2011, Gwen met with a member of the Colon Health and Life-Long Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial team; she started the program just a few months later. The CHALLENGE trial is a large, international clinical study examining if physical activity plays a role in reducing recurrence in colorectal cancer survivors. CHALLENGE is supported by the NCIC Clinical Trial Group, which receives the bulk of its funding from the Canadian Cancer Society. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. But stage 3 colorectal cancer survivors have about a 40 per cent chance of recurrence within three years of their diagnosis. So Dr Kerry Courneya of Edmonton, CHALLENGE study co-chair, and his colleagues have set out

CHALLENGE trial by the numbers

recruiting participants across Canada, including Calgary and Edmonton

centres in Australia recruiting participants; there’s also interest from cancer centres in the USA and Israel

participation target

participants so far

participants in Alberta

participants in Edmonton, which currently has the most participants for this trial in the world believe | 27

research to determine if physical activity is also linked to increased survivorship following the completion of cancer treatment.

Probably the most important question people ask is if there’s anything they can do after diagnosis to improve their odds of beating cancer.

“Probably the most important question people ask is if there’s anything they can do after diagnosis to improve their odds of beating cancer,” says Dr Courneya. CHALLENGE participants, who are currently being recruited across Canada – including Edmonton and Calgary – and Australia, are split into two groups. The men and women in the control group receive information about health and fitness but are not actively coached by an exercise specialist. Those in the intervention group participate in supervised exercise sessions, are coached on how to increase their physical activity, and

Forever active,

forever young

receive ongoing support sessions throughout the duration of the trial. Gwen, who just completed her third year in the trial, was assigned to the intervention group and has nothing but praise for the program. “I thought I had a little bit of energy before, but I have more energy now than I did at 60,” says the 68-year-old retired teacher. Perhaps an even greater benefit, Gwen says, is that she’s taking control of her health and ongoing survivorship. The results from this trial will determine if exercise does indeed reduce cancer recurrence. If it does, Dr Courneya says it could lead to a structured exercise program that will benefit tens of thousands of cancer survivors. ö

No matter your age, take a page from Gwen Davies’ aunt and add physical fitness to your routine. If you’re 65 years or older, try these tips for getting active. You’ll love how it makes you feel! Improve or maintain your health

Tips to help you get active

• Take part in at least 2½ hours of

• Find an activity you like, such as

moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. Read the online issue at cancer.ca/believe for more tips on how to be active.

• Spread out the activities into sessions of 10 minutes or more.

• It is beneficial to add muscle- and bone-strengthening activities using major muscle groups at least twice a week. This will help your posture and balance.

swimming or cycling.

• Minutes count – increase your activity level 10 minutes at a time. Every little bit helps.

• Active time can be social time – look for group activities or classes in your community, or get your family or friends to be active with you. From the Public Health Agency of Canada.

28 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

research

Caring for our communities

A no brainer By Paula Trotter

f you could double your impact in the fight against cancer – without spending a nickel more – would you? We’re willing to bet that you would. Well, we’ve got good news for you.

double what it was in the 1960s. Comparatively, the survival rate for brain cancer is just 25 per cent. Approximately 2,900 Canadians will be diagnosed with brain cancer this year and 1,950 will die of the disease.

Earlier this year, the Canadian Cancer Society proudly partnered with Brain Canada – a national, non-profit organization focused on the neurosciences – to significantly increase the amount we’re investing into brain cancer research.

There are still many more lives to save. That’s why the Society is determined to double the survival rate of hard-totreat cancers, including brain cancer.

Brain Canada will fully match every donation designated to brain cancer research that the Society receives over the next year and a half. The first Society grant funded through this partnership will be announced in early 2015. Saving more lives The overall cancer survival rate today is over 60 per cent – more than

Stantec made the first contribution to the Canadian Cancer Society’s partnership with Brain Canada. This Alberta-based, international engineering and architecture consulting company generously donated $10,000 to the cause. “We know that a shocking percentage of the population is affected by cancer,” says Tino DiManno, Executive Vice President of Stantec Canada. “This isn't just a statistic to us. These are people in our communities and among us, including our clients, vendors, colleagues and our own employees. This is a disturbing fact, but we know as an organization we can help do something about it by supporting the Canadian Cancer Society." ö

By increasing our investment in targeted research, we know we can turn the tide and save more lives from brain, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, throat and colorectal cancers. Thanks to Brain Canada – and your donations – we’ll have a significant impact on brain cancer. ö

Learn more at cancer.ca.

The Canadian Cancer Society has invested nearly $19 million in brain cancer research since 2000. believe | 29

advocacy Photo by Deja Leonard

BRING IT ON

No symptoms, no warning – a routine appointment caught Samantha McDowell’s cervical cancer early. By Deja Leonard

or Samantha McDowell, going from healthy young woman to cancer patient was very quick. The Calgarian was 24 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2010. Samantha had gone in for a regular Pap test, something she was diligent about, and it came back with unusual results. She then had a procedure to cut out the abnormal cells in her cervix, and it was confirmed – she had cancer. “They called me at work,” she says. “I was devastated.” She immediately went to the doctor for a cone biopsy (the removal of a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix), followed by three months of chemotherapy, then surgery.

Read online at cancer.ca/believe to find out about Women's Cancer Health Awareness Month, which is in October.

Her cancer was caught at stage 1, which means the cancer was found only in the cervix, beneath the top layers of the cells. Even with this news, Samantha says that at times it was still hard to stay positive. “You’re in a negative mindset when this happens,” she says. But, thankfully, after her chemotherapy and major

30 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus or (HPV). surgery, Samantha received a phone call from her doctor with good news – she was now cancer free. “I cried. I could start over again and start a new chapter.” Samantha says that many people might think this diagnosis would be the end of the world; but for her, it was a gift in disguise for which she will forever be grateful. “No matter what, I now tell everyone to get checked,” she says. “The future is so different now. I’m no longer scared to do things. I can take chances and I am more humble. Whatever comes my way, comes my way – I can take anything on.” ö

The future is so different now. I’m no longer scared to do things. I can take chances and I am more humble. Whatever comes my way, comes my way – I can take anything on.

advocacy

#FITat

Photos by Deja Leonard

By Deanna Kraus

Jean Grand-Maître, artistic director of Alberta Ballet, is the picture of health. Probably not such a surprise as he’s been focused on dancing and choreography throughout his career. And he wants to encourage others to do the same – like talking to your doctor about cancer screening and early detection. Jean willingly made the pledge to take the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT for short) and help the Canadian Cancer Society promote colorectal cancer awareness. Colorectal cancer isn’t a pleasant topic for most of us but talking about it with your doctor could save your life. It’s one cancer that can be treated with great success – if it’s caught early through screening or early detection. Today, colorectal cancer is among the top three leading causes of cancer death among Albertan and Canadian men and women. In the Northwest Territories, the colorectal cancer mortality rate is approximately double that of the Canadian average. The FIT test will be the first step for many people – it’s recommended for those 50 and up, in addition to anyone who’s at a higher risk of colorectal cancer. It’s a simple and accurate home stool test. Positive test results mean patients will be prioritized for follow-up colonoscopies. The FIT test is being promoted in the Northwest Territories and Alberta, with the hopes that fewer average-risk people will need to have a colonoscopy, a much more involved and invasive procedure. ö

Artistic director since 2002, Jean Grand-Maître has put Alberta Ballet centre stage by choreographing new ballets set to the works of music icons, such as Elton John, Joni Mitchell and k.d. lang.

WHAT CAN I DO? Make the pledge Find the pledge card on cancer.ca/FITat50 – make the pledge yourself or challenge someone you love. Text to donate Encourage your followers to text FIGHT to 45678 to donate $5 to the Canadian Cancer Society. You’ll be supporting the fight against all 200-plus types of cancer. Just think how fast those donations could add up!

Talk it up online Take a selfie like Jean did and post it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #FITat50. Please follow us online!

@CancerSocietyAB CanadianCancerSocietyABNWT

believe | 31

advocacy

Alberta government

TO do the right thing By Paula Trotter

t looks like Alberta is going to follow the lead of eight other provinces and territories to ban the tan. When the Canadian Cancer Society released a report in May highlighting the rising rates of melanoma, then Minister of Health Fred Horne responded by publicly announcing the provincial government is drafting legislation that will prohibit minors from using indoor tanning equipment. He expected the legislation would be introduced during the fall session. This is a promising step forward in protecting young people from the increasing risk of melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer. Despite being highly preventable, melanoma is on the rise in Canada and is one of the most common

BAN THE

TAN 32 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

types of cancer in adolescents and young adults. The risk of melanoma is consistently higher among those who start using tanning beds at an earlier age and for a longer time. In fact, people who start using tanning beds before the age of 35 increase their risk of melanoma by 59 per cent. Dave Rodney, then Associate Minister of Wellness, also reassured participants, survivors, volunteers and Society staff at the Calgary Relay For Life in June that indoor tanning legislation is in the works. ö Ensure Alberta’s kids are protected from dangerous indoor tanning equipment. Visit takeaction.cancer.ca and make your voice heard.

More than 20 countries have introduced legislation to ban minors from using indoor tanning equipment. But Australia is taking it another step further. By the beginning of 2015, all Australian states will have an outright ban on tanning beds in commercial properties. This makes Australia the second country in the world – second only to Brazil – to take such strong measures.

All provinces in Canada have introduced legislation that bans minors from accessing tanning beds – except Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Of the three territories, the Northwest Territories is the only one to have such legislation.

VOICES

Just call me Sally…

Myra with her daughters, Janette (left) and Susan (right).

Death-sentence diagnosis didn’t change Myra Schofield By Mark Kolke

yra Schofield didn’t feel her story was especially notable or worthy of being put in print but, with the encouragement of her family, she shared her story with me, albeit reluctantly. My opportunity to meet with Myra was after she had been diagnosed with cancer. As we concluded our meeting, I asked how I should describe her for this article. Did she prefer Myra, Myra Schofield or something else? “Just call me Sally,” she replied. She really didn't want to draw attention to herself. Fitting. Because what happened to Myra could happen to anyone. Meeting Myra I met Myra on a Sunday afternoon. At that point, Myra was halfway through the three to six months she was told she would live. While I was greeted at the front door, I noticed a woman walking across the living room – I assumed it was someone else. To my surprise, I learned it was Myra – steady on her feet, smiling, charming and funny, in a dry and occasionally sarcastic manner. This woman did not look like someone who was living with cancer. She did not look like someone who was dying of cancer either.

Myra explained she had an end-of-life plan and everything seemed to be in place. But, after spending seven weeks in a cancer facility, her mood shifted – she wanted out. With encouragement from her daughter, cooperation was sought from the palliative team and she was sprung! Myra was now able to be home as her life was ending. She was supported by her family who held the attitude that, “It’s your journey and you are in charge of it.” To accommodate Myra’s request to be home, there was a daily care regime – morning and night – that included the administration of medications and feeding via a stomach tube. There were lots of supplies on hand – the dining room had quickly become a medical supply storage facility. But this isn’t where the story starts. Myra’s story It began with a tickle in her throat. Non-smoker, non-drinker, just a 5’1” slender little wisp of a woman who tended to avoid doctoring for colds, flu and aches until she felt a lump in her neck. A trip to her physician resulted in a prescription for a suspected throat infection and ended with, believe | 33

A personal note from Myra’s daughter, Susan, addressed to the disease that took her mother’s life.

It would be easy to remember you in my mother’s dying. I will not – I choose only to remember her living. It would be easy to recall the pain and misery you brought to her life. I will not – as our moments of joy and laughter are plentiful and many.

Top: Myra Schofield and

It would be easy to blame you for her death. I will not – in her illness I saw the great beauty of human kindness and my life is richer for it.

her husband, Sam. LEFT: Myra, surrounded

It would be easy to attribute my tears to your presence. I will not – my tears are filled with love for a life well led.

by family.

“See you in two weeks.” She had plans, a trip to Las Vegas, paid for and ready to go. But when that tickle persisted, a follow-up physician visit after seven days triggered a same-day biopsy. Myra was admitted to the emergency room that very same day. She was diagnosed – it was stage 4 adenoid cystic carcinoma. She stayed at the hospital and then transferred to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. There, she went through radiation therapy to shrink the tumour because chemotherapy proved ineffective. An external feeding pump became necessary as the heartless disease progressed. The tumour shrunk, but Myra's cancer had spread to her lungs. After choosing to leave the cancer facility, Myra appeared to be living a completely normal life – her own – not anchored to a hospital bed, where she was just another person behind just another curtain; where lack of privacy and lack of independence are the norm. So what can we learn from Myra’s story? Perhaps my personal view is skewed – because since I started working on this story, I’ve lost two of my closest friends. Gary, at 64, from pancreatic cancer. My dad, a cancer survivor, at 34 | Fall 2014 / Winter 2015

91, from old age. My personal losses have me remembering that Peggy Lee song called Is That All There Is? The rich, the famous, the notorious and the extraordinary people in books – they get headlines, their memories more often kept alive. But nearly all of us, as swiftly as the calendar page turns, are reduced to the status of Gary, my dad, and Myra. Unknown, unremembered, unimportant – except to members of their immediate family and friends, by whom they are profoundly missed. Myra was class. She was dignity. Humility. Practicality. She was grace under pressure – so much so that it appeared there was no pressure, no urgency. Myra, or Sally, as she had suggested, shared a story of a simple woman living simply, dying simply. No fanfare, no drama, no chestbeating, no anger – just dignity, kindness, humour and a twinkle in her eye. That is how I will remember her. I won’t soon forget. To end our conversation, I asked if she had any unfinished business. Her answer, “No. I have a family who know I love them dearly.” ö Myra Schofield, born in 1941, passed away peacefully in Calgary, Alberta, on April 26, 2014.

It would be easy to hate you for what you are: a vile and horrific disease. I will not – I will draw on my strength and I will join others and fight you every single day until you are defeated. You thought you would get all the attention. You did not – all the attention was on my mother and her strength and courage. You thought she would be scared and frightened. She was not – she was indifferent to you in her life; you did not scare her; she accepted you. You thought your ugliness would be revealed in her passing. It was not – she passed with great grace, peace and dignity, while held closely in my arms. You thought my loss would be your victory. It was not – my mother lives on in her children, and who they are today is because of who she was; there is no loss as she lives forever in our hearts and souls.

What if your only wish was that your mom was coming home from the hospital?

Give the ultimate holiday gift.

Make your donation in honour of someone you love and give the gift of hope to those living with cancer.

Visit cancer.ca/donate to make a convenient and secure donation online.

BE A CANCER FIGHTER

CUT

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GOLF

Make the fight against cancer personal. Create your own fundraiser and support the Canadian Cancer Society.

Get started now at cancer.ca/fundraise.

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