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In July 2021, Tammy Gunn was 44 and teaching Zumba when she noticed a large lump in her right breast after a class.
She didn’t know much about breast cancer at the time, but she knew she needed to see a doctor.
Within weeks, Tammy was at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for ultrasounds, biopsies and other diagnostic tests. Because of her age, she had never had a mammogram. She had 15 in one day, each from a different angle. It was her first – and last – mammogram.
Two weeks after finding the lump, Tammy started chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with multifocal, aggressive ductal carcinoma with lymph node involvement.
Before her diagnosis, Tammy knew a few women who had experienced breast cancer. Her experience quickly showed her just how complex the disease is – and how much there is still to learn.
With more than 50 types of breast cancer, Tammy believes treatment needs to be as individual as the person receiving it. For her, personalized care means looking at the whole person, understanding their cancer and finding the treatment that is right for them.
Her support system has also been vital. Family and friends cooked meals, drove her to appointments, made her laugh and gave her someone to lean on.
“We all need someone to lean on.”
Today, Tammy wants people to know that while a breast cancer diagnosis is scary, the right treatment is the most important part of the journey. She also knows that the progress people experience today is built on research that came before them.
Breast cancer is constantly evolving, and researchers are continuing to learn more about the disease, develop new treatments and understand why treatments work for some people and not others.
That’s why Tammy believes research must continue.
By donating to breast cancer research, you can help fuel the discoveries that lead to more precise treatments, better outcomes and more possibilities for people diagnosed in the future.
At just 23 years old, Raphaëlle Tousignant has already built a remarkable career in Canadian sport: one defined by determination and an unwavering passion to keep moving forward.
From Patient to Purpose: Maddy’s journey from diagnosis at 38 to advocacy and advancing breast cancer research.
“The first time, I had one kind of treatment. The second time, it was completely different.”
Breast Cancer Canada donations fund life-saving research that directly impacts Canadian patients. That means better answers, bigger breakthroughs – and more personalized treatment for every breast cancer diagnosis.
Our suite of digital tools are each designed to help individuals better manage their breast cancer journey through education, research and personalized insights, while also elevating the patient voice.
Every breast cancer journey is unique, but together, these stories paint a powerful picture of progress. Through firsthand accounts from patients and survivors, we share stories that highlight the lived-experiences of breast cancer.
Progress happens when we invest in it. Canada is home to some of the world’s brightest minds in research. Together, we are advancing science, ensuring it leads to earlier detection, better treatments, and improved outcomes for patients across the country.
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