Beth Marchant
“When I started treatment, I was the youngest person in the room… Now, that’s not really the case.”
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Shelyna Khalfan is not only a breast cancer survivor, but she is a cancer coach, working to support others on their journey.
In 2017, when Shelyna was 43, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was not the first time she’s been through a cancer diagnosis. Her dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007, 10 years prior, and her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.
Shelyna underwent four months of chemotherapy, then surgery, then 25 sessions of radiation.
Although the cancer was gone, she still had lingering feelings of anxiety, anger, and fear, which prompted her to work with a life coach during multiple sessions. After getting the support she needed, she knew she wanted to help others and in 2019 she completed her online training with California’s Cancer Journey Institute to become a cancer coach. Her goal is to help patients navigate through a cancer diagnosis, using her first-hand experience as someone who has been through it.
You may also remember Shelyna from our Breast Cancer Canada video that we created last year. Thank you Shelyna for sharing your story with us and for the support that you provide to others!
“When I started treatment, I was the youngest person in the room… Now, that’s not really the case.”
The most important thing was living every day to the fullest – and the memories.
“Progress means every woman — in every Canadian community — is seen, heard, and cared for”.
“With more research and more awareness, we can ensure fewer women are blindsided the way I was.”
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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