Over fifteen years ago, I heard the words no one ever expects to hear: “You have breast cancer.” I was 43. A mom of three – busy with work, hockey schedules, and everyday life.

I am not defined by my diagnosis. And I am not defined by survivorship either.

For me, a small bruise and lump on my right breast wouldn’t go away and then grew rapidly. I knew something wasn’t right. A mammogram. A biopsy. And then the diagnosis: stage 3 breast cancer, close to stage 4.

When I was diagnosed in 2010, options were limited. Today, breast cancer care is entering a new era, driven by clinical trials, personalized treatment, and emerging immunotherapies that are reshaping what’s possible for families across Canada. The momentum must continue.

My triple negative breast cancer treatment was urgent and intense: eight rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, lymph node removal, and weeks of radiation. Throughout it all, I kept working full-time. I scheduled chemotherapy for Friday
afternoons and went back to work on Mondays. Not because it was easy, but because it was necessary.

During my breast cancer journey, I was more focused on my kids and what I needed to do as a mother. Friends and family thought that I was pushing myself too much; but I don’t think they understood the significance of me being there. Hockey arenas became my refuge. Sitting in the stands, cheering on my children, gave me purpose. It helped me focus on motherhood, not fear.

Fifteen years after my diagnosis, I am still a mom in the stands. Still showing up. Still believing in what’s possible. Because of donors like you, research is moving forward, and lives are being changed because of people like you.

Each year, more than 30,000 Canadian women receive a breast cancer diagnosis. For mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, everything changes in an instant. While outcomes have improved, breast cancer is not one disease – and treatment must be beyond one size.

Progress can’t continue on its own. Your gift today can fund life-changing research for more precise, personalized treatments, advocate for access and equity across Canada, and give families the options they need most.

As Mother’s Day approaches, we’re reminded to cherish the moments we have with the people who matter most. Moms like me – and families across Canada – are counting on you.