My name is Chantal Lafontaine from Ottawa, Ontario and I am almost a one year survivor ( January 2008). I found a lump on my left breast in January 2006 during my my pregnancy. I was in my third trimester. I gave birth to my wonderful baby boy Nickolas on March 15, 2006. My doctor thought the lump might be an inflamed milk gland. I had a feeling since my mother was diagnosed and operated on for breast cancer over 18 years ago, that it was cancer. She is still with us and cancer free! I had a biopsy in April 2006. My surgeon called me a week later to confirm it was breast cancer. I had my lumpectomy on May 19, 2006, which was followed by 8 chemo treatments and 30 radiation sessions that lasted over the fall and winter. My last treatment was January 2, 2007.
I have been doing exremely well. I am back at work. My husband and I are enjoying our beautiful boy and living life to the fullest. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my medical team. It’s all because of them that I am here today. Thank you to my family doctor, my surgeon, my oncologists and the many, many nurses and staff at the Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre. What amazing people. They have dedicated their lives to helping people just like me.
I created Team Lafontaine this year for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. There were a total of 11 in our group and we raised over $2,000. My family and friends were so supportive when I was going through my experience and were all very generous in supporting our Team this year. I had run the race a few years back in support of my mother and a few other women I had lost to this horrible disease. I can’t wait for the run next year, my Team will be bigger and we will raise lots more for the Foundation to find a cure!
Thank you very much
Chantal Lafontaine
Run Day 2007 – Thanks Everyone!
This year, I ran for the Cure… not because someone close to me has been directly affected, not because I have lost someone I love… but for the exact opposite reason. I am twenty two years old, and I run because I know how LUCKY I am to basically be untouched by this horrific disease. I run for the cure because I HOPE that if we all work together, one dollar and one step at a time, that we will find a cure for breast cancer before someone I love is handed this diagnosis. The facts are straight: 1 in 9 women will be diagnosed, and out of every 100 breast cancer diagnoses, 1 of those will be men. So, this year, and every year until we find a cure, I run for everyone… for all the women, all the men… all the little boys and girls… so that not one more person has to be diagnosed with breast cancer. I run for you, and I run for me. I can only HOPE and do what I can that together, we can create a future without breast cancer.
Amy McCrea
Edmonton, AB
I grew up on a ranch in Southern Alberta, I had a near perfect childhood, with my sisters, cousins and I having our own private wilderness to explore. When I was around 5 my mom started taking me kicking and screaming to every type of music lesson Medicine Hat had to offer. Mom was a bit of a stage mom, supportive but insistent that I practice…she always said one day I would thank her for it. I spent my teen years planning on a music career, with my mom as coach, counselor, chauffeur and short order cook. Just before I was to leave to study music at McGill, a show named Idol came along and changed my life.
After Idol I was on top of the world with an album, videos and a tour. Then on February 21, 2006 my world changed again; I got a call from my mom saying she had breast cancer. The first thing I did when I got off the phone was google cancer life expectancy. I began to learn everything I could about breast cancer. Being I young single guy I thought I knew everything there was to know about breasts, apparently I was wrong.
I kept trying to focus on the music and my career but all I wanted to do was go home. One night after staring at an old holiday photo of my whole family in matching Christmas sweaters I decided it was time to go home. Once I got home breast cancer became real; I saw my mom bald for the first time and she didn’t look like Demi Moore, I saw my dad cry for the first time and I experienced real fear for the first time when I got a glimpse of life without my parents. I spent time at the hospital with my mom, helping around the house and letting her know when her wig had shifted a bit.
After 4 months of surgery and chemo Mom started to get better. Once she began nagging me again I knew it was time to head back to Toronto.
This summer I have a new album and tour, and thanks to the treatment and care my Mom received she is here to enjoy them with me.
I have made a personal commitment to work with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation on an on going basis, and on September 30, 2007 I will be participating in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.. Thanks to the work of the Foundation there is hope, Hope is what the Foundation has given my family.
My name is Nicole Poos and I am the Manager of Volunteer Resources at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Over 10,000 volunteers give generously of their time to the Foundation, and they are the heart of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Their energy, drive and unwavering commitment are inspiring. Volunteers at the Foundation work in a number of areas including supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, special projects and in the offices of the Foundation.
Some very special people I have come to know are SOAR participants Kerry Smith, Shauna-Marie O’Connor and Elliott Ford who come to the Foundation twice a week to make pink ribbons. SOAR is an acronym for Seeking Opportunities Accessing Resources and it is a program that provides clients with various levels of ability the opportunity to develop life skills through various programs including volunteer placements. Not only do they make ribbons but they bring an enthusiasm and energy to the office that is infectious.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation please visit our website.
