Support Colleen Marshall

While some of you may know, many of you may not know about my sister, Colleen’s, fight against cancer. As painful and private as it has been, Colleen is now ready to let me share her experience as she bravely lives with cancer.

The year 2011 was the worst year you could imagine for Colleen. From the unexpected discovery of a changing mole on Colleen’s neck to a Melanoma diagnosis, her life was turned upside down. At the time treatment options were limited. Colleen underwent surgery and completed 9 months of immunotherapy treatment. Fortunately, both of these worked and for the next 8 years cancer was on pause.

Anyone who has been affected by cancer knows that cancer can be devastating and is unpredictable. In 2020 the cancer returned. It was found in Colleen’s lymph nodes and this time it was Stage 4 with metastatic spread. The bell rang and round two of the fight began. This time the fight was more challenging. Not only was Colleen facing cancer again, but everything changed with the COVID 19 pandemic. Isolation hit everyone hard. And those fighting for their health were certainly hit harder.

Thankfully, today, new advances in immunotherapy have made it possible to beat the odds. It started with a two drug cocktail which the nurses at the Tom Baker Cancer Center referred to as “liquid gold”. Treatment continues today as a single drug immunotherapy regimen. The advancements made in cancer treatments and specifically, immunotherapy, are incredible. However, they are not without side effects. These range in intensity as the treatment goes on. The good news to date, is the PET scan results have been very encouraging. She has recently completed over one year of treatment but requires more. Possibly an additional one year of treatment. Colleen’s battle is far from over. Cancer took more from her than just her health. The cancer took her freedom, her ability to work, and to support herself as the independent woman we all know her to be. Cancer became her full time job. Alberta Health Care covers the financial burden of the treatments, however, the day to day expenses continue to add up with little relief. Physically, mentally and financially, cancer has depleted Colleen.

Which brings us to today and why I am reaching out to our friends and family. Colleen needs our help, but struggles to ask. Her friends, along with her family have created this campaign to give Colleen a small bit of financial relief during her time of need. I ask you to forward this campaign to your friends and loved ones in the hope this will give her the support and strength that she needs at this time. Whether you pass it on, pray, offer positive thoughts or give support by contributing to this campaign monetarily, we are very grateful for your help.