They say the people you grow up with have a profound impact on your life – and whoever ‘they’ are is right! I recently reconnected with one of my oldest friends and have since learned that she is struggling with cancer. If you know Leif Cyr, you know she would do anything for anyone. Her story will make you angry and hopefully make you donate to her cause.

 

She has had an extremely challenging time navigating our healthcare system over the past six years, struggling to be heard, which ultimately led to her being misdiagnosed, resulting in stage 4 Endometrial Cancer. After several unsuccessful chemo treatments, she has one more shot with immunotherapy which is incredibly expensive (roughly $10K per month). Leif needs help to travel back home from British Columbia to her hometown in New Brunswick. She needs funding to help with her monthly medications, and she will need proper equipment -walkers, accessibility handrails, etc.

 

Please take a minute to read her story in her own words.

 

My name is Leif Cyr, and the medical system failed me because I am a woman.

 

It all started about six years ago when I had incredible pain and irregular periods. At first, my doctor and gynaecologist told me to lose weight. I did just that and dropped 80lbs. During my weight loss, I was losing a lot of blood and the severity of the pain increased. I was told to take birth control by several doctors. I did, and it didn’t work. Finally, I convinced a doctor to send me for an ultrasound which showed that I had over ten cysts. Complications with the cysts then caused me to have multiple blood transfusions.

 

I went back to the gynaecologist only to have her tell me that no one would help me or give me the surgery I needed because I may want to have a child one day. She outright refused to help me because I am a woman who is ‘supposed’ to have children.

 

I found another gynaecologist who didn’t have the resources to help me. It took me over a year to find someone willing to take me on as a patient and do the surgery, but by the time they went to perform the hysterectomy, they discovered cancer everywhere. I have Stage 4 endometrial cancer, which is supposed to be preventable.

 

I have been scolded, told to lose weight, told to suffer through the pain and that it’s just that time of the month. I have been overlooked, pushed aside, and ultimately let down by our healthcare system.

 

I have finished my second round of two different chemotherapies. Both have not worked.

 

I’ve been doing this by myself for the past three years. I have one more shot with a new immunotherapy drug, but it is expensive and not covered by any drug plan in Canada – approximately $10K a month. I want so badly to live and have a bit more time to spend with my friends and family.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read. Any little bit helps.

 

(Visit her blog: https://leifericablog.wordpress.com/ for more details)