Support Susan in her fight against ovarian cancer

Susan is a retired RN who has spent her 35-year career caring for and supporting others. At 67, six months after she retired, Susan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage 3 ovarian cancer. Her plans for a quiet retirement rapidly changed direction as her battle against cancer began. Despite this setback, Susan is determined to conquer this disease and live out her golden years with her husband and children.

The challenge, however, is that the Canadian health care system does not cover personalized diagnostics and treatments. Some genetic tests recommended by Canadian oncologists are not covered by public health insurance and, therefore, Susan must pay out-of-pocket for precision oncology testing to determine treatment options. This testing is necessary and the only way to understand what treatment will work for her specific cancer, but it is prohibitively expensive, particularly for a retired nurse. The Canadian group that provides this testing also do the research, analysis, advocacy and coordinate directly with the patient’s cancer care team.

We just need your support to help Susan get the optimum treatment she needs.

While all of this has been the greatest challenge of her life, Susan remains positive and is at the same time realistic about the potential outcomes. Her philosophy is to live her best life and not let negative thoughts occupy her mind, stating “that would be a complete waste of precious time”! She has been lucky enough to benefit from her family’s tremendous support, her amazing friends, and her pre-occupation with her garden where she finds beauty in every bloom, the buzzing of bumblebees and the hum of hummingbirds. Despite the physical and emotional toll of chemo this past year, Susan was able to watch both her children get married. Her goal is now to be around to meet her grandchildren, as these moments in life’s journey are too precious to miss!

Susan has had major surgery and has been receiving chemo for 18 months now and has done exceptionally well. This hasn’t stopped her, and the longer Susan stays alive, the greater her chances are of getting into a clinical trial, achieving long term remission, or accessing new chemotherapy protocols.

We are hoping you may find it in your heart to give her a hand with paying for private genetic testing that is absolutely essential to finding the personalized treatment options she needs. The expenses are for the following items; tumour DNA sequencing, RNA over-expression testing, laser sample preparation, liquid RNA test, test coordination fees, personalized treatment plan design and delivery and advocacy services. With heartfelt thanks from everyone around her.”