Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 16, 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba In the fall of 2020, Carole was diagnosed with lung cancer. Her initial reaction was complete shock. She had recently retired after a successful 30-year career, and now a year later she was facing a life-altering cancer diagnosis. It wasn’t long after her treatment began that Carole understood the importance of donors like you. With any cancer diagnosis comes uncertainty about what the future holds. Donor funded research is creating new treatment opportunities and access to clinical trials for Manitobans like Carole. Carole’s initial treatment plan entailed twelve weeks of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It was successful in shrinking the tumour on her lung but her cancer journey was far from over. She received the disappointing and frightening news the cancer in her lymph nodes was growing and further treatment was required. Because of your generous support, Carole was given another treatment option. After undergoing a series of genomic tests developed in part through donor contributions, it was confirmed that Carole’s cancer carried a rare gene mutation that made her eligible to participate in an international clinical trial led locally by CancerCare Manitoba medical oncologist and Director of Precision Medicine and Advanced Therapeutics, Dr Shantanu Banerji. Carole was the first person in Canada to join the trial, meaning she would receive customized targeted therapy to specifically treat her type of cancer with very minor side effects. “We have learned through research that there are many rare mutations in lung cancer for which targeted therapies can be helpful,” said Dr Banerji. Clinical trials are a way for Manitobans like Carole to access new treatment options that wouldn’t otherwise be available. Dr Banerji and other scientists at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute are engaged in research that is key to delivering targeted therapies to patients with cancer. “By developing a therapeutic plan based on the individual biology of a person’s cancer, it allows us to treat it in a very precise way, resulting in better outcomes and improved quality of life for the patient.” A few months after starting on the trial Carole went for a scan and received the wonderful news that the cancer in her body was shrinking. Today, while she continues with regular visits to CancerCare Manitoba and remains on a targeted treatment plan, she is living her life to the fullest. An advocate for cancer research, Carole is sharing her story and using her voice to create awareness of the importance of investing in science, right here at home, so more Manitobans like her can have more tomorrows with their loved ones. Online: MoreTomorrowsTogether.ca/give Phone: (204) 787-4143 DONATE TODAY CancerCare Manitoba Foundation1160-675 McDermot AveWinnipeg, MB R3E 0V9 I am proud to support cancer patients in need of my help. Here is my special gift of: $100 $50 $25 $ Other _______ (Minimum $15 for tax receipt) Please complete the form below Name Street Address City Province Postal Code Phone (H) (W) I prefer to give by: Cheque Credit Card (Payable to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation) (Fill out form below) Credit Card Mastercard Visa Amex Credit Card # Expiry Date Cardholder’s Name Phone (20 22 SN L) “I’m living proof that donor investment in science and clinical trials has positive results.”- Carole for Manitoba’s Youngest Patients with Cancer Your Support Provides New Treatm ents Everything known about how to cure children with cancer has been learned from decades of research. Donor supported research at CancerCare Manitoba provides access to state- of-the-art treatment for children with cancer. Children like Alyvia. At the tender age of two, Alyvia was diagnosed with an aggressive, inoperable brain tumor after her parents noticed a regression in her gross motor skills. Over a period of just a couple of months, Alyvia went from being a very active toddler to being unsteady and holding onto walls as she walked. They knew something wasn’t right with their little girl. What followed was a four-month hospital stay that included multiple surgeries to attempt to relieve the pressure on her brain followed by six weeks of chemotherapy to try to shrink her tumor. Alyvia’s parents learned the devastating news that the chemotherapy she was enduring wasn’t working and that they were quickly running out of time. Donor investments in research gave Alyvia access to a life-saving clinical trial. Alyvia’s oncology team at CancerCare Manitoba secured a new targeted therapy treatment for her through a clinical trial available for pediatric patients with her particular type of cancer. She was able to begin treatment at a critical time in her cancer journey. After only a week of beginning the new treatment Alyvia had improved so significantly she was able to be released from the hospital. While at home, Alyvia continued with her treatments and made significant progress. As her tumour began to shrink, she had to relearn many of the things she knew how to do before her diagnosis such as eating and walking. Through ongoing physical and occupational therapy, hard work and a lot of determination, Alyvia is flourishing today. Now five-years-old, she continues with daily treatment and her tumour has almost vanished, thanks to your generous support. She’s taking hip hop dance classes and loves running around outside with her friends. Her parents lovingly describe her as an entertainer who loves telling jokes and being the center of attention. “We never would have believed this was possible.” While Alyvia is too young to understand the impact your donations have had, her parents are forever grateful for the opportunity they’ve been given to access life-saving treatments for their daughter. Thanks to the support of donors like you, pediatric clinical trials are making a difference for Alyvia and other Manitoban children affected by cancer. Manitoba, it’s time to bring your passion and grab your sneakers! Join us in moving 20km or 200 workout minutes this August 4-14 to change the course of cancer in our province. Your support will help Manitobans who are already on a cancer journey, or who may start one in the days, weeks, months and years to come. Plus, you’ll reduce your own risk of cancer by staying active and living a healthy lifestyle! This 15th annual Challenge for Life is a special one and we are aiming to engage as many challengers and supporters as we can! A feat we need your help to accomplish. Two in five of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. There is much work to be done. The success of Challenge for Life is attributed to every seasoned Challenger and every first-time participant. Thanks to each of you, critical funds have been raised to support local research, clinical trials, cancer prevention and early detection, and patient and family support services at CancerCare Manitoba. We can’t wait to see what we’ll be able to accomplish together this year. You grew this movement to over 70 communities last year and showed incredible spirit across our province. The stories shared by each Challenger show us your fire to keep going in your effort to give more tomorrows to Manitobans. Manitobans just like Jason, and so many others. You can be a part of this life-changing event – and we hope you will be! Register today for the Challenge for Life this August at ChallengeForLife.ca When You #TaketheChallenge, You Change Lives. AUGUST 4 - 14, 2022 Jason Gisser Alyvia “ The Challenge for Life event allows me to give back to CancerCare Manitoba for its life-saving programs and services that allowed me to fi ght my cancer and be here today.” - Jason Gisser, four-year Challenge for Life participant Carole has more tomorrows with her loved ones Thanks to you , The Power of Your Community Heidi inspires her community. It’s not every day that the same calf sells at auction 11 times. But last December one did – all because of a passionate community. In just 15 minutes, the auction for Heidi’s favourite calf raised over $45,000! Fourteen-year-old Heidi herself is on a cancer journey and this drives her, and her family, to bring their community together to support local cancer research. “I did have tears, I was very emotional, and I was so thankful and happy that there are people who want to donate to help more kids like me have more tomorrows,” says Heidi. Other Manitobans, like the Johnstons, have also harnessed their passion for cattle-raising to make a difference with their community. Their family auctions a steer named PROFYLE at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair to support the PROFYLE initiative at CancerCare Manitoba in honour of their grandson, Aysen. PROFYLE is a Canada-wide initiative aimed at providing personalized care for young people facing the hardest to treat cancers. The support of their generous community helps them raise thousands of dollars for this important program. These are just two examples of many leaders who rally their communities to make a difference. Thank you to each of you who have given your passion a purpose and brought your community together in support of Manitobans with cancer. Never doubt the difference it continues to make. We are inspired by you, and those who support you. Have you thought about holding your own fundraiser and rallying your community but not sure where to start? Our Community Events team is here to help and our toolkit makes it easy! ;