Cassidy's story: Taking back control from cancer

Cassidy London’s life took an unexpected turn when she discovered a lump in her breast while taking a shower. A week after getting the lump checked by her doctor, Cassidy received the devastating news: she had luminal A breast cancer.

The first few months after her diagnosis were difficult. It was overwhelming to understand her diagnosis while trying to navigate the challenges of explaining it to her two children. She kept wondering if she’d be there for her kids. 

Cassidy was determined to take back control over her circumstances. So, she chose the way she knew best: writing. 

I felt out of control, and I needed something to help me feel in control. As an author, writing was the way to do that. I wanted to get across that when women go through difficulties, cancer or otherwise, facing them in an empowered way will help us get the results we want.

Cassidy began writing the charity anthology titled 'Fight Like a Girl.' This series comprises 25 short stories across various romance genres, each featuring strong and resilient women facing their own challenges in an uplifting way. 100% of the royalties from the anthology go toward breast cancer research, with 50% going directly to the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure.  

A week after her last radiation treatment, Cassidy celebrated the positive end to a difficult year of treatment by participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure 2023. A month leading up to the Run 2023, Cassidy gathered a group of close friends and family and together, they began fundraising for breast cancer research. 

“When you’re going through cancer, you feel very alone. To see so many Participants of Hope and to be able to walk amongst them was really moving. It made me emotional to see that I wasn’t alone,” Cassidy reflects on her first Run experience. 

Cassidy is currently cancer-free and is receiving oral chemo and hormone therapies to prevent a recurrence. She strongly believes that the treatment she currently benefits from is only possible because of the years of research that preceded it. In the last thirty years, research has discovered new breast cancer types. 

Research saves lives. I would not be here without it. The more they figure out, the better treatments we can get. And that means more survivors. It is because of all your fundraising and support that we can make such a big difference to the cause. Research has come a long way, but we still have so much work to do. We must continue every year to push forward.