A shocking diagnosis
“Cancer took me by surprise,” she admits. “No one close to me had ever been confronted with a diagnosis like that. I was the first.”
In December 2020, when she was 45, an unusual pain in her lower abdomen prompted Emilie to see a doctor. Two concerning masses — tumours in her ovarian tissues — had been found in her abdomen. Her medical team recommend removing her uterus. Two weeks later, Emilie underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy.
“It all happened so fast. From my first visit to the doctor, I could tell something was wrong by the worried look on my GP’s face. When I left her office, she wished me ‘good luck’ on my scan and used her hands to make the shape of a heart. A few days later, tumours the size of a cantaloupe and an orange were discovered on my ovaries.”
The word "cancer," which would only come later, was a shock for her and her family.
"I wouldn’t know whether the masses were benign or malignant until after the operation. It was only at my post-operative appointment, after the tumours were analyzed, that I learned that it was, in fact, cancer. And not just any cancer: a rare stage 4 cancer, with an 80 to 90% chance of recurrence."
The cancer came back in December 2022, and Emilie needed a second surgery to remove lesions that had appeared on her peritoneum.
Learning to live more fully in the present
Emilie was still grateful during the challenges.
"I was able to avoid chemotherapy during both bouts, so I never felt really sick. That meant I could still work between surgeries, fueled by an inner strength I didn’t even know I had."
Indeed, the illness helped her realize many important things.
Yes, cancer is scary. But it has also given me an incredible amount of courage and strength to make sense of it all. I’m learning to really live, to be fully present with my loved ones, and to not defer my dreams.
Emilie’s eyes lit up as she told us about her passion for travel. She had just finished building a house in Costa Rica and returned from a trip to South Africa.
"Without the disease, those dreams would probably never have come true. I truly believe that ‘going for it’ eases the path to recovery."
Sharing our stories makes us stronger
For Emilie, sharing her story is a way of helping others face cancer and helping change the future of cancer.
"Sharing our stories makes us stronger and better equipped to deal with cancer. My advice to people who are going through this ordeal is to treat themselves to a good time and to even clean up their lives and relationships if needed, to just focus on what makes them feel good. It’s not always easy, but it really helps keep the fear at bay."
Emilie also hopes that sharing her story will encourage people to support research.
We can all have an impact on research. Rare cancers like leiomyosarcoma receive very little public funding. So, any donation, be it large or small, has the power to turn therapeutic dead ends into scientific breakthroughs and eventually, into cures.
Your generosity shapes the future, starting now
Your support helps fund cancer research breakthroughs that allows people living with the disease to live longer, fuller lives.
Thanks to your donations, the Canadian Cancer Society was able to invest $7.26 million and fund 43 innovative research projects in Quebec in 2023.
Your generosity also helps us fund essential support programs that improve the daily lives of people living with cancer - reliable information, an online community, subsidized lodging and travel expenses.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making a real difference in the lives of people living with cancer. Every moment is a gift, and you’re helping us give more of them this holiday season.