CancerCare Manitoba Foundation

What begins last January as a quick trip to emergency for a persistent infection quickly becomes life-altering for seven-year old Dane Hantscher.

Even though Dane’s initial blood work a couple of weeks prior had been clear, the ER doctor decides to do additional tests. Later that evening, the doctor reaches Dane’s mother Jane, urging them both to return to the ER with explicit instructions: “Just walk straight through when you arrive.” They are immediately whisked into a pressurized room for children with compromised immune systems. Fearing the worst, Jane mouths the dreaded words over Dane’s shoulder: “Could he have leukemia?” The doctor nods.

After Dane undergoes a bone marrow test, Dr. Rochelle Yanofsky, one of CancerCare Manitoba’s renowned pediatric oncologists, confirms he has standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Many factors, including the type of leukemia, Dane’s age and his blood counts at diagnosis will inform decisions around treatment.

Prior to 1970, less than 20% of children and adolescents with ALL survived. Dr. Yanofsky tells Dane’s parents that research, particularly clinical trials (research studies involving people), has so dramatically impacted the prognosis that now approximately 80% are cured. One of the aims of clinical trials is to increase the cure rate by making small changes to “standard”, or “current best” therapy and then comparing the outcome of children on the newer treatment regimen(s) to the outcome of those on “standard” therapy.

Jane (who is pregnant and due to deliver in a few months) and her husband Dirk have already had to make hard medical decisions about a child before; their first-born had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder before he was born. Cole was a very sick, very beautiful boy who lived only 17 days. There was no cure for Cole’s condition and they hope with all their hearts that participating in a clinical trial provides a much different and better outcome for Dane. They also hope it will help advance knowledge about ALL to benefit other children diagnosed with cancer. They ultimately decide to enroll Dane in a clinical trial. His treatment will take about three years and the oncology team will continue to follow him for years, as they do for all children whether on “standard” treatment or in a clinical trial.

Telling Dane and his older sister Ashley is the next hurdle for Jane and Dirk. The “C” word is too scary, so they decide instead to tell Dane he has leukemia. His remarkable response relieves his mom and dad: “I know I'm sick, but I'm going to be okay.” A few days later, arriving for his first of many appointments at CancerCare Manitoba children’s clinic, Dane and his mom are greeted by child life specialist Dawn Kidder. The clinic is an amazing place, with a spacious play area filled with games, toys, books and movies, surrounding a castle in a tree that stretches to the ceiling.

At the start of Dane’s treatment, Dr. Yanofsky and the pediatric oncology team tell them about a port that can be inserted beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein so drugs can be injected and blood samples can be drawn, usually with less discomfort than the more typical "needle stick". But, Dane bravely decides instead to receive his treatment each time by needle. At first, he finds the needles extremely stressful, but Dawn reinforces the benefits of using a skin numbing cream and applying a coping strategy. Dane chooses to cope by counting to three to relax, and soon the pain is negligible.

Over the months of treatment, the community of families and staff form an unspeakable bond. There are really no good days, only bad and better. On the hard days, Jane finds the staff to be a lifeline. She says, “Among all the pokes and prodding, there are great people and it is an amazing place for children and families. The investment in CancerCare Manitoba makes it inviting and comfortable. It is phenomenal.”

This fall, just eight short months after his diagnosis, Dane is excited to play hockey again. His parents sign him up for 8A1 team try-outs and during each round of evaluations he’s getting stronger and more confident. At one point he quietly tells his dad, “I really want to make it.” Finally, the email arrives. “Mom! I made the team!” During a conversation with Dawn, Jane has good news to share. “We feel like our old Dane is back.”

In Manitoba, almost all cancer research occurs at CancerCare Manitoba. Our internationally recognized team conducts cutting-edge cancer research whose goal is to improve the quality of treatment, care and outcomes for children like Dane, and adults diagnosed with prostate, lung, breast and many other forms of cancer.

The CancerCare Manitoba Foundation is the only organization exclusively fundraising for CancerCare Manitoba.

Your gift to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation makes you a partner in improving the outcomes for the 6,000 children and adults who will receive a cancer diagnosis in Manitoba this year. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to make a difference!

Dane's Story