In the summer of 2023 Dani was focused on her health, building strength at the gym and feeling her best. It was around this time that she found a lump in her left breast and wondered, “could it be a pulled muscle?”
Within weeks the lump grew rapidly. Dani called her family doctor who referred her for an ultrasound and mammogram. During the ultrasound Dani sensed something wasn’t right.
Following a biopsy, her worst fears were confirmed. Dani was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer.
“It was a moment of numbness and disbelief,” she recalled.
A treatment plan was put in place by the care team at CancerCare Manitoba. Right away Dani underwent six months of chemotherapy, 20 rounds of radiation, a lumpectomy, and immunotherapy that all finished in October of 2024. Physically, the journey was demanding, but emotionally, it was even harder.
Friends and family struggled to understand what she was going through and some pulled away. Dani found herself feeling isolated like many young adults facing cancer often do. Dani’s experience completely changed when she found the donor-funded Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program at CancerCare Manitoba for patients aged 15 to 39-years-old.
Donors make supports like the AYA program available to young people living with cancer. Your donation ensures this care remains available when its needed most.
Through the AYA program Dani connected with a psychosocial specialist who offered emotional support and coping strategies. Dani also joined online support groups with people her age who truly understood what she was going through. She no longer felt alone.
Even now after treatment, she continues to meet with her support team as she navigates the complexities of survivorship. “Having the AYA program through every stage of my experience with cancer has given me the tools to move forward with confidence.”
Today, Dani is back at work and settling into new routines while making space for all she has experienced. Dani continues to engage with the AYA community, proudly sharing her Indigenous culture by leading beading workshops with other AYA participants. Most importantly, your gift today makes it possible for Dani to focus on her future.
“Your donations make such a difference,” she said. “If I hadn’t received the services I did from CancerCare, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Consider making a gift today to ensure that critical support programs and services continue to be available to young people in Manitoba, like Dani.
