Your generosity helped change Sandra’s story.
Your support of local cancer research is helping Sandra and other Manitobans access leading-edge treatments when they need them the most.
In December 2023, Sandra became the first person to receive CAR T-cell therapy in Manitoba—a groundbreaking treatment that has given her more time to live, and live well.
Sandra was first diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma in 2013 after concerning symptoms led her to see a doctor. Understandably, the diagnosis was a shock for both her and her loved ones. She went through six months of intensive chemotherapy and felt a huge relief when the cancer went into remission.
Sandra spent the next ten years embracing life—returning to work, enjoying time with her husband and their three dogs, and making the most of each day in her community of Winnipeg Beach.
Then, a decade after her first diagnosis, Sandra began to suffer from sharp pain in her lower back. She was devastated to learn that the cancer had returned. Despite undergoing several rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, the cancer did not respond. It was then that Sandra and her care team turned to the possibility of a new and emerging treatment.
Your generosity helped open a new door.
Thanks to donors like you, Manitoba is now home to a CAR T-cell therapy program built on local research advancements at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba. This innovative therapy works by training the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Researchers working on CAR T-cell therapy at CancerCare Manitoba are exploring new ways of treating patients like Sandra in the future. Next, Sandra was referred to Dr. Chantalle Menard, a hematologist at CancerCare Manitoba, and soon learned that she was eligible for the treatment.
Not long ago, this kind of care felt out of reach. But in late 2023 it became a reality when Sandra’s own T-cells were reprogrammed to fight her cancer. Her cells were collected and modified. Then, a month later, the reprogrammed cells were reintroduced to her body. Over the next several weeks, Sandra’s care team saw signs that the cells were succeeding—the treatment was working.
Three months later, scans revealed news that was almost unbelievable: no signs of cancer.
Today, Sandra is living cancer-free, with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. “I stay physically active, exercise, bike and walk outside,” she says. “Without this treatment, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”
Your support continues to advance research informed care in our province. Today, because of you, Manitobans have new reasons to hope for better outcomes following a cancer diagnosis.