B.C. women urge early action on breast cancer: ‘It’s going to be worse if you wait’

Finding a breast lump can upend daily life, and for some patients the uncertainty can last a lifetime. Tammy Gunn, Crystal Lavigne and Kelsey Miller have had different experiences with breast cancer, but they share concerns about timely access to care, clear information and support that continues after treatment. Miller says months passed between finding a lump and receiving care; Lavigne waited weeks for diagnostic imaging and then faced further delays before surgery; and Gunn had to arrange ongoing cancer care after moving from Ontario to B.C. Their accounts during Breast Cancer Awareness Month underscore the importance of early detection, timely treatment and recognizing the lasting effects of a diagnosis.

### Kelsey Miller: five months waiting for surgery

Miller was 36 when she found a lump. With three young children, the diagnosis immediately raised questions about the future she had imagined with them. “How could it be me?” she recalled thinking. “I was only 36 years old, and I have three young kids that I want to watch grow up, and you don’t know if that’s going to happen.”

Miller says almost five months passed between finding the lump and having the tumour removed. During that time, she says, it grew by nearly 2.5 centimetres. “Mentally, just the waiting game throughout that whole five months was awful,” she said. “You don’t know the outcome; you don’t know if it’s growing. You don’t know how bad it is.” Miller, who works in administration for the Saanich Police Department, says doctors and nurses provided excellent care once she was in the system. Her concern is how long it took to get there. “I just think that that’s unacceptable for a 36-year-old sitting there with cancer in her breast,” she said.

Miller has completed chemotherapy and radiation and is no longer in active treatment. She expects to continue hormone therapy for another 10 years; the treatment brought on menopause at 36. The transition out of active treatment has brought its own challenges. “People think that everything goes back to normal, and that is so far from the truth,” she said. “You’re healing physically, mentally, emotionally.” She wants women to feel empowered to question symptoms that are dismissed or attributed to other causes. “Don’t put it off and advocate for your health,” she said. “It’s OK to fight for your health and be pushy.”

### Crystal Lavigne: waiting for answers

For Lavigne, uncertainty at the start of her breast cancer journey was among the hardest parts. She estimates it took six to eight weeks to get diagnostic imaging after finding a lump, followed by more waiting for surgery. “I was a 40-year-old who lived a pretty healthy lifestyle who didn’t have any other risk factors,” she said. “I just never thought it would happen to me.”

Lavigne has undergone two surgeries and six months of chemotherapy. At the time of her interview, she was halfway through radiation treatment. A dental hygienist, she has been unable to work during intensive treatment. Her husband has taken on more responsibility at home and in caring for their two young daughters, while her week has been shaped by frequent medical appointments.

The experience has changed how she thinks about the future. “When you’re going into your 40s, you think you’ve still got lots of life to live, but it makes you reflect that, like, you might not have as much time as you once thought,” she said. Lavigne says patients need clearer information about available resources. She says several months passed before she heard from a breast health nurse.

After a severe allergic reaction during chemotherapy, Lavigne developed post-traumatic stress symptoms linked to returning for treatment. Counselling through B.C. Cancer helped her develop strategies for subsequent appointments. She believes support services should be easier to access from the outset, when patients may be struggling to understand what lies ahead.

Lavigne is also concerned about delays affecting younger women. She says she and other women she knows have experienced cancer progressing from an earlier to a later stage amid treatment delays. “I know the system is overwhelmed,” she said. “But something as serious as cancer, especially when we promote early detection being so important, it’s hard to spit those words out when we cannot get the treatment that we need in a timely manner.”

### Tammy Gunn: life beyond active treatment

Gunn was 41 when she found a lump in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was living in Toronto and was quickly referred for testing and treatment. She underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, reconstruction, radiation and immunotherapy. She continues to take Tamoxifen as part of a 10-year treatment plan.

She received her diagnosis shortly before she was due to teach an online Zumba class. “I just remember running upstairs to see my husband and I had about 10 minutes before class started, and I told him, and I broke down,” she said. Her husband reassured her they would get through it together, and Gunn then returned to her class. “As soon as the music came on, I was like, that’s what I needed,” she said. “I needed to just let it go. I’m still alive. I’m here, I’m dancing, I’m going to face this and I’m going to make it through.”

After moving to B.C. to be closer to her stepdaughters, Gunn faced another challenge: finding a family doctor who could refer her into the provincial cancer system for ongoing care. “I don’t have years. I don’t have that,” she recalled thinking as she tried to find a doctor. Gunn eventually found a physician and connected with B.C. Cancer in Surrey, where she says her experience has been positive. But moving between provinces added another layer of uncertainty while she was managing a serious illness.

She also encountered problems co-ordinating care. On one occasion, a scheduled home-care visit to give her a medication injection did not happen, leaving her to contact her oncology team to arrange an alternative. Gunn says such breakdowns can create unnecessary stress for patients already managing demanding treatment schedules. She continues to experience changes in her energy, body image and relationships. “After breast cancer, there really is no normal,” she said. “It’s something that you live with every day.”

Gunn wrote a memoir, “Dancing Through Diagnosis: Navigating Breast Cancer, the Good, Bad, and Surprisingly Funny,” to help others understand the experience and feel less alone. She wants friends and family to understand that patients need support well beyond the initial diagnosis. “Don’t leave me because I have cancer,” she said. “Stick with me, ride this out with me, ask me questions.”

### Support beyond medical treatment

For Lavigne, counselling and connections with InspireHealth and other patients have helped her manage the emotional toll of cancer, particularly anxiety about returning for chemotherapy after her severe reaction. Dr. Hannah Nette, a physician and director of clinical services at InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care, says emotional distress is common among people navigating a cancer diagnosis and support should be available throughout their journey. “One of the things that we’re here for is to normalize that, that, you know, everybody needs support and that we’re here whenever folks need us,” Nette said.

InspireHealth provides free support across B.C. to people living with any type or stage of cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Its services include counselling, mental-health support, exercise and nutrition programs, offered individually, in groups and online. Loved ones can also access many services. “All of our services and programs are free, so we’ve removed all geographic and financial barriers to access this support,” Nette said. She says support should not be limited to a particular cancer stage or end when active treatment finishes. “Our support is provided right from the moment of diagnosis, and that’s any type of cancer, any stage of cancer, throughout a person’s journey with cancer and beyond,” Nette said.

Lavigne has also found reassurance through connections with other women facing breast cancer. Miller connected with her through Instagram, and the two have built a friendship around their shared experiences. Miller says those relationships offer a kind of understanding that can be difficult to find elsewhere. “It’s not the same as the support you get from somebody who is living the same diagnosis as you,” she said. She encourages other patients to reach out to people who understand what they are experiencing. “It’s so important to have your village,” Miller said.

### Research, screening and equitable access to care

Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada, says breast cancer is more complex than many people realize. “There’s over 50 different types of breast cancer,” Carson said. She says that complexity makes research into personalized treatment particularly important. Breast Cancer Canada is funding research into targeted therapies and potential blood tests that could help detect disease or identify whether cancer remains after treatment.

Carson also wants people to understand that not having a family history does not mean they cannot develop breast cancer. “The numbers are still one in eight. And just because no one in your family has had it, that does not preclude you from getting it,” she said. Beyond research, Carson is calling for more equitable access to screening, treatment and survivorship support, regardless of where patients live. “We need to have the availability for a national equity program for breast cancer,” she said.

### B.C. Cancer urges screening and equitable access

Rableen Nagra, operations director for breast and lung screening at BC Cancer, says screening mammograms are available to B.C. women aged 40 and older who have no breast symptoms. Nagra says earlier detection of an abnormality or cancer improves treatment prospects and patient outcomes. “Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers found in B.C.,” Nagra said. “I would encourage everybody who is eligible for the breast screening program to come and get screened so that they can be proactive in their health.”

She says BC Cancer works to reduce delays after an abnormal screening result by connecting patients with nearby diagnostic services for further assessment. Access remains a challenge in rural and remote parts of Vancouver Island, including Indigenous communities. Nagra says BC Cancer is working with Island Health partners to improve access. “We are hoping that our mobile mammography van will come into play to be able to reach those communities, so that they can be screened and prevention can take place,” she said.

Nagra also encourages women to speak with their primary care provider about individual risk and to seek medical assessment for symptoms such as nipple discharge, swelling, pain or other concerning breast changes. Screening is intended for people without symptoms; those experiencing changes should not wait for a routine mammogram. “It’s going to be worse if you wait,” Carson said.

For Miller, Lavigne and Gunn, awareness means taking concerns seriously, helping patients navigate the health-care system and recognizing that cancer’s effects can continue long after active treatment ends. Their message is simple: anyone worried about a change in their breasts should seek medical advice and keep asking questions. People facing a diagnosis should know that support exists and they do not have to navigate the experience alone.