Carla Schutte is grateful for medical advances leading to more chances.
The Armstrong resident has been a patient at BC Cancer 香蕉视频直播� Kelowna and the Vernon satellite cancer centre since 2014. She has adrenal cortical carcinoma 香蕉视频直播� a rare form of adrenal cancer.
For four years, Schutte underwent numerous surgeries and chemotherapy treatments, but tumours continued to grow and spread, including to her peritoneum and brain.
Dr. Edward Hardy, Schutte香蕉视频直播檚 oncologist in Vernon, remained determined. Schutte香蕉视频直播檚 cancer has a specific mutation that is not often seen in adrenocortical carcinoma. Hardy stayed up-to-date on the latest research and in 2018 found a new, global clinical trial studying this mutation.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 amazing. Every time you think there香蕉视频直播檚 nothing more they can do, there香蕉视频直播檚 another advance that comes around and that gives you chances,香蕉视频直播� said Schutte.
In another stroke of good fortune (or a reflection of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 research capabilities), BC Cancer香蕉视频直播檚 Dr. Susan Ellard was running this very trial in Kelowna, just an hour away from Schutte香蕉视频直播檚 home. Donor support helps bring more clinical trials to BC Cancer香蕉视频直播檚 regional centres 香蕉视频直播� making these life-saving treatments more accessible to patients in every corner of the province.
Ellard香蕉视频直播檚 calming and reassuring presence helped assuage some of Schutte香蕉视频直播檚 concerns.
香蕉视频直播淭here are some people you meet, and you know they are in the right field; Dr. Ellard is one of those people,香蕉视频直播� she said.
During the height of her treatment, Schutte was at the Kelowna clinic nearly every week and the personal connections made with her doctors and nurses made all the difference in her experience. Both the big and the seemingly small things make a difference for those facing cancer, said Schutte. From accessing life-saving treatments to a simple, friendly hello.
香蕉视频直播淭hey know how to take care of you, they really do,香蕉视频直播� she said. Her treatment on the trial is currently on hold, but she is touched her former nurses still recognize her and stop by to say hello.
Today, Schutte香蕉视频直播檚 cancer is stable. She has 香蕉视频直播済raduated香蕉视频直播� to CT scans every three months, instead of every six weeks. Her grandchildren keep her busy and she香蕉视频直播檚 thankful for the time she has to spend with them.
The BC Cancer Foundation is fundraising for a new world-class systemic therapy suite in Kelowna that will increase the centre香蕉视频直播檚 capacity to deliver treatments by 40 per cent and bring more innovative, life-saving clinical trials to the Interior.
Learn more about supporting the BC Cancer Foundation香蕉视频直播檚 work in the Interior .
World Cancer Day, Saturday, Feb. 4, is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
On Feb. 4, millions of people around the world will unite to move closer to a world where no one dies from preventable cancer or suffers unnecessarily. A place where everyone has access to the cancer care they need. World Cancer Day 2023 marks the second year of the three-year 香蕉视频直播楥lose the care gap香蕉视频直播� campaign centred on the issue of equity.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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