REGINA - Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time for people to lend a hand in finding a cure for the disease and for survivors to tell their stories to get the word out.
One survivor of breast cancer, Sarah Keshane, told her story about being diagnosed.
Keshane, a Regina resident, first felt something was off in Sept. 2021. She had gotten a physical done, and nothing turned up. However, in Dec. 2021, Keshane noticed a ridge on her breast. She went to the doctor about it and was told it was likely either an infection or fluid buildup.
Despite taking medication prescribed by the doctor, Keshane knew something was not right. In Jan. 2022, Keshane went to the emergency room (ER) and had multiple tests done. There, it was discovered that Keshane had stage 3 breast cancer.
For Keshane, it was shocking to hear that she went from being completely normal and healthy in Sep. 2021 to having stage 3 cancer and a tumour that was over 8cm long in Jan. 2022.
She underwent four treatments of a specific type of chemotherapy followed by 12 treatments of a different type of chemo. She later underwent radiation treatment and immunotherapy treatment, and also underwent a double mastectomy (removing two breasts). Studies have shown removing a person's breast can reduce the risk of getting breast cancer and help treat those with the disease.
After undergoing intense treatment, Keshane was considered in remission, meaning the treatments elimated any signs or symptoms of cancer.
The journey of Keshane had been long and tiring. She said it affected her mental health and did not help with the anxiety she had already been dealing with before finding out she had cancer.
She also said the thought of having the disease come back is always at the back of her mind.
Luckily for Keshane, the overwhelming support she has received from her friends, families, and workplace made her recovery process go alot smoother.
Keshane is a teacher at the Regina Huda School, and when she found out about her cancer diagnosis, she was transparent with her workers and students about what had been going on.
After Keshane decided to participate in this year's Regina CIBC Run for the Cure, the Regina Huda School decided to do a fundraiser at the school and donate the money they earned. Each classroom had a jar where students could put loonies or toonies into them to raise money for the cause. The school was able to raise over $2,000 and donated the money under Keshane's name during the run.
Keshane also said parents from the Muslim community chipped in with donations, and her close friend's daughter helped raise money by making and selling keychains. Because of the overwhelming donations under her name, Keshane placed 3rd for donations among participants in the event.
The support from the school, friends and family was really special to Keshane. Thanks to their efforts and other donations, the Regina CIBC Run for the Cure raised nearly $300,000 in 2024.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in eight Canadian women will develop breast cancer.
Typically, women over 40 years old are diagnosed with breast cancer, but Keshane said every woman, despite their age, should get checked out if they feel something is off. She also noted women with dense breast tissues have a harder time feeling lumps on their breasts, making it harder to identify a potential tumour.
She also advocated for more mammogram machines, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiologists to help identify potential tumours faster and treat them quickier.
While Breast Cancer Awareness Month occurs in Oct., Keshane said people can always donate and support research efforts throughout the year.
