As World Cancer Day approaches on February 4, I’m moved by the thought of the impact we can have when we come together to work towards closing the care gap and changing lives for the better.
Like so many in our community, I have experienced the devastating impacts of cancer first-hand. When I was 17, I lost my father to glioblastoma, a malignant form of brain cancer. He was only 53. His condition kept him from working, and with my mother assuming the role of his full-time nurse, she had to forego a salary too. We nearly lost our house due to the financial strain.
This experience ignited my interest in research and finding meaningful ways to treat and cure this illness in all its forms. Cancer’s effects are so far-reaching. The disease itself sets off a chain reaction of medical and social outcomes with effects that are felt for decades, sometimes generations.
Catherine Dufour pictured with her brother and parents
Sadly, nine years ago, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. I have never been filled with so much fear. As a researcher, I recognized the complexity of cancer and the many limitations to treatment. After fearing for the worst hearing that she may only live one more year, my mother and our family were lucky. Thanks to interventions, she was able to enjoy seven more years of life, making the most of every moment.
This time around, though, she did lose her home. The financial strain of her illness, combined with my stepfather’s own Huntington’s disease and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, was simply too much, and something had to give.
My mother was strong, and she persevered for as long as she could with the help of amazing medical interventions. Her strength was infectious. I watched her help and give strength to those around her, including her fellow cancer patients. Sometimes all it takes is to share your own story. To let people know they aren’t alone.
Losing both parents to cancer, along with other loved ones, has given me an appreciation for what a strong support system can do. We have enormous power to enact change and to reduce the pain and suffering caused by cancer.
As a research assistant at the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, I get to play a central role in important work. Work that changes lives. Work that seeks to reduce the number of stories like mine. I draw inspiration and passion from knowing that my work can and will make a difference.
As we study new treatments and interventions, there are so many angles to consider. It’s equally important, for example, to understand and mitigate the side effects of treatment. The human body is a beautiful and complex thing, but that also means it is hard to predict how one part will react when another is treated. There’s always more to learn, more to study, more to consider. We’re trying to improve and protect people’s lives, so we have our work cut out for us.
I believe that every disease can be cured. I believe that research holds the key to achieving this. A world without research is a world without hope, and hope gives strength to us all. But we need help to do that. Cancer research is complex. We have to tackle this disease on so many fronts, from gaining a fundamental understanding of tumour initiation, to disease progression, to metastasis, to therapeutic resistance mechanisms, to dormancy, to understanding the impacts of nutrition and the immune system on cancer development, and so much more. None of this work is possible without funding and the generosity of donors.
For this upcoming World Cancer Day, I am grateful for the generosity of donors to the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute. That generosity enables us to do research with real impact. It helps us to provide for a better future. A future without cancer.