Vancouver鈥檚 Carmen Hou is facing what any young mother may call her worst nightmare.

In January 2016, six months after Carmen gave birth to her daughter Evelyn, she noticed two tiny lumps on her left breast. At first she and her husband, a radiologist, thought the lumps may be related to breastfeeding.

An ultrasound suggested it was nothing but by the following winter, the lumps had grown larger and Carmen was feeling tiny shocks in her chest. She returned to the doctor and this time tests confirmed she was facing Stage III breast cancer.

鈥淚鈥檒l never forget that day,鈥� says Carmen.

Further tests revealed that her tumour had grown to five centimetres and there was also a blemish on her spine. The cancer had spread, which escalated her diagnosis to Stage IV. 鈥淚 called my husband right away and we both started crying. We were at a loss for words.鈥�

Roughly a month after her diagnosis, Carmen began chemotherapy treatment. She went on to have a mastectomy of her left breast and surgeons removed 20 lymph nodes, 10 of which were cancerous. The cancer remained and was active in three out of the four quadrants of her breast, which unfortunately meant that the chemotherapy may not have been effective.

Her treatment plan was then followed by surgery, two types of precision radiation and a drug trial, called Ribociclib. She also had been consented to Personalized Onco-genomics Program (POG) where scientists sequenced her DNA to match her to the best treatment possible for her cancer.

Today, Carmen has passed the two-year mark of being on the trial medication. Her cancer has been stable, but she has been told by her doctors that many patients on the trial quickly decline around this time in their treatment plan.

鈥淏ecause of my late stage diagnosis, I don鈥檛 know what the future really holds for us or how much time I have on this earth,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really changed my perspective on life and I want to spend my days choosing love over fear and focusing on what鈥檚 most important, including precious moments with my daughter, husband and our loved ones.鈥�

Changing outcomes for British Columbians

This year, 5,545 British Columbians will be diagnosed with a women鈥檚 cancer.

has led the world in breaking down breast and gynecological cancers, bringing innovative therapies to cure more women through precision medicine.

Carmen has been gifted more time with her family because of the life-saving treatments she鈥檚 received at BC Cancer.

鈥淲ithout the treatment and care I鈥檝e received at BC Cancer, which donors make possible, I would not be standing here before you,鈥� says Carmen.

It鈥檚 World Cancer Day and the BC Cancer Foundation is committed to changing the outcome for British Columbians like Carmen who are facing a women鈥檚 cancer.

鈥淐armen鈥檚 strength as a young mother is immeasurable,鈥� says Sarah Roth, President & CEO, BC Cancer Foundation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 people like her who are motivating our generous donors across the province to make a difference in the lives of women facing cancer in B.C.鈥�

In 2020, the BC Cancer Foundation announces its commitment to change the outcome for the 5,545 British Columbians that will be diagnosed with a women鈥檚 cancer this year.

Learn how you can help B.C. can stay one step ahead of women鈥檚 cancers for every patient, with every test and every personalized therapy 鈥� visit