Leading-edge care close to home with a human touch

In 2014, Sandra was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma that manifested in her kidney. She never thought anything like cancer would happen to her. “You hear the word cancer and it slams into your consciousness like a bullet”, she says. Her doctors explained that the lymphoma was not terminal, so that offered Sandra some relief and a feeling like she could beat it.

Sandra underwent laparoscopic surgery and soon after began chemotherapy. While the recovery from surgery had been long and difficult, Sandra felt hopeful. Follow-up tests reinforced her optimism when they confirmed that the treatments had been successful.

The cancer came back in 2023 — and worse than before. That was when Sandra’s doctor suggested that she would be a good fit for CAR T-cell therapy, a then-new addition to the treatments offered at CancerCare Manitoba.

Sandra was given a large binder that outlined the process and her care team made sure she understood how the treatment would work and what the potential risks were. Providing more than just clinical support, they also helped allay her fears and work through her emotions.

Trusting her team and their recommendation, Sandra was all in and became the first patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy at CancerCare Manitoba. The results were extremely positive, although she did experience some complications. Her team acted quickly to address these issues and things were soon looking up for Sandra. “CancerCare Manitoba is made up of people who are dedicated to their work and their patients,” noted Sandra. “They listen and provide much-needed comfort and reassurance. They treat you like a person.”

Talk to your care team about your concerns — they’re here to provide the support you need.