We Helped Lauren Beat Cancer
Lauren craig's Story
In 2016, Lauren Craig had graduated from university and was embarking on the next phase of her life when she received news that would change everything.
A bump on Lauren’s neck was the first obvious warning that something was wrong. She was also feeling tired, which she thought was because of her new job, so she decided to visit her family doctor. After undergoing various tests, Lauren was diagnosed with Stage 2A Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is a moment she’ll never forget.
“I was thinking, ‘No, this is wrong. I’m not supposed to have cancer. This doesn’t make sense,’” recalls Lauren.
She began chemotherapy at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre with her family by her side for support. After envisioning the moment when she would finally complete that part of her treatment, Lauren rang the Bravery Bell on March 29, 2017. Just one month later, she was back at the Cancer Centre for round-two of her treatment, undergoing a four-week, daily regimen of radiation.
The road to recovery has been difficult both physically and mentally as the months after finishing treatment can be the most hardest emotionally for a cancer patient.
In November 2017, Lauren returned to work, something that seemed nearly impossible just months before while she was battling cancer.
This World Cancer Day, Lauren is grateful. She’s healthy. She’s happy. And she’s focused on getting back to doing the things she loves.
what is hodgkin's lymphoma?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which drains excess fluids from all over the body. In 2016, there were approximately 9,000 new cases of lymphoma diagnosed in Canada. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the most curable form of lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the most common type of lymphoma.
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is a national leader in treating lymphoma. Our experts handle more than 10,000 clinic visits per year, including the most complex cases from across the country.
With the number of new diagnoses on the rise, our Lymphoma Program is focused on personalized care and precision medicine through the use of targeted therapies. For example, our radiation specialists are known for their innovative use of precise radiation techniques that shrink tumours while sparing healthy tissue as much as possible.
Lymphoma patients from around the world benefit from research innovation at The Princess Margaret. Our researchers are internationally recognized for their studies into new drugs, successful combination of therapies, and strategies to reduce side effects for patients.
Currently, our scientists are looking into ways to “starve” cancer cells of energy, find genetic markers that signal patients at a high risk of relapse, and discover why lymphoma in some patients is resistant to drugs.
Philanthropic funding is essential to support the cutting-edge research that gives our patients early access to the latest treatments and advances the world’s understanding of lymphoma.
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WORLD CANCER DAY
World Cancer Day occurs every year on February 4 to unite people from around the globe in the fight against cancer.
With 8.8 million people dying from cancer worldwide each year, the goal of World Cancer’s Day is to get as many people talking about cancer on one day.
Through awareness and education, the aim is to reduce the number of preventable deaths, while urging governments to take action.
For the third year in a row, the campaign slogan for World Cancer Day is “We can. I can.” It encourages everyone to think about what role they can play in reducing the disease.
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