In this Leap series, we capture the bravery, strength, honesty, hope and resilience of Albertans living with cancer.
As told to Colleen Seto
Photograph by Jared Sych
In 1995, at the age of 15, Fabienne Morin was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. She underwent mantle radiation, a treatment that targets the lymph nodes in the upper body. While the radiation effectively treated her Hodgkin lymphoma, it also exposed healthy tissues to radiation. In the years since, Morin has experienced secondary cancers and other long-term health effects.
In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction. Over the following years, new tumours were detected and surgically treated in her kidney, thyroid and gallbladder. Now 47, she is one of the oldest members of the long-term survivor clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. She continues to monitor for cancer recurrence, as well as a range of other health concerns, including declining cardiac health and muscle atrophy. And yet, Morin refuses to let cancer define her. She continues to live a full life with her family while giving back through her work as a board member with Hospice Calgary.
“During that time [of having Hodgkin lymphoma], I wasn’t doing the things that normal kids were doing. I was focused on surviving. But I’m super grateful for that experience. That’s always been my lens. My story has evolved — I live with advanced illness and have had reoccurring cancers because of the mantle radiation I received early in life. I call it survival with a gentle victory, because it was a victory. But it has become something that me and my family have to live with.
“In the last decade, I’ve dealt with a tumour or complication of some sort every two years. My husband and children have lived with this, too — the multiple diagnoses, surgeries, recovery periods and the recurring scans to make sure we catch anything as early as possible. This journey hasn’t just affected me; it’s something our whole family has learned to live with. Still, cancer will never define me. I got my degree, have a successful coaching business, had two kids — which is a miracle in itself!
“After the kidney cancer, I thought, ‘This isn’t a coincidence.’ I became part of the Patient and Family Advisory Council and the Long Term Survivor Clinic. In times of hardship, I look for how to help others and I coach newly diagnosed patients through their cancer journeys.
“The biggest piece of advice I give is to advocate for yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to ask questions. I am the leader of my life. I have to tell my story and that’s my responsibility — I don’t assume they know my file or about the mantle radiation. One of the things I’ve asked for in my survivorship is coordination across [my whole medical team] because my case is complex.
“Living with cancer is not just about enduring what happens to you. It’s about finding your voice within it, which gives you a sense of control. For me, it’s about helping others move through their own cancer.
“Don’t get me wrong, I do allow myself a couple of days for a pity party. I surround myself with my people, especially when I’m first diagnosed, but I don’t sit in it long. At such a young age, I survived cancer. What a confidence booster. I live my life to the fullest because tomorrow is not granted.”
