B.C. cancer survivor raises $14,000 for Surrey cancer centre expansion | 24CA News

A lady from Surrey, B.C., who just lately completed her most cancers remedy, has raised hundreds of {dollars} for the brand new growth of Surrey’s most cancers centre.

Catherine Perka was simply 32 years previous, newly married and excited to start out a household when she was recognized with Stage 3 colorectal most cancers in 2019.

“It was only four months after our wedding that I started to get symptoms,” Catherine advised Global News.

“It took about six months until my diagnosis. Then I was thrown into the world of appointments, treatments and surgeries.”

She mentioned it was tough to get her analysis as colorectal most cancers will not be frequent for individuals her age and he or she beforehand had a clear invoice of well being. Doctors initially checked out her signs, together with extreme rectal bleeding and excessive bloating, as not most cancers signs.

“After pushing and pushing, including going to the emergency room, I was finally able to see a gastroenterologist but that appointment still took five months to get,” Catherine mentioned.

“Finally, when I had the appointment, the doctor diagnosed me on the spot.”

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Over the following few years, Catherine was in a position to comply with her remedy plan. She mentioned her scans have been clear for 2 years and 9 months. To be formally deemed in remission, sufferers must have 5 years of unpolluted scans.

Ahead of World Cancer day on Saturday, Catherine is sharing her story to encourage others each of their restoration and to offer again to the group. She additionally highlights the significance of getting fast entry to life-saving medical remedies.

She mentioned after her remedy, the expertise opened her eyes to simply how busy Surrey’s chemo suite is.

Knowing firsthand the significance that expedited remedy has on restoration each bodily and mentally, Catherine and her husband Dan determined to take motion.

“The minute you walk in the doors at BC Cancer, you can really tell they care. They care about your loved one and they cared about my wife,” Catherine’s husband Dan advised Global News.

“They treated her like she was their own family. It made things a lot more comforting.”

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The couple ended up organizing a charity pub evening to assist elevate funds to offer again to the centre.

“We raised just over $14,000 at the event. We were so blown away by all the support. It was very humbling,” she mentioned.

According to the BC Cancer Foundation, the funds raised will add much more chairs to the increasing facility.

“It’s going to support expanding the existing chemotherapy suit at the BC Cancer Centre in Surrey to accommodate ten new chemotherapy chairs,” BC Cancer Foundation Fraser Valley govt director Kristina Lebed mentioned.

“This is significant because it allows us to provide an additional 900 infusions a month.”

The new BC Cancer Centre will embody an oncology ambulatory care unit with 50 examination rooms, 54 chemotherapy remedy areas and room for six linear accelerators for radiation remedy to supply care and help for individuals recognized with most cancers.

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