Network News - Winter 2009/2010 (PDF 3.7Mb - Canadian Breast ...

Canadian Breast Cancer Network Honour Roll
The Network is a unique national
organization in that its Board of
Directors is composed entirely
of women living with breast cancer.
Over the years many Directors have
succumbed to breast cancer while
in office or after having served the
Network in this capacity. The purpose
of this article is to remember them
and honour them. They were women
who were passionate about improving
the lives of others living with breast
cancer, from those who are newly
diagnosed to those living their final
days. They worked hard to create
support and action groups, dragon
boat teams and other community
resources, to reduce wait times, to
draw attention to the lack of services
to young survivors, women living in
rural, remote and Northern regions of
Canada, women whose first language
is neither English nor French, women
living with metastatic breast cancer.
They cared enough to give their time
and energy so that others would not
have to go through what they did.
Suzanne Giroux
British Columbia Director
(1967-2001)
Suzanne Giroux died at the age of 33
o n June 10, 2001. After nearly losing
her life to breast cancer in her late
20s, Suzanne was given nearly three
years of renewed hope, but in the end,
drugs failed her and she succumbed
to the disease after a determined fight.
Her memoir A Chance for Life was
published by ECW Press a few months
before she died.
Suzanne was the daughter of Huguette
Bourdeau of Cornwall, O ntario and the
late Claude Giroux, granddaughter of
Yvonne Aubin and Benoit Laurendeau
of St-Barthelemie, Quebec and the
late Arthur Giroux and also the late
Bernadette Lefebvre and the late Henry
Boudreau. She was survived by many
aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral
services were held o n June 13, 2001 in
Christ Roi Church, Cornwall.
Suzanne joined CBCN’s Board at its
Annual General Meeting in November
2000. She was o ne of two British
Columbia representatives. She became
ill again not long after she joined the
Board, so we were not fated to know
her well, or to have the opportunity
to work with her as she developed as
a CBCN Board member and breast
cancer advocate.
Suzanne was also an honourary
member of the Board of the Saunders-
Matthey Foundation for Breast Cancer
Research in Ottawa. O n December
15, 2001, the Saunders-Matthey
Foundation for Breast Cancer Research,
the Paradise Health & Fitness Centre,
Hôtel-Dieu Hospital and the VON
dedicated the Suzanne Giroux
Memorial Rehabilitation Centre for
Breast Cancer Patients in Cornwall.
Given Suzanne’s death at such an early
age despite her strong will to live, it
is fitting that she has been honoured
by a facility in her name that will help
others in their recovery from breast
cancer.
Mary Drover
Co-Chair of the Canadian Breast
Cancer Network
Remembering Mary Ellen Drover, by
Diana Ermel, past president of CBCN
Mary Drover became co-chair of the
CBCN after the founding meeting in
November 1994. Mary was my first
breast cancer role model. I met Mary
at the November 1993 Montreal Forum
on Breast Cancer. Mary was there
as an activist, fighting for national
recognition of the terrible issues that
accompany a diagnosis of breast
cancer. I was newly diagnosed and
just grateful to be in the presence of
someone like her. There she was, alive
and vibrant, telling me her breast
cancer story, including that nine years
previously the medical community had
given her six months to live. She used
a cane sometimes because the radiation
treatment for the cancer that had
invaded her bones those many years
ago had left her with damaged muscle,
bone, and tissue. She was at point of
needing a new knee. Mary was so
excited that something was finally
being done to address the impact
of breast cancer; I was just inspired
meeting someone who had lived….
with metastases… beaten the odds.
As I came to know Mary, I learned she
was far more that a “survivor.” Mary
was one of those special people, warm
and generous of spirit, full of fun, and
wise. Mary touched all those who
knew her.
Breast Cancer Action Saskatchewan
was founded by the group of us who
attended the Montreal Forum. Mary
was instrumental in making that
happen. Mary was a tireless and vocal
spokesperson for the breast cancer
community. Mary always made sure
the voice of Saskatchewan people
affected by breast cancer was heard
nationally.
Mary’s career included working with
Heritage Canada, Saskatchewan
Culture and Recreations, the Royal
Saskatchewan Museum and she
was a former Executive Director of
the Saskatchewan’s Writers Guild.
She was loved and admired by the
arts community. Mary was also a
16 Network News Winter 2009-10