Jovanna Sauro was 32 when she found lumps on the left side of her neck.
"At first, I thought they were related to the muscle knots on my back as I have back issues which I see a registered massage therapist for. It didn't take long for me to notice a larger bump underneath my left armpit. Shortly thereafter I noticed some smaller bumps on the right side of my neck. The bumps were not painful," Sauro said.
She had her massage therapist feel it and she said that it wasn't related to muscle.
"That's when I knew I had to make an appointment to see my family doctor to get it checked out," the Walnut Grove resident said.
Her doctor wanted to cover all the bases so there was blood work, imaging, and a referral to the breast health clinic at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey.
The ultrasound showed nothing but the results from the breast centre biopsy and ultrasound show lymphoma.
"I can still remember my family doctor calling me to break the news I had cancer," Sauro said.
Hodgkin's lymphoma 鈥� the diagnosis came in June 2020. Sauro will be the guest speaker at 91原创's 2024 Terry Fox Run on Sunday, Sept. 15, when she'll share her experiences with cancer.
"When I was diagnosed on June 29, 2020, COVID was at its prime so I had to wear a mask in the hospital while receiving treatment and anytime I went outside for a walk and in a public place. It was really unfortunate that I wasn't allowed to bring my husband to my chemo sessions. He was only allowed at the first session. It felt very isolating not having him there and also wearing a mask all the time. I tried to make the most of it by chatting with the nurses and other patients. In general, I had a very positive outlook."
The diagnosis also came at a time when she was about to start on a new direction in life.
"Before I started treatment in August, I received amazing news that I was accepted into my master's program. I knew I had a big decision to make," she said.
She decided to do both 鈥� start treatment (chemotherapy with a cocktail of four drugs) and go for her master's in education, specifically health education and active living.
"I started school in September 2020 so I would often do my readings during chemo treatments," she said. "It was amazing because it gave me something positive to focus on. Since the program was health education and active living, it was so relatable to what I was going through. I was able to write about my journey with cancer as a patient and as a survivor."
In addition to hours spent receiving chemotherapy, there were also ultrasounds, biopsies, CT scans, PET scans, blood tests, and injections as part of the treatment.
The chemo was hard on her system. She experienced several side effects, including chemo brain, body discomfort, forgetfulness, and exhaustion. On Aug. 24, 2020, she was admitted to hospital with a potentially life threatening condition. She had developed febrile neutropenia, a condition that occurs when the white blood cell count is too low. She developed an infection which was treated.
She's now considered cured, and is still tested multiples times each year by her doctor. The experience has left her feeling that life is a gift.
She said cancer taught her so much, including being more compassionate to others, learning to appreciate the small things in life, and learning not to "sweat the small stuff." It also showed her things about herself.
"I have learned that I am more determined and focused than I realized. I have learned to listen to my body, especially when something doesn鈥檛 feel right," she said. "I have tuned into my body and have learned what it can and cannot handle. And I have learned to advocate for myself."
She doesn't refer to her experience as a battle with cancer but rather a journey.
"Sharing my story with others and listening to their stories has deepened my appreciation of connection, and the importance of health education and advocacy," Sauro said. "Life never goes back to normal after a cancer diagnosis."
Sauro is no stranger to the Terry Fox Run, having participated in runs at elementary school. But now his story hits different. She was a student as well as staffer at Simon Fraser University and would pause when she passed his statue on the Burnaby campus. She did the SFU Terry Fox Run one year and the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life events at SFU for three years. Sauro is a peer navigator for adolescents and young adults through the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. Sauro is also available to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers from across Canada through the CancerConnection.ca online platform. The 36-year-old emphasized that she's also available to anyone in this community wanting to talk about their cancer journey. She can be contacted through her Instagram (jovanna.sauro)
As for the 91原创 run, it starts and finishes at Douglas Park, 20399 Douglas Cres. Registration opens at 9 a.m. with the run at 10 a.m. and activities wrap up by 1 p.m. People can walk, run, ride bikes, or rollerblade the route which is wheelchair accessible. Dogs on leash are allowed.
"There is no entry fee to do the run, but volunteers at the registration tables will be very willing to accept donations for the Terry Fox Foundation," explained Tom Barichello, one of the local organizers.
Donations can be made with the money going to the foundation which supports innovative research to find cures for cancers.
On the morning of the run, people can hear from Sauro, enjoy live music, and meet Mr. Bubbles, a clown and balloon artist. People are encouraged to bring their own water bottles for the on-site filling station. With the Douglas Park Recreation Centre closed for renovations, portapotties will be brought in for the event.
