Two sisters hope their five daughters will never experience breast cancer as they have.
Jamie Hykawy, 32, of Sylvan Lake and her 36-year-old sister Nikki Obrigewitch of Medicine Hat know firsthand about the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Canadian women. They participated in Red Deer’s record-breaking Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure on Sunday, which raised more than $278,300 and attracted 1,204 entrants.
Obrigewitch learned at 32 that she had cancer. Months later through genetic testing, Obrigewitch found out she carried a specific gene, BRCA1, that gave her a very high risk of getting breast cancer.
Such news was a shock because there was no family history of breast cancer.
At her sister’s urging, Hykawy underwent yearly mammograms, plus a breast MRI, a more detailed screening test.
While scratching an itch, Hykawy found the lump in her left breast. She was diagnosed on July 19, almost four years to the day of her sister’s diagnosis.
“It was a 2.8 cm tumour by the time I found it, which is quite large considering I had a clear breast MRI exactly the year before,” said Hykawy.
“That’s how aggressive the form of cancer that we have is.”
The mother of a four-year-old girl shed some tears in front of the surgeon.
“Then I just looked at him square in the face and I said, ‘OK, we know it’s cancer. Now, how do we kick some ass?’”
She had her left breast removed and as a preventative measure, her right as well. Three weeks ago, Hykawy began chemotherapy treatments at Central Alberta Cancer Centre in Red Deer. Having her sister to lean on has been helpful.
“We’re close enough too that we can talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of chemo and the stuff that maybe you don’t want to talk to a stranger about,” said Hykawy.
Obrigewitch finished chemotherapy and radiation treatments in April 2007 and is now cancer free. Both sisters say a cure is important because their daughters have a 50 per cent chance of getting breast cancer if they have the BRCA1 gene.
“They can’t be tested until they are adults,” said Obrigewitch. “So it’s all about educating them and raising enough money, so by the time they get old enough, there will be a vaccination or way better treatment, or that it would be totally eradicated.”
Hykawy, wearing a pretend boxer’s championship belt, formed the Jamie’s Fight Club team for Sunday’s fundraiser. The 44 members raised more than $16,200, making them Red Deer’s top fundraising team and the recipients of the Friends and Family Award.
“Breast cancer can take your breasts, your hair, but it can’t take away your fight, your courage and determination,” said Hykawy.
The 10th annual run in Red Deer saw fundraising dollars shoot up 47 per cent from last year’s event when 1,012 people raised $189,000. About 300 people raised $45,000 during the first annual event.
Lorraine Shellito, route and site co-ordinator for the Run, credits this year’s record-breaking numbers to increased community support and the fact that breast cancer touches so many lives. The one and five-km route kicked off at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School.
Some of the money will support local programs, while the remaining dollars will go to breast cancer research within Canada.
People can still donate to CIBC Run for the Cure, online at www.cbcf.org, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com