Kathy Smith describes her experience on a clinical trial to treat her late-stage breast cancer.

Cancer changed my life, but cancer research saved it. 

Following a two-year suspicion-to-decision interval, I was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and not given very good odds to even see a fifth anniversary.

I got surgery with two different regimes of chemotherapy. I also had a month of daily radiation at the end of all of that, which took nine months.

I was to take hormonal therapy tamoxifen for five more years. About two years in, I developed a serious side effect with tamoxifen. I was switched to a new type of hormonal therapy called aromatase inhibitors as part of a clinical trial.

I was very fortunate that the trial was offered right in Thunder Bay, so I did not have the physical and financial burden of having to travel.

I believe that taking part in that research trial moved science forward. Aromatase inhibitors are now part of standard of care. I feel very happy and proud that I was part of having that happen. 

Taking part in this cancer trial changed my outcome. I’m still here 20 years later and have been extremely grateful that I was able to watch my six grandchildren grow up, my four children succeed in getting married and having their jobs. 

I have my life back and I believe I owe it to taking part in that research trial. 

And now on the silver lining is that I have become a very active patient advisor in with cancer research.

Kathy Smith is a cancer survivor and a patient partner in cancer research and care, who is actively involved in projects as part of OICR’s Patient Community, the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN), as well as other organizations.