Linda’s Story

The scariest words you’ll ever hear…
“You have cancer.”

Those are the words I heard December 17, 2012 from my family doctor after my cancer diagnosis was confirmed by a CT scan.

As a wife and mother of two, I was in shock. I returned to my office and told my manager that I couldn’t work anymore. I figured this was it – the end.

After news like this, you start thinking about the worst case scenario. “Will I make it to next Christmas?”

But, here I am four years later, in remission.

It wasn’t an easy journey.

A second CT scan in February 2013 showed the cancer was isolated to my back. Two bone marrow biopsies confirmed my diagnosis – Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma is a blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells found in the soft, spongy tissue at the center of your bones, called bone marrow. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell critical to maintaining the body’s immune system.

I can’t say enough good things about the care I received at the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC).

Each time I came to our hospital for my treatment I had blood work. Our hospital has an amazing system for us. Chemotherapy patients are seen at the lab immediately so that we can start our treatment as soon as possible. It meant the world to me to feel like I was priority when I was going through this routine.

There were a lot of tests –MRIs, mammograms, EKGs, bone scans, a third bone marrow biopsy and so many blood tests. I think I probably had blood work done more than 100 times throughout 2013.

Thankfully, I’ve been in remission for three years now. I see my oncologist every three months via telemedicine at NBRHC, or in Sudbury at Health Sciences North.

I’m so grateful for my early diagnosis, rapid treatment, positive outcome and the outstanding care I received at NBRHC.