Breast cancer has left its mark on the family of Fiona Hodgson. In the 1960’s, Fiona’s mother succumbed to the disease at age 62, while her sister died four years later at just 35 years of age. Naturally concerned about developing breast cancer herself, Fiona is proactive about her health and visits her doctor regularly.
Six years ago, Fiona, now a grandmother of two and part-time bookkeeper from Bath, Ontario, was invited to join a new breast cancer prevention study, funded in part by the Canadian Cancer Society. The study followed a large group of women at increased risk of developing breast cancer to determine if a drug called exemestane, currently used to reduce recurrence of breast cancer, could help prevent it from starting in the first place. This landmark trial found that the drug reduces risk by 65 percent compared with placebo.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to be involved in leading-edge research," Fiona says. "I hope that this research means that I never get breast cancer and future generations, including my own granddaughter, have another way of fighting this disease," she says.
Last year, the Canadian Cancer Society invested $5.1 million in clinical trials that are directly impacting the way that cancer is treated today. These breakthroughs are giving hope to Fiona Hodgson, her family and thousands of other families across Canada.