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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 27, 2016 | 4 Survivor speaks out for Breast Cancer Awareness by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville resident Susan Hodkinson likens her experience of surviving cancer to dodging a bullet. The 15-year breast cancer survivor told the Oakville Beaver she owes her life to early diagnosis and advancements in cancer research. Her diagnosis in May 2001 came as shock. She said after having discovered a lump on her breast, her family doctor had told her she had nothing to worry about, but referred her to a breast clinic just to be sure. Even then, Hodkinson recalls the surgeon told her he was confident the lump was benign. "I walked away thinking, OK, that's fine, and then a few days later I got a call from his office saying in fact, it was not benign, that it was invasive carcinoma and I was to come back and see him again a few days later to discuss next steps," said Hodkinson who was 39 years old at the time, had no family history of breast cancer and had two young children. "I found out and was diagnosed on a Tuesday and by the following Monday, I was having my surgery, so it was all quite a whirlwind," she said. Without advancements made in cancer research, Hodkinson said she would probably not be here today. Until a short time before her diagnosis, she said breast cancer was viewed in terms of its stage. Oakville cancer survivor Susan Hodkinson with her two daughters Jill Hodkinson (left) and Jamie Hodkinson (right). | submitted photo Oncologists looked at tumour size and location but its pathology wasn't explored as much. "Based on the size of my tumour, it would've indicated that I wouldn't have needed any followup chemotherapy, but before, not that long before I was diagnosed, they had determined there was a particular pathology that if that was present in a tumour, no matter what the size of the tumour, it meant it was very aggressive and that chemotherapy was required," Hodkinson said. "So, because of that, I had the chemotherapy and I'm here today," she said. "If that research had not resulted in my oncologist having that treatment plan for me, the outcome would have been very different." Knowing just how crucial research is to making advancements towards a cure for cancer, Hodkinson has been participating in a number of fundraising walks in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, since 2003 to support cancer research centres across the country. The team she's been walking with over the past 10 years, Crowe Soberman, has raised $250,000. This month, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she's encouraging others to take part in events such as the Rexall OneWalk to Conquer Cancer benefitting Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. The 2016 OneWalk in September raised $6.5 million and had 3,555 participants trek 25-kilometres throughout Toronto. Next year's walk on Sept. 9 marks the 15th year anniversary of supporters walking to conquer cancer in this lifetime while helping the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre develop better treatment options, diagnose with more precision and continue its lead of personalized cancer medicine, improving treatment for Canadians and people around the globe. Hodkinson will be leading the Crowe Soberman team once again. She describes the walk as an uplifting and inspiring experience that motivates and empowers people. "We're all in this together," she said, noting her aunt battled pancreatic cancer for over five years and died a little over one year ago at age see Survivor on p.7 Voted the Best in Oakville We Invite you to nd out why! Call today for your personal tour. We'd love to have you join us! Discover Your Choices 380 Sherin Drive, Oakville, Ontario (905) 847-1413 www.vistamere.ca Retirement Living At Its Best