The Southeast Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society surpassed their fund-raising objectives for the 2004 financial year by well over $25,000, with their total revenue coming in at $241,697.

The Southeast Unit of the Cancer Society's Saskatchewan branch held its annual meeting on Wednesday evening at the Legion Hall.

Campaign collections were over $18,000 more than projected for the year. The biggest boost came from the Relay for Life, which brought in over $59,000; it was projected to raise just $25,000.

The 2003 Relay for Life brought in just over $27,000.

The big increase in funding from the Relay covered for decreases in other fund-raising initiatives. For example, Cops for Cancer was projected to raise $15,000, but raised only $3,000.

"The Relay for Life really brought us up," said president Myron Fletcher, adding that the event is becoming steadily more visible in Saskatchewan and there is more participation for the many relays throughout Saskatchewan.

It should be noted that the kickoff for the 2005 Relay For Life is this Thursday, April 7, at 7 p.m. in the Weyburn Credit Union. Prior to that, volunteers and cancer survivors will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the southeast unit's new office at 114 Third St. N.E.

In other aspects of the financial report, residential campaigning, donor's choice and daffodil sales were on par with projections.

Regarding memoriam donations, the Southeast Unit received less than expected at $12,000, but memoriams received at the division level nearly made up for that loss, as they were $4,000 more than their projections.

Expenses were down this year, roughly $7,000 less than projected.

The Southeast Unit also approved 35 applications for financial assistance among 11 patients. These grants covered the cost of travel expenses, accommodation and drug costs for the applicant. The amount of financial assistance granted from February of 2004 to January of 2005 was $4,944.

Besides providing financial assistance to cancer sufferers, president Myron Fletcher said it was a good year for the society as some of their other services are becoming visible in the public, such as CancerConnection, which matches cancer survivors with current cancer sufferers to discuss their mutual affliction.

"They've always been there, but they're starting to be used more and more by people in our area," he said.

In addition to reviewing financial reports and executive reports, the Southeast Unit also presented a number of awards to awards and sponsors.

Johan Svorkdal, Evelyn Svorkdal, Samantha Campbell, Chelsey Schiller, Shantel Kohonick, Kyle Carriere, Dorothy Duthie and the Young Fellows received Southeast Unit certificates of appreciation.

Reider's Pharmasave, Rheindel Enterprize, L&J Sound Production and the Weyburn-Coop Association received Division certificates of appreciation.

Donna Wolfe, Cleo Coderre and Brian Lanktree received Division partnership awards.

A survivor's story

After working for SaskPower and SaskEnergy for 35 years, Marie Michelson-Meckling got to enjoy about three months of retirement before she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Ironically, one of Marie's plans for retirement was to volunteer for the Saskatchewan Breast Cancer study.

As a yearly tradition for their annual meeting, the Southeast Unit for the Canadian Cancer Society invites a cancer survivor to tell their story. This year's survivor was Marie, who was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 7, 2002.

Her cancer had been discovered by a mammogram ordered by her doctor after Marie had underwent a general physical; because she had recently had unrelated surgery, Marie needed a doctor's certificate in order to work out at the gym.

"I was now one of those stories that I had all too frequently heard or read about. I was now a statistic," she said.

Marie told the crowd about how she prayed to God after her diagnosis, and how that gave her a sense of peace she has maintained throughout.

Marie's story stretched from her first diagnosis to her eventual treatment. Because of the size of the cancer, it was necessary to perform a mastectomy on her left breast. Her right breast was also removed as a precaution.

Following surgery, she began a regime of chemotherapy treatments, followed by radiation. The side effects were, of course, extremely painful.

After two chemo treatments, she developed thrombosis in her arm that restricted further treatment. A surgeon then had to install a porta-cath, a small ball with an eight-inch tube attached to it, inserted into the vena cava leading into the heart. To administer chemotherapy, staff need only puncture the skin directly into the porta-cath.

Things did not go as planned. During a later chemo session, the tube actually separated from the porta-cath and traveled into the right atrium of her heart. Doctors were forced to "fish" out the tube through an incision with a hook.

After having a second porta-cath implanted, Marie's chemo resumed, though the remaining treatments brought along new side effects (muscle spasms, loss of toenails, etc.). She survived chemo, however, and her radiation therapy went well.

Though her story is undeniably horrifying, some of the most striking elements of Marie's story were the moments of humour throughout. Before she had surgery, her family threw a "breast friends" party; afterwards, her sister and daughter had given her a present of a fake breast.

"I believe every nurse on the floor came in to see and laugh. The biggest laugh came from my surgeon when she saw it," said Marie.

"You have to know my family is a crazy bunch; we have fun, no matter what the occasion."

Even when surgeons attempted to "fish" the missing tube in her heart, Marie asked that a "Gone Fishing" sign be placed beside her bed. After the procedure, she asked to keep the tube.

Marie said she told her story because people must know how devastating cancer and the treatments can be. It is estimated that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

"It is vital to do your monthly breast self-exams, schedule yearly medicals and have mammograms," she said. "Believe me, you do not want to be one of those eight."

She also said women should avoid hormone replacement therapy, which has been proven to cause breast therapy. Marie herself required HRT at the age of 37.