Annie discovered she had cancer in 2019. The news was a total shock for the 60-year-old woman who had always been in good health. Despite having the support of a reassuring medical team and family members, Annie felt lost and isolated during her numerous hospital stays and the time spend far from home to treat her cancer. In April 2019, as Annie was starting her first round of chemotherapy, she heard about the activities offered by the Foundation’s regional center and Lodge in Quebec, specifically, the art therapy workshops. The latter proved to be a lifeline for Annie, who had feeling truly alone:
“Art therapy was of great help in releasing my emotions and anguish I was experiencing on a daily basis. Participating in these creative workshops alongside others who were in a situation similar to mine allowed me to break my self-isolation. I felt understood through both the good and the bad moments.”
Annie benefited from art-therapy workshops for over a year and a half, but also from the Info-cancer Library. When she would attend art therapy workshops at the Foundation facilities, she would often borrow books, after having browsed around and gotten recommendations from the Foundation’s documentalist, France Vachon:
“Ms. Vachon is extremely kind and compassionate. She makes thoughtful recommendations that are in line with our interests and needs. The Info-cancer Library is such a useful resource! I wish I’d known about the Library when I was first diagnosed. Discovering that you have cancer and navigating the cancer treatment options is overwhelming. Through the recommended readings, I was notably able to better understand the cancer treatment steps, thanks to Robert Buckman’s book Le cancer est un mot, pas une condamnation; I was also greatly reassured by the stories of other people living with cancer in Maudit colon: survivre au cancer coloretal, by Paule Laflamme. I also learned more about diet and ways to cope with the side effects of treatments. I can’t recommend this service enough!”
Grateful for the services she received from the Foundation, Annie is now giving some of her time to the Foundation helping others who, just like her, must face a cancer diagnosis.
