Monday, April 21, 2025

A cancer diagnosis requires top of the line medical care. But emotionally, it may take a little more than well meaning family and friends. An Oakville woman was fortunate to find what she needed just a few minutes from her home. Maria Hayes reports.

It was so unexpected. Samantha Ireland was sure the lump she found in her breast during a summer vacation a year ago, would amount to nothing. She was only 37. She had a young family. Going to the doctor and having a mammogram was simply protocol. Except it wasn’t: “They called right away. And that’s when I panicked. I thought nobody’s going to call if it’s nothing. And that’s when I started to get concerned. A suspicious mass is what they called it. At that point I thought are they telling me I have cancer. That sort of heavy feeling started to set in and that’s when I thought well, this is something more than I did think.”

It was stage 3 breast cancer. Within 8-weeks of finding the lump, Samantha had surgery to remove it. But further treatment was necessary. Aggressive chemo therapy as well as radiation.

Samantha: “I felt like the hospital was really good at treating the tumour or the biology. But the emotional and social support is what was missing for me.”

Until it was suggested she check the offerings of Wellspring.

Wellspring is a network of centres providing free support services for anyone with a cancer diagnosis. Programs also extend to their families.

Judi Perry Brinkert is with Wellspring: “When you meet someone who comes in for the first time you can see how overwhelming the diagnosis is. And the uncertainty that comes with it. But then you see them 2 or 3 weeks later, they have a friend network. They’re feeling more confident. They’re feeling more in control. And they’re in a much better frame of mind to be able to deal with the illness.”

Samantha took part in nutrition classes, but found the greatest benefit from her Wellspring support group.

“It’s such a wonderful place. It really fills that gap between what you receive at a hospital and sort of the whole rest of yourself.”

Samantha’s family network shares her enthusiasm for Wellspring. A centre that operates solely from community donations. They took on last spring’s lace up for love. And Samantha’s husband Troy is set to embark on an 8-day cycling fundraiser to Texas.

“He was looking to do something different and memorable. And he had just started road cycling in the late fall last year. And he thought he could do it. So he signed up for the 2013 Peloton Challenge.”

Samantha’s husband Troy is one of 24 cyclists taking part in the Peloton for Wellspring. they set out on the 8-day continuous relay Friday morning. Donations for the endeavour can be made online at: http://wellspring.ca/National/Events/Events-List/Wellspring-Peloton-Challenge.aspx