For Lisa Weiner, the first sign that something was wrong was a sore throat that wouldn’t go away. From there, the pain kept getting worse until she was incapacitated.
“There were days when I couldn’t get out of bed. It was too painful to breathe or swallow,” Weiner says.
Weiner was referred to a specialist and eventually underwent a series of testing that revealed the underlying cause of the pain: basal tongue carcinoma, a type of head and neck cancer.
She was referred to BC Cancer - Victoria, one of BC Cancer’s six regional centres, where Weiner’s care plan was swiftly put in place.
“When they finally diagnosed me, it was amazing,” she says. “Lickety-split, one call came after another, and all these appointments were made for me.”
Cancer impacts one in two British Columbians. This year alone, over 6,700 Vancouver Island residents will be diagnosed with cancer, with that number expected to increase significantly over the next ten years.
However, donors can support solutions today that will have an impact for generations to come, including planned giving options that empower donors to make a significant and lasting impact by including a gift to BC Cancer Foundation in their will.
BC Cancer experts are amongst the top in the world for both cancer research and care, with BC Cancer having an extensive history of challenging limits and achieving what was thought impossible.
For Weiner, who was in debilitating pain throughout her treatment, the special care and attention provided by the BC Cancer staff helped her get through years of agony. Her ordeal is what motivated her decision to include a gift to the BC Cancer Foundation in her estate planning.
“It was absolutely so painful I can’t even get into it,” Weiner says.
“My entire tongue was covered in blisters. I couldn’t open my mouth more than a centimetre. I couldn’t chew. It was horrible.”
Taking into consideration her special situation, her pain management team worked with her to find medications she could take in liquid form to not aggravate the pain she felt when swallowing.
“My pain management doctor was an angel,” Weiner says.
"The people at the cancer center were amazing with the care I received. I had never experienced that before. I was so touched in so many ways."
While Weiner was undergoing treatment, she opted to re-visit her will and leave half of her estate to the BC Cancer Foundation.
"This is an organization that is so beneficial to the world. Without the amazing care and competency of the people in the cancer centre, I would never have recovered to the extent I have. I know that's for sure." Weiner says.
"I learned so much from my cancer experience, and BC Cancer meant so much to me, I decided to do my will and include them as a huge beneficiary."
The BC Cancer Foundation partners with donors to fuel tomorrow's cures. BC Cancer Foundation donors drive innovations in cancer research and care. Leaving a gift to the foundation in your will builds a legacy of impact that will help save more lives in your community.
“I selected to give to BC Cancer because they gave me a new life,” Weiner says.
“They supported me every step of the way and pre-empted a lot of my needs. I learned how fortunate I was to maintain a lot of my talking, eating, chewing and swallowing ability, and I will be forever grateful to them for that.”
To learn more about planned giving with BC Cancer Foundation, contact Jordan McClymont at jordan.mcclymont@bccancer.bc.ca or visit www.bccancerfoundation.com/legacy.
