Jamie Killam – Cancer Patient
“Cancer – that happens to other people but not to me.”
As a mother of teenagers, and only 40 years of age, Jamie had no health issues. The thought of even the possibility of having cancer was far from her mind. After all, cancer was something that happened to other people. But when she discovered a lump in her breast, the reality of the potentially fatal disease struck home. After being sent for a mammogram and ultrasound by her family doctor, she was on her way home when he called.
“We don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t look good.”
Her doctor referred her to a surgeon and Jamie went to the Rae Fawcett Breast Health Clinic at RIH where she was tentatively diagnosed with breast cancer due to her Bi-Rads category 5 lesion, which has a 95% probability of malignancy. The diagnosis was confirmed a few days later after the biopsy results came in. As a result, she underwent a lumpectomy on February 19th, 2019, just 2 weeks after her initial mammogram.
“Hoping that surgery would be enough to conquer the cancer, Jamie was in for disappointment when the results came back that one of the six lymph nodes removed contained cancer cells. As a result, Jamie was scheduled for chemotherapy treatment and continued to be followed by local oncologist, Dr. Thinn Pwint at RIH.
“The cancer diagnosis actually had more of an impact on my family than on me.”
In preparation of total hair loss, Jamie shaved her head in advance. “It was really difficult for my son, AJ (13), to grasp the concept that I would be losing my hair,” Jamie said, “So I let him choose which wig I would wear (all from the Free Hat and Wig Lending Bank at RIH). And after one of his friends said that I looked like a popular YouTuber who has a short buzz cut, it was all ok.”
A cancer diagnosis is not just about the patient, but also about the family and friends who are also impacted. This was the case with Jamie, and although it was difficult for all of her family when she was first diagnosed, they soon rallied and supported her in any way they could. In fact, she always had someone accompany her to the chemo appointments, primarily her mother, Karen, but also her daughter, Mackenzie (15), her friend, Cheryl, and other family members as well. In addition, Jamie and her husband, Shawn, made a conscious effort to keep their lives as normal as possible; except for Jamie taking time off work, they were successful in doing so.
Jamie’s treatment ended with 20 rounds of radiation at Kelowna General Hospital. She also participated in the Look Good Feel Better program at RIH, where she learned how to put on makeup specific to cancer patients. Today, over a year after her diagnosis, Jamie is looking forward to going back to work with School District 73.
“Having cancer puts things in perspective – life is short and you only get to live once.”
Reflecting back on her journey, Jamie concentrates not on the hardship, but rather on all the positive that came out of her experience. Today, she is living life in the moment. “Faced with your own mortality, you prioritize what is important and what matters, and you don’t let the small stuff bother you,” Jamie explained.
Last but not least, Jamie is a grateful patient to all who helped her through her cancer treatment journey, most particularly to Dr. James Baughan, General Surgeon, who performed the lumpectomy and put in the portacath, Dr. Thinn Pwint, Oncologist, who continues to do follow-up with her, Nurses April and Cheryl, and Mammogram Technician, Shelby.
