Terry Fox Run a milestone for cancer survivor from qathet region

Primary bone cancers are rare and make up less than one per cent of cancer cases in North America. However, that statistic does not bring solace for those who are diagnosed with a sarcoma.

Last September, qathet resident Laura Campbell began feeling pain in her knee, but passed it off as getting older and hitting her 40s. Then her soreness became more alarming. 

"I was thinking something's really wrong," says Laura. "From the X-ray, [medical staff] could see there were holes inside my bone; that set up a red flag, and they moved on to further tests."

Fast forward to September 2024 and Laura is planning to participate in the Terry Fox Run on September 15 at Powell River Recreation Complex. She is also raising money and awareness for primary bone cancer (myxofibrosarcoma) and hopes to raise $3,000.

Before her diagnosis, she was working full time, raising two teenagers, running, bike riding, snowboarding and playing ice hockey.

"That's my jam, being active and being a busy mom," she says.

Laura and her husband Ken, whom she calls her “rock” during this challenging time, tried to keep themselves busy and focused on the positive.

"We stayed calm as much as we could without doing too many exciting things, and just focused on what the next step was. It's a rarity [primary bone cancer] and when the doctors discovered something, they needed to see if it's somewhere else; that was super scary. "

Myxofibrosarcoma is often overlooked and might be mistaken as a soft tissue injury, especially for someone young and seemingly healthy.

"Advocate for yourself," says Laura, in regard to getting a diagnosis sooner than later. "We were always looking for something to be grateful for, but it wasn't always peaches and cream; there were dark days."

After surgery at Vancouver General Hospital she required a lot of rest.

"If I was sad, I would get up and stretch my leg, or do what I could, because I don't usually like to sit around," she says.

The complicated surgery took 6.5 hours. Only two surgeons in BC can perform the procedure and amputation was an option. Laura did consider wearing a full prosthetic as the recovery time is shorter. 

"The oncologist was not for amputation. I didn't have an amputation, but I have a large metal pedestal that goes down my leg and then my calf muscles are on the front."

Laura has a scar that goes from her ankle up past her knee, and her recovery time was a minimum one year. But, her leg is healing and although she is using crutches, she is slowly able to use her leg again.

According to the American Cancer Society, in the past, many sarcomas in arms and legs were treated by removing the limb, but now a tissue graft or implant may be used to replace removed tissue. 

"I'm eight months into my recovery, and I'm seeing the light now," says Laura. "The first couple months I didn't know what was going on; I wanted to get going and I wanted to get moving."

She says she wasn't used to relying on others to take care of her.

"I learned to be okay with quiet and my husband has been amazing."

Laura will be getting scans every three months to make sure the cancer doesn't spread. Fox, who embarked on a run across Canada in 1980 to raise money and awareness for cancer research, had a similar cancer that eventually spread to his lungs.

"Thankfully I didn't have to do chemotherapy or radiation," says Laura, who has been training and is feeling good about the run. She will wear a red Terry Fox t-shirt, symbolizing her as a survivor.

To donate to her goal of $3,000 for cancer research, go to run.terryfox.ca/page/lauracampbell.

Organizer and cancer survivor Leslie Paul says the 2024 run starts at the lower level of the complex, near the footbridge. In-person registration starts at 8:30 am and the run starts at 10 am, with a pancake breakfast to follow.

Register or donate at: run.terryfox.ca/powellriver.

"Last year in our area we raised $16,468.45 for the Terry Fox Foundation," said Paul. "Powell River’s fundraising total since our first run in 1989, is $470,825.94."

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