Anita Dobie is signed up for the 20th Quesnel Women’s Fall Challenge, Oct. 6, something she’s been participating in for at least 15 years – long before breast cancer changed her life.
A routine mammogram in January 2002 wasn’t normal.
Dobie was shocked with disbelief.
“I was assured the majority of these calcifications are nothing,” she said.
“I was good with that reassurance.”
A second procedure targeted the area of the calcification and concern changed to fear.
“When the mammogram technician went ahead and made a doctor’s appointment for me the fear began to set in,” she said.
“I began thinking about my kids and how they’d be rudderless. My husband was in long term care.”
However, Dobie had little time to dwell on those thoughts. Within a week she had a biopsy.
“All the medical people were so good; they circled the wagons to determine what I was dealing with.”
She had her results in five days and her physician, Dr. Sear delivered the devastating news. She had breast cancer, a low level type which was mildly estrogen-fed.
Dobie was referred to Dr. Bishop, an oncologist in Prince George, where treatment options were discussed.
With the oncologist’s sage advice, Dobie began the first of four chemotherapy treatments in Quesnel. The regime was aptly called Red Devil.
After her last treatment May 28, 2002, Dobie headed to Kelowna. Her cancer journey was far from over.
At the Kelowna cancer clinic, she discussed whether she would opt for radiation or a mastectomy, followed by a trip to Vancouver to discuss the best choice with a surgeon.
“I chose a mastectomy,” she said.
“Radiation had potential risks I didn’t want to chance. My health was far more important than my breast.”
These decisions weren’t made with a cool, detached attitude; Dobie worked very hard to maintain a positive, cheerful, optimistic outlook.
“Did I cry a lot? Oh yeah! I had times of huge despair, especially during the chemo treatments. They are so debilitating; you’ve got this crappy disease then the treatments knock you flat. You feel at times like you’ll never get better.”
Dobie boosted her positive attitude with reading books on positive thinking and imagery and she relied on the amazing support that surrounded her.
She admitted the mastectomy could have been done earlier but Dobie is a methodical person who deals with things one at a time, first chemo then the mastectomy in September 2002.
“I felt the cancer was gone once I had the surgery,” she said with confidence.
But she struggled with what follow-up procedures were right for her.
“I chose not to have reconstruction surgery, but then I never felt a devastating loss after the mastectomy,” Dobie said.
“But I know many friends who made different choices.”
She knew the experience was life changing and as her life adjusted to the new normal, it took her five years for the stress to lessen around each mammogram.
“I demanded a printout of the results each time. I needed to reassure myself it was good.”
It’s been 11 years clear for Dobie and she proudly stands tall as a survivor.
“The 10-year mark was emotional, possibly more so as my mum faced health challenges at the time. My life has focused on many family life challenges that seemed to leave little time to dwell on negative aspects of cancer. That would have been in direct opposition to my regular sunny disposition.”
She went on to say she encourages women to have regular mammograms, do breast self-examination and be pro-active about their own health.
“If you have cancer, be pro-active about your choices, your treatments – read and research and make thoughtful decisions about cancer.”
Dobie is participating in the Women’s Fall Challenge cancer free but she remembers the race during her cancer treatments.
“I walked with my supportive friends and daughter. We did the 5km walk rather than the usual 10km – chemo just knocks it out of you.
“I’m a strong supporter of the purpose of QWFC. I’m happy to be one of the 600 or so women walking with a common purpose. Most of the time I don’t want to be labeled as a breast cancer survivor. I don’t think of myself that way – I’m a person with life experiences and cancer is just one of those experiences.”
The Quesnel Women’s Fall Challenge is a 5 and 10 km walk, 5 and 10 km run and half marathon, Oct. 6 starting promptly at 9 a.m. from the Dragon Lake boat launch.
For entry fees, $30 until Oct. 4 or late fees of $40, Oct. 5 – 6, sign up categories, lunch reservations at $15, or to purchase QWFC merchandise pickup an entry form at the Arts and Rec Centre or visit, qwfc.wordpress.com.