Tanya Verbeek is unusual among the cancer survivors who speak at the 91原创 Relay for Life 鈥� she barely remembers having cancer.
Verbeek was three years old when her mother Kim took her to the doctor to see about a strange growth on her shoulder.
The first doctor they saw said it would probably go away on its own. Disturbed by her daughter鈥檚 condition, Kim sought a second opinion.
The next doctor sent them straight to Vancouver Children鈥檚 Hospital.
鈥淚t was pretty fast growing,鈥� said Verbeek.
Within a week, the tumour had grown to 10 times its original size.
Fortunately, removal was relatively simple, and for a long time, cancer was a distant memory for Verbeek personally.
However, it has struck her family on several times in recent years.
Her stepfather Hank Kwantes went to the doctor a little over a year and a half ago with a scratch that wouldn鈥檛 heal. That turned out to be skin cancer.
He had surgery for that, but a new tumour had been found and he鈥檚 going back to the hospital for another operation in June.
Then February of last year, her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a naval orange.
Kim Kwantes, for most of her life a busy working single mom, spent most of her time sleeping and couldn鈥檛 go into work.
The prognosis before surgery was frightening. Doctors warned of memory loss, loss of mobility.
But the 12-hour surgery went well.
鈥淪he had minimal memory loss,鈥� said Verbeek. Her mom lost the week before the surgery, but retained everything else.
The very next day she knew who and where she was. A day later she was getting up and out of bed to take her first steps post-surgery.
And she headed back to work in under a year, after chemotherapy and radiation.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a very determined lady,鈥� said Verbeek.
Verbeek has been taking part in the 91原创 Relay for Life for the past five years, and as a survivor could take the first lap in her yellow shirt.
鈥淟ast year was the first year for both of them as survivors,鈥� Verbeek said of her mom and step-dad.
Support from friends and family has translated into a big Relay for Life team from the extended Verbeek family.
This year dubbed the Tumorators, the team of nieces, nephews, siblings, friends, boyfriends, and assorted others has grown so large it鈥檚 had to officially split into two teams.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really about raising the money so families one day don鈥檛 have to go through what we went through,鈥� said Verbeek.
Taking part in Relay is a bit emotional for her.
鈥淚f you go there, you鈥檙e not alone,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a sea of yellow.鈥�
She鈥檚 hoping that she isn鈥檛 too overcome while speaking about her story next week.
鈥淚鈥檓 afraid I鈥檓 going to cry in front of 400 people,鈥� she said.
Verbeek will speak before the survivor鈥檚 lap on June 8 at the Relay for Life at McLeod Athletic Park.
