When Emily was diagnosed with triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma in January 2024, she was just 32 years old.
“It was definitely quite a shock,” Emily recalls. “My family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer, but we did learn that I have the BRCA1 mutation.”
The news came just days after the holidays. “All the testing was happening around Christmas and New Years. When the diagnosis came in January, everything moved quite quickly after that.”
Before treatment began, Emily went through an egg retrieval and embryo freezing. “My husband and I were in the process of trying to start a family, and we had been in contact with the fertility clinic prior to the diagnosis, so with a referral already in place, it happened quickly – but of course, with cancer, it was a different conversation about what our goals are. Still, I’m glad we were able to do this.
Then came chemotherapy and immunotherapy. “Unfortunately, I had a complication with immunotherapy and developed Type 1 diabetes,” she said. “It was a turn in our life that was not what we were expecting, or hoping for, but you just gotta get through it.”
After months of treatment, Emily had a bilateral mastectomy. The surgery revealed no evidence of cancer, meaning she wouldn’t need radiation. “That was such a relief,” she said.
Emily worked part-time through treatment, then took some time off to recover fully. By February 2025, she began a gradual return to work at Strathcona County, where her employer has been “extremely supportive,” and has been full-time since April 2025.
Discovering Wellspring Alberta
“When cancer first happens, you get bombarded with so many resources, and for me, I didn’t have much capacity to connect with the resources until later on in my cancer journey,” Emily explains. “But since then – I’ve done many different Wellspring programs and I’ve met so many people there, it’s really been very impactful. There is even a group of us who met through the programs at Wellspring and we meet once in a while for lunch and a visit sometimes outside of Wellspring.”
Her first program was Look Good Feel Better. “That program was very helpful – I really appreciated how it helped me focus on self care,” she said.
She then took ACE (Alberta Cancer Exercise). “I loved this program. I was fairly active prior to cancer so was interested to hear how I could stay active throughout, and I had heard good things about this program. It was so nice to get to know the leaders as well as the participants – and it was helpful to just get moving – not the same as before – I was definitely weaker, but it felt good to be doing something. I was in active treatment during ACE and I think that really helped me cope,” she said.
Emily later joined Nourish. “I took all of the Nourish classes – which is really about setting you up for success – giving recipes and nutrition tips – how best to fuel your body and help with recovery. I really enjoyed the Nourish classes and this is where I connect with a group of friends that continues to meet on occasion,” she said.
Emily said she enjoyed trying a yoga class, and she found the Return to Work program helpful. Another meaningful program she took was Felt Imaging. She shares that this program felt like a metaphor for her cancer experience.
“Throughout cancer treatment I was very focused on what the next step was – I wasn’t looking too far into the future – just focusing on what was in front of me. First chemo – what does it take to get through this. Then on to the surgery. One step at a time. After surgery, I took the time to step back and look at what all I had come through, and I realized that it was a lot. This is how I found my experience with felting. I was very focused on one aspect at a time – working on a certain colour, or a particular part of the picture. The instructor would encourage us to take a picture week by week to see our progress. Then at the end, you step back and go ‘Wow, look what I accomplished!’” she said.
Today, Emily is back at work full time, living with Type 1 diabetes, but back on track and continuing to make time for the Wellspring programs that support her healing and growth.
“I joined Wellspring’s Harp Circle and I love it! I’m a musical person, I’ve played piano and handbells, so I have really enjoyed this program and work is very supportive, so I’m hoping to continue doing this program even now that I’m back at work.”
She also plans to continue with Wellspring’s YA Climbing, and since it’s an evening program, it won’t interfere with her work. “The Young Adult group is good to be around because they are having similar experiences and they are at a similar time in their lives so there are definitely some commonalities. But I also found good connections with people in all the other programs too, and I especially found it helpful to connect with others who have experienced breast cancer,” she said.
Over the Edge for Wellspring Alberta
When Emily first received an email from Wellspring about the Skyline Rush Challenge, she was intrigued. The Skyline Rush Challenge invites participants to join an exciting urban rappel experience in support of Wellspring Alberta. Participants raise funds that help provide free programs and support for Albertans living with cancer – programs that Emily credits with helping her through treatment and beyond.
“My mom also saw the information about the rappel challenge, and she said, “Emily, I think one of us should do this!”” said Emily.
For Emily, the decision to accept the challenge felt both meaningful and exciting.
“It’s a great way to give back to an organization that I have used throughout my cancer journey, and I continue to use, even now that I’m back at work,” she explains. “Also, my mom and I, as well as my husband and I, have often talked about applying for Amazing Race Canada, so this seemed like it would be right along those lines … a really cool experience!”
Recently, Emily’s mom, Kathy, decided that she couldn’t just cheer from the sidelines, she would join Emily on the ropes. On September 13, 2025, the mother and daughter will both rappel 27 stories down the Sandman Signature Edmonton Downtown Hotel, alongside other brave participants.
“It’s thrilling, a little terrifying, and totally worth it!” said Kathy on her donation page. “My daughter recently went through treatments for breast cancer. She found out about Wellspring and accessed a number of programs through them. I saw what a positive impact that community had (and continues to have) on her. Throughout her journey she has encountered so many obstacles and has been strong and courageous. Her mantra has been ‘I can do hard things.’ I feel that I should be able to do this hard thing along with her!”
Together, Emily and Kathy are proving that ‘doing hard things’ can also be an incredible way to celebrate strength, resilience, and community.