A Safe Landing at Wellspring
In 2023, just weeks after finishing chemotherapy, Jann put on her bike helmet, lined up beside her husband Mark, and rode 25 kilometres in the Cancervive ride for Wellspring Alberta.
“It was a way to challenge myself. I wanted to prove that I can do this — that I can get out there and be me, the person I am even after cancer,” she said.
That brand of determination is what carried Jann through an unbelievably difficult year that included a cancer diagnosis and the loss of both her parents.
Enduring the Unexpected
In October 2022, at age 62, Jann, a biologist turned kindergarten teacher, was diagnosed with uterine cancer.
“I was totally shocked. It really seemed to come out of nowhere,” she said. “We had other types of illnesses in our family but no history of cancer at all. In fact, I didn’t even really know many people who had cancer at that time.”
The weeks that followed were incredibly stressful for Jann and her husband, who were empty nesters and both still working at the time. Just one week after her diagnosis, and even before she had shared the news, Jann’s mother passed away unexpectedly. Along with planning her funeral, her family also had to quickly arrange care for her aging father, who also ended up passing away later that year.
Forced to put cancer on the back burner, it would be three months before Jann began treatment, starting with a hysterectomy in January and followed by several rounds of chemotherapy.
“It was a very difficult year for us, but in a way, I was so fortunate too. I have a wonderful husband and an amazing network of friends. My husband retired when I started chemotherapy, and he came with me to every appointment. My sister and I were born 10 months apart, and even though she lives in Nicaragua, we are close; we talk every day,” she said. “And then there’s Wellspring. More and more over time, I’ve come to appreciate having this important resource and such a wonderful community.”
Discovering Wellspring Alberta
Jann first heard about Wellspring through a friend who is a psychologist and encouraged her to explore the psychosocial supports available to her. On her first visit to Carma House, it was after her surgery, and she arrived alone and apprehensive.
“Coming to Wellspring that first time can be really hard and scary too,” she said. “I think because it’s you acknowledging that you really have cancer.”
Welcomed by a staff member, she recalls weeping as she told her story and finding comfort in the message that she is not alone … others have walked a similar path.
After that, she returned with Mark, and together they became Wellspring members. At first, Jann felt too unwell from chemotherapy to participate in programs, but once her strength returned, she began exploring things that interested her, including yoga, dance, qigong and eventually ukulele – her favourite combination of music and community.
“I love it; it really brings me joy. At Wellspring, there’s an underlying understanding; a sort of ‘Uh huh, I get it.’ No need to explain,” she said. “And actually, a lot of people in my ukulele class are way past cancer; some had it decades ago, and they’re doing great. From my perspective, that’s very encouraging.”
These days, Jann feels totally at home at Wellspring, so much so that when someone new joins a program she’s in, she finds herself compelled to take them under her wing.
“One thing I can do that I really feel good about is helping others. To show them that Wellspring is a safe place to land. To say, ‘Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got a spot for you here’,” she said.
A Scientist’s Perspective
With her background in biology, Jann approached her diagnosis with the curiosity of a scientist. She read every report, studied statistics and worked to understand the science behind her disease.
That curiosity eventually led her to genetic testing, where she discovered that she carries Lynch Syndrome – an inherited condition that increases the risk of several cancers, including colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and other cancers.
Although Jann’s mother had already passed away, doctors were able to test her father and discovered that he also carried the condition. However, at age 89, he had never developed cancer.
“I understand that not everyone would choose to learn this kind of genetic information, but I wanted to do it because I have two kids and I think it’s important to know for their sake,” she said, pointing out that if her kids are carriers of Lynch, it could benefit them to have earlier and more extensive screening in their lifetime.
She also feels hopeful that research offers promise for the future, noting that early clinical trials are exploring vaccines that could help prevent cancers associated with Lynch Syndrome.
Ticket to Ride
Cycling has long been part of Jann and Mark’s life together; even during treatment, they continued to ride whenever she felt strong enough. So, joining the Cancervive ride in 2023 along with their niece and her husband felt like a reasonable target.
“Doing the ride felt normal. It felt positive. It felt empowering,” she says.
They also participated in Cancervive in 2025, and barring knee surgery getting in the way, they plan to raise funds and ride again this year.
“My motive for doing the event is a combination of proving I can do it and wanting to give back to a like-minded community that I feel blessed to be a part of,” she said.
Moving Forward
Today, Jann is carefully monitored with scans every six months. Cancer, she says, will always be part of her story, but she doesn’t let it get in the way of living her best life.
“I tell my husband, cancer just sits right here on my shoulder. I acknowledge it, it’s there, and then I keep on moving forward,” she said.
And having crossed many barriers, she doesn’t hesitate to reach back to give a hand up to others … happy to answer questions, share what she’s learned, and encourage anyone who is just beginning their own cancer journey.
“I think one of the most important things cancer teaches you is that you don’t put things off. If you really want to do something, you don’t say ‘I’ll get to it five years from now ’—you do it now. Whatever it takes; you find a way,” she said.
