A Coldstream woman is sharing her cancer journey to highlight the recent innovations in treatment.

Meghan Kreuger was just 35 when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer that required surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and a double mastectomy, which included the removal of lymph nodes under her right arm. 

Initially feeling victimized by her diagnosis, she has flipped from 'Why me?' to 'Why not me?'

"I have a supportive family. I have the financial means to step back from work. Unlike some people in the U.S., I don鈥檛 have to choose between affording the basics such as rent or food and chemotherapy," said Kreuger. "Even though I was treated in two different health authorities, in the Fraser and Interior regions, it was seamless. Everything under BC Cancer was fed to my local GP and to my oncologists."

Kreuger worked at Vernon Search and Rescue pre-cancer and wanted to continue serving her city after treatment, so she trained to become a paramedic. 

Meghan鈥檚 husband, Mike, sits on the B.C. Cancer Foundation鈥檚 Interior Transformation Council, and he recently attended an event with B.C. Cancer surgical and radiation oncologists.

鈥淯nfortunately, I couldn鈥檛 go, but he came home after and said, 鈥業鈥檓 glad you didn鈥檛 come.鈥� I asked him why, and he said, 鈥楤ecause with the treatment they have now, I don鈥檛 think you would have lost your breasts,鈥欌�� Kreuger said.

It鈥檚 bittersweet, she admits, in that it鈥檚 too late for her own treatment, but at the same time, 鈥淚鈥檓 a pioneer in this new evolution in cancer care. Five years can change so much.鈥�

B.C. Cancer's first-ever a was launched in September 2024. The program will establish less invasive, more precise techniques and multi-disciplinary approaches to better integrate surgery with chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation. It might even enable patients to avoid surgery entirely. 

鈥淭he transformation we have seen over the past decade in cancer care is providing patients with more options and greater hope,鈥� said Dr. Chris Baliski, BC Cancer鈥檚 Interior Regional Surgical Oncology Lead. 鈥淭hanks to donor support, we鈥檙e refining treatments to be not only more effective, but also less invasive, with the potential of avoiding surgery altogether. It鈥檚 an inspiring step forward in improving outcomes for patients.鈥�

In particular, Baliski is working on a groundbreaking procedure to prevent lymphedema, which helps with the assessment and removal of lymph nodes, an important part of breast cancer. This procedure is set to debut in February.

Kreuger is grateful for all she鈥檚 gained post-cancer, including compassion, patience and self-acceptance, but says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible that someone diagnosed with breast cancer today, or tomorrow, may not have to go through what I did.鈥�

This story has been gleaned from the BC Cancer Foundation. More information can be found at .