Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 29/02) - France Benoit calls her cancer a gift. Her diagnosis eight years ago was an epiphany, a time to reassess her goals, and change her life.

France Benoit

Yellowknifelife: What type of cancer did you have and how long did the diagnosis take?

France Benoit: I was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus at a time in my life where I was trying to get pregnant. I was single so it was a big step for me.

I had decided to go to South America where my sister was living to tell her in person (that I was trying to get pregnant) and then go back to Quebec, where I am originally from, to tell my parents as well. I was travelling for three months and during that time I was having some bleeding.

When I got back to Yellowknife and went to see my doctor he gave me a number of tests but could find nothing. Then I had an ultrasound and they found a thickening of the layer inside the uterus. They told me I was too young for it to be anything serious. Finally I had a biopsy that confirmed it was cancer.

Yellowknifelife: When were you diagnosed.

FB: I was diagnosed at 32. I was very lucky and it was a great coincidence that it was caught at such an early stage. It was very localized and by removing the uterus they could get rid of the cancer fully. Since it had not spread I didn't have to go through radiation and chemotherapy.

Yellowknifelife: Explain the surgery.

FB: During the surgery they removed the uterus but kept my ovaries. This means I still have my own hormonal cycle. I will go through menopause but I have it about five years earlier than my mother. It also means I can't have children. This was a double whammy for me. Not only did I hear I had cancer, which is scary, and you see your life flashing in front of you, but for me it also meant forget about having children.

Yellowknifelife: How did you deal with the fact that you cannot have children?

FB: As much as I wanted a child before the diagnosis, afterward I felt at peace with it. If I am looking to simplifying my life, to go through the process of adoption would be too much. It was one of those things that was not meant to be and does not come with guilt. What is interesting is within two months of my diagnosis my best friend found out she was pregnant, then my sister had a child, too. I am godmother to both of them. They are my children -- Julien and Alexandra France. They gave her my name. I take the job seriously, so every year I go to see them in France and South America.

Yellowknifelife: Did you consider leaving Yellowknife to have the surgery?

FB: I didn't realized the implication of the decision at the time, but the doctor did ask me if I wanted to have the surgery closer to my parents in Quebec. I made the decision intuitively. If I was going to live I wanted to live here. If I was going to die this is where I wanted to die. This is home. I chose to be here and everyday I continue to live that decision. I do love the childhood I spent in Quebec. I grew up in Marie Ville, a small town outside of Montreal. But after 13 years Yellowknife is my home.

This placed touched me in a way that no where else had.

Yellowknifelife: Explain your post-surgery recovery.

FB: After surgery I took time off from work and recovered in Yellowknife for about 10 days, then went to be with my family for six weeks. It was difficult to walk, but the pain was not just physical, but emotional -- the two are connected. I knew there were some issues I needed to deal with. The irony of the message is that it is by trying to give life that my life was threatened.

Yellowknifelife: Do you think your reaction was typical?

FB: Everyone reacts differently to a diagnosis of cancer. Some people prefer to isolate themselves until they can figure out all the feelings. For me it was the opposite. I immediately wanted to be surrounded by people. What I did was sit in bed open my address book and read from A to Z and called everyone I knew. I asked them to think about me and pray for me.

Yellowknifelife: Did you have any complications from the surgery?

FB: It took me a while to realize I wasn't healing physically very well. I had a scar that took a long time to heal. I went back to see a specialist because the scar was burning me. I had back pain as well. As soon as I told them I had cancer, the next thing I knew I was sent to Edmonton for a brain scan and a bone scan. All of a sudden, within a few months, I had a cancer scare again.

Since I was now someone who had cancer, the doctor wanted to make sure the pain was not a sign of cancer that had spread. This was the first realization that the cancer is with you indefinitely. Now, it is part of me. I don't mind talking about it.

Yellowknifelife: It sounds like you were very lucky. Do you think your situation is unusual?

FB: For a while I felt that I had been so lucky not to have radiation and chemotherapy when all these other people have to go through this. My cancer and my pain was so small and insignificant compared to theirs I couldn't fully express my pain because I thought it was not warranted. I felt this. It was nothing that anyone told me. I was diminishing and belittling my own feelings by comparing myself to others. Now I believe my pain is my pain and it is totally warranted.

Yellowknifelife: How has cancer changed your life?

FB: Having cancer is one big reality check. It took me a while to align myself in the right direction and right now I am spending a lot of time at home reading and writing. I am taking time for myself and I feel I am contributing so much more to my household than when I was bringing home a big fat paycheque every two weeks. I feel so much more at peace with myself and the world. Interesting things come my way. I am so lucky. I'm finding ways to express my creativity and passion.It brings a lot of clarity to life.

What was important no longer is, or you get confirmation that it is still important. It is very clear all of a sudden. You know who your friends are, and you are intuitively drawn to people who are good.

Yellowknifelife: Cancer of the uterus is very uncommon in women so young. Does it run in your family?

FB: No it doesn't run in my family. It had been there for a while. It was a slow-moving cancer and very atypical. My doctor told me only one in 300,000 women are diagnosed with cancer of the uterus under 40 years old. I was under 40, had not gone through menopause, was not diabetic, not sedentary, not a smoker. The only thing against me was I had not yet had a child. I was healthy.

Yellowknifelife: How have you changed your lifestyle since the operation?

FB: I have reduced stress in my life. I think we underestimate stress. It is linked to the development of disease and is difficult to test and measure. I have changed my life in a way where I have eliminated stress.

I have also changed my diet. I eat a lot of organic products. I try to eat well and have everything in moderation. I do have some alcohol, but really try to stay away from meat, fats and anything that I can't understand or pronounce on a label.

Yellowknifelife: After eight years, how has your outlook on cancer changed?

FB: I try to focus on positive aspects of what cancer can do. It puts your life in perspective. Cancer can't cripple your spirit, soul and hopes. It simplifies your life and puts you in touch with strength you never thought you had, and puts you in touch with a vulnerability if you let it come out. Then you become a much better person.

For me it ended up being a very positive experience in my life.