Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Panniqtuuq (July 01/02) - One of almost 800 delegates from 60 countries at a four-day conference on breast cancer in Victoria last month, Meeka Mearns of Panniqtuuq discovered women face the same obstacles no matter where they're from. We asked her what else she learned.

News/North: What was the conference like?

Meeka Mearns: At the opening, a bagpiper played and brought in flags from all over the world. There was an opera singer, a country singer. It was very good entertainment.

The next day we were in a huge group and there were speakers from all over the world. And then we went into groups for concurrent sessions. There were many different topics you could choose: from mammography to environmental factors, all sorts of things. Then there was an open forum where people got up to speak about their experience.

N/N: Did you speak about yours?

MM: No, I'm too shy (laughs). It was a learning experience for me and it was the first huge conference that I've been to.

I was very happy that I was given the opportunity to go. I would like to thank Maureen Doherty and the Status of Women Council and also First Air.

N/N: What sessions did you go to?

MM: I went to a support group talk for people with breast cancer.

N/N: Was it helpful?

MM: Yes, for comfort and it gave me ideas for how to support other people when they are first diagnosed. There are packages about how to help people with breast cancer when they are first diagnosed -- like calling them.

N/N: What other sessions did you go to?

MM: I went to a videoscreening by a woman who has breast cancer. She did a documentary about herself through everything from the time she was diagnosed. Listening to other people's experiences, you start to realize you've been through all that, you start to identify.

N/N: It must have been emotional.

MM: It was very tiring, especially when people started talking about their experiences. They all seemed to have the same barrier. Different people from developing countries and developed countries, the hardships they go through are the same.

And also, all over the world, everything seems to boil down to lack of funding.

N/N: When were you were diagnosed?

MM: In 1997.

N/N: What did you need the most from others at that time?

MM: I wanted them to understand. I wanted them to understand the disease because I didn't know anything about it. And somebody to talk to who went through it.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, there didn't seem to have anybody else with breast cancer until I went through treatment and started meeting people. There are very few people that I know of and communities are so far from each other that you don't really find out who has it. The only support I got was from Road to Recovery in Ottawa. But I think the Status of Women is starting a support group.

N/N: Did people treat you differently when you got cancer?

MM: Some people who you thought were friends turn away because the word "cancer" scares them. It's been a good learning experience for me, my friends and people around me.

People don't know how to react or what to say. I was like that before I was diagnosed.

N/N: How did you find the cancer?

MM: I discovered the lump myself.

N/N: How are you doing now?

MM: I'm doing good. I'm going down to Ottawa for a followup checkup. I went through six months of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation. I felt nauseous, my hair fell out. I felt horrible, just blah.

N/N: Are you married? Do you have kids?

MM: I am married with three kids.

N/N: How did they react?

MM: They were upset. Plus the youngest one was only 11 years old.

N/N: What do you think Nunavut needs in order to support women with cancer?

MM: I think in Nunavut there should be a support group for cancer patients, not just breast cancer patients. The majority of people are unilingual and all the information about cancer is in English and it's very difficult for them.

N/N: What about on the medical side of things?

MM: They really should have mammogram. I have seven sisters. If it is genetic, they should get checked.

N/N: How old are you?

MM: 41. I was only 36 when I was diagnosed.

N/N: Did they talk about causes at the conference? What did they say?

MM: They brought up different factors, such as environmental impacts and hereditary. There were a few factors.

N/N: What advice do you have for other women just diagnosed?

MM: That there is hope and there is a good chance of survival. I would try to give moral support to them. The thing is we are spread out all over and it's really difficult to know who has been diagnosed. They don't really go out and tell anybody that they have been diagnosed. That's a problem.

N/N: What advice would you give to someone whose family member or friend is diagnosed?

MM: To give support and not turn away from them. They need more support than they ever have. And to learn with them.

N/N: Is it stressful knowing the cancer could come back? Do you think about that?

MM: Not a lot but when it comes (the fear) it's usually quite strong. But the thing is, if I keep worrying and thinking about it, it won't do any good.