Carmen Hou is a vibrant 36-year-old mother to four-year-old, Evelyn.
But Carmen is facing what any young mother may call her worst nightmare.
In January 2016, six months after Carmen gave birth to Evelyn, she noticed two tiny lumps on her left breast.
鈥淚鈥檒l never forget that day,鈥� Carmen says, of when test results came back confirming she had breast cancer. Her diagnosis: Stage IV.
鈥淚 called my husband right away and we both started crying. We were at a loss for words.鈥�
Roughly a month after her diagnosis, Carmen began chemotherapy treatment. She went on to have a mastectomy and learned that the chemotherapy may not have been effective.
She then consented to BC Cancer鈥檚 where scientists sequenced her DNA to match her to the best treatment possible for her cancer.
Today, Carmen nears the three-year mark of being on a trial drug that鈥檚 kept her cancer stable. She鈥檚 been told by her doctors that many patients on the trial decline around this time in their treatment plan.
STRENGTH & OPTIMISM
One in eight Canadian women develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Carmen鈥檚 cancer is not hereditary and she does not carry a gene mutation. Breast cancer most commonly occurs in women aged 50-69 years old. At Carmen鈥檚 young age her case is considered rare and hard-to-treat.
鈥淏ecause of my late stage diagnosis, I don鈥檛 know what the future really holds for us or how much time I have on this earth,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really changed my perspective and I want to make the most out of my life and what鈥檚 important.鈥�
Today, Carmen takes things day by day, relying on spirituality, family and friends. She鈥檚 also become an advocate for the BC Cancer Foundation鈥檚 campaign to Break Down Women鈥檚 Cancers.
To learn how you can help provide hope to women like Carmen, visit
Starting March 8, International Women鈥檚 Day, the BC Cancer Foundation is on a mission to break down breast and gynecologic cancer. Donations will drive innovation that allows BC Cancer鈥檚 world-leading scientists and clinicians to catch cancers earlier, to cure more patients and to prevent recurrence.
Right now thanks to a generous donor, Charlotte A. Salomon, QC, donations will be matched up to $50,000.
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