Living Fully with Metastatic Breast Cancer
At just 30 years old, Laura Montgomery heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.”
What began as a routine shower turned into a life-altering discovery—she found a lump that didn’t feel right. Laura trusted her instincts and saw a doctor, but, worried that she wouldn’t be taken seriously because of her age, she exaggerated her symptoms just to be heard. The doctor initially believed it was likely nothing but sent her for an ultrasound. That scan changed everything. It revealed what was likely breast cancer—a 1.5 cm tumor.
Still, the urgency didn’t seem to match Laura’s instinct. When her local cancer centre told her she might wait a month for a biopsy, she took control and sought out a different hospital. There, the diagnosis was confirmed: HER2-positive breast cancer. But worse still, it had already spread to her liver, where her diagnosis was confirmed: stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
« Once you’re stage 4, a lot of things change, » Laura says. “The goal is no longer to cure, but to extend and improve quality of life.”
Her kids were just two and five years old when she was told she might only have one to three years left. Life changed overnight. For Laura and her husband, it meant acting on dreams they’d always put off. They sold their home and moved to the countryside. Now, with chickens, a dog, cats, and wide-open space, they embrace the simple joys of life—knowing how precious each day is.
From the start, Laura’s circle vowed she would never go through it alone. There’s always someone by her side—at scans, appointments, or even on difficult days. She emphasizes how isolating metastatic breast cancer can be, and how little it’s actually talked about compared to early-stage breast cancer. “Everyone knows breast cancer,” she says, “but metastatic breast cancer is the one you die from. And no one talks about that.”
Her family’s love and support has been the backbone of her journey, along with one more critical factor—research.
When Laura was diagnosed, she had access to treatments that didn’t even exist a few decades ago. Targeted therapies like Herceptin and PERJETA—developed through years of breast cancer research—were once a clinical trial, not that long ago. She’s been on the same maintenance therapy since her initial chemo, and because of that treatment, she has been no evidence of disease for more than five and a half years.
“I didn’t know what the future would hold,” Laura says. “But thanks to groundbreaking research, I’ve had time I never thought I would have. I’m living proof of the power of research—and the possibility it creates.”
Laura’s journey is a powerful reminder of why research is vital. The treatments keeping her alive today were once clinical trials—now, they’re life-saving realities. Continued research, especially into metastatic breast cancer, gives people like Laura more time and better quality of life. At Breast Cancer Canada, funding research is at the heart of our mission—because research changes outcomes, and stories like Laura’s prove it.
When you support Breast Cancer Canada, you are helping to improve and save lives through better treatments and early detection of breast cancer.
The more money we raise, the sooner we can end breast cancer. Join us on our mission to end breast cancer.
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When you support Breast Cancer Canada, you are helping to improve and save lives through better treatments and early detection of breast cancer.
Learn more about
Donating securities is becoming more popular, and supports Breast Cancer Canada just like cash donations. Gifts of publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) are an easy, tax-effective way to make a contribution towards life-saving research that helps with early detection, better treatments, and ultimately Securities can be of any size and given immediately, or you can bequeath them to Breast Cancer Canada in your will. Just like a cash donation, you’ll get a donation tax credit for your gift of securities.
Today, most securities are held electronically and are easily transferred from your brokerage account to our BCC brokerage account. Your Financial Advisor can make all the arrangements.
For more information, contact: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca
Bravery is beautiful. That’s why we encourage you to make a donation in honour of a loved one’s own experience with breast cancer. With your donation, we’ll send a email to acknowledge the dedication to the individual or family.
Make a donation with eCard by dedicating your donation:
Multiply the impact of your donation
Fact: thousands of companies will match donations made by employees.
It’s true, and it’s very generous. Want to know if your company will match your donation to BCC? Use the search tool below. It also has access to all the forms, guidelines, and instructions you need to submit a company-matchable gift donation today.
Support life-saving breast cancer research every month of the year.
When you make a monthly contribution to Breast Cancer Canada, you provide stable funding for year-round campaigning and allow us to continue to support research projects across Canada.
To join, simply pre-authorize a monthly deduction from your credit card.
Breast Cancer Canada, National Office
415 Exmouth Street Unit # 101
Sarnia, ON N7T 8A4
You will need to provide us the credit card type, number and expiry date, and the amount you would like to give each month.
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Over the last 30 years, many generous donors have left a legacy to Breast Cancer Canada in efforts to advance breast cancer research.
No matter what the form of your gift, you will be remembered by your legacy which will live on through each of the lives you touch with your gift.
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Leave a legacy. Plan for a future gift.
Support Breast Cancer Canada with a future gift to create a better future for breast cancer patients. Your gift helps to save lives through early detection and improve outcomes with better treatments.
or more information, please contact: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca
LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL
This is often called a bequest. It’s the simplest way to make a legacy gift. A gift in your will has no effect on your current income and your estate receives a charitable donation tax receipt. Here’s a sample of simple bequest wording : “To pay the sum of $_________ OR _______% of the residue of my estate to Breast Cancer Canada.”
DONATING A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY
Life insurance is a way to provide financial security for your family. If the needs of your family are already taken care of, a life insurance policy is a smart way to donate to charity including tax savings for your estate. Speak to your financial advisors for your personalized advice and learn how a gift of life insurance can work for you. Here’s the top-line on ways of leaving gifts of life insurance:
Bequeath your policy to Breast Cancer Canada for the future:
Transfer ownership of a paid-up policy to Breast Cancer Canada now:
Transfer ownership of a policy on which premiums are still owing to BCC now:
DONATE A TFSA, RRSP, RRIF
Register a significant difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Donate the proceeds of a registered account: Tax-free savings account (TFSA); Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP); Registered retirement income fund (RRIF). It’s a smart way to make a major contribution. Without reducing your current assets. Without subjecting the funds to probate fees. While reducing taxes on your estate through a donation receipt.
Making a gift like this is easy. Designate Breast Cancer Canada as the beneficiary of your registered account. You benefit from the full use of your account(s) during your lifetime. We receive any remaining funds after your passing.
For more information, contact: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca
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Support life-saving breast cancer research. A corporate donation is a simple and efficient way to demonstrate your corporate support.
To make a one-time or reoccurring corporate donation online, please click here.
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Thinking about becoming a corporate partner of Breast Cancer Canada? Amazing. work with all types of organizations. We’ll help you deliver results which are measurable. National or local.
A partnership with Breast Cancer Canada is a win-win. It improves employee engagement, boosts morale, fosters a tighter culture. It raises your organization’s profile and demonstrates your support for breast cancer research. To customers. To employees. To suppliers. Most of all – it makes a positive impact for those affected directly by breast cancer.
We’ll raise money for life-saving breast cancer research, together.
Let’s talk about building your program!
Contact Dawn Hamilton today to get started.
Email: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca
Phone: 1-800-567-8767
To make an online corporate donation, please click here.
How to
Make a contribution to a fundraiser being held in support of Breast Cancer Canada. You can search for the organization or person you wish to support; or click on the event name to make a general donation to the Raise More initiative of your choice.
How to
Thinking about becoming a corporate partner of Breast Cancer Canada? Amazing. We work with all types of organizations. We’ll help you deliver results which are measurable. National or local.
A partnership with Breast Cancer Canada is a win-win. It improves employee engagement, boosts morale, fosters a tighter culture. It raises your organization’s profile and demonstrates your support for breast cancer research. To customers. To employees. To suppliers. Most of all – it makes a positive impact for those affected directly by breast cancer.
We’ll raise money for life-saving breast cancer research, together.
Let’s talk about building your program!
Contact Charlene Politano today to get started.
Email: cpolitano@breastcancerprogress.ca
Phone: 1-800-567-8767 or 416-352-8567
To make an online corporate donation, please click here.
If you would like to explore other ways to give, we invite you to learn more.
How to
Join the Raise More Challenge
The more money we raise, the sooner we can end breast cancer. The more time researchers have in the lab. The more technology they can use. The more support we can get. Advancements in early detection and personalized treatment are in reach, and with your help to raise funds, we can find a cure sooner.
There are many ways to fundraise – whether you want to create a competition or tournament, fundraise with your team, challenge your colleagues, host a pink party, have a bake sale or cook-off, the idea is to raise more for breast cancer research.
Breast Cancer Canada will empower you with all the tools you need for a successful fundraiser, and if you need more information, contact Dawn Hamilton at: dhamilton@breastcancerprogress.ca
How to
Volunteers are Breast Cancer Canada’s most important resource, and the backbone of our organization. From helping build our PROgress research to helping breast cancer patients, to supporting events, special fundraising projects and administrative tasks, our volunteers are dedicated to making a positive, life-changing impact.
We ensure our volunteers have the best possible experience and apply the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement.
You can help us end breast cancer by:
Learn more about our volunteer driven Regional Hubs.
Regional Hubs are an integral part of Breast Canada Canada. We connect communities and those committed to our mission to make the goal local. Together, we can save lives through advancing breast cancer research, coast to coast.
Connect to learn more about what is happening in your area: volunteer@breastcancerprogress.ca
