Feather Janz - My Experience

“Breast of Canada” Calendar- I was featured in the Month of April in the 2004 Breast of Canada calendar. I was five months pregnant with my first daughter in the picture. I’d always told my husband that I would be willing to bare my breasts if it was done tastefully and for the cause of breast cancer awareness. This calendar presented the perfect opportunity. Every year a calendar is done supporting breast health and the prevention of breast cancer, for more information log on to www.breastofcanada.com

Globe and Mail- I was featured on the front page of the Globe and Mail on Tuesday June 26^th, 2001.; which also happened to be our third wedding anniversary! I was asked by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to represent women who had detected breast cancer early by doing Breast Self-Examination. I was also featured that same day on Canada AM and was interviewed by Valerie Pringle. Around that same time I did an interview with Avis Favro for the National News.

My Experience

This photo was taken on May 1st, 1995, seven weeks after my Lumpectomy, and just two days before my Mastectomy. My Lumpectomy was done at the MSA hospital in Abbotsford; I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer March 10, 1995.

This is me at VGH a couple of days after my Mastectomy. I had a modified radical Mastectomy of the left breast and an expanding implant put in place.

Six months later, I had my reconstructive surgery on Oct. 20, 1995. The expanding implant had stretched my skin to allow for the permanent prosthetic implant to be put in. I also had a small saline implant put in on my right side. The doctor said this would allow symmetry and aesthetic appeal. I had no complaints! Reconstruction is a very personal decision for each woman, as is the decision as to which type of reconstruction to get.

As time went on, more and more opportunities to share my story arose. Eventually, I joined up with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Here I am speaking at the Annual Breakfast, April 4, 1998 for the Fraser Valley Branch in Abbotsford, where I'm an active member and BSE Instructor.

In the spring of 1999, I was asked by CBCF to participate in a new campaign to raise awareness about the foundation. This campaign called "One in Nine", stands for the one in nine women who will get breast cancer in BC in their lifetime. Here is one of the featured brochures, on which I am one of nine. There is also an accompanying video in which I am featured.

“You are not Alone”- On Tuesday October 29^th, 2002 I had the opportunity to speak in Montreal for La Fondation du Cancer du sein du Quebec awareness breakfast and Luncheon. I met many wonderful women involved with the foundation in Montreal and I had several highlights on this trip such as, meeting Mila Mulroney, who’d heard me speak at the luncheon, as well as having feature articles in La Presse and the Montreal Gazette. But the greatest experience was being asked to participate in a book project by Dominique Lanctot. It all came together two years later and “You are not Alone’ was launched, first in French and then in English. There were 13 co-authors of which I am one of them. My chapter is titled, “How Hope Nourished Life” and the foundation flew Chris and I out for the book launch, Chris sang and I spoke. Money raised from the sales of the book go to the Serenite program. The book is available at Indigo book stores

Click HERE to read my story.

Feather Janz
Living Proof That Early Detection Saves Lives