By Melanie Leeson
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
February 2025
I had just turned 71 when I was diagnosed by a CT scan with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis (PC) in January 2024. My name is Melanie Leeson. I am from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. My husband and I retired from the Canadian Military prior to running a small business in Victoria for 27 years. I am also an avid wildlife photographer specializing in Black Bears. https://www.melanieleesonphotography.com
My story is not one of compassion as treatment did not start until 111 days after I was diagnosed. I finally received my first chemotherapy in May of 2024. No other treatment was offered in a timely manner by our government-run British Columbia Healthcare. I did have x-rays, an ultrasound, colonoscopy, a bone scan and blood tests. No test other than the CT scan and bloodwork showed any signs of cancer. In hindsight, a biopsy should have probably been one of the first tests completed. The first biopsy, in mid-March, came back inconclusive, a second biopsy was scheduled for mid-April. I could not be placed in our government British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) for treatment until a diagnosis was confirmed. Later I discovered in BC Healthcare Guidelines that I should have been accepted immediately because PC is an aggressive cancer. My cancer markers, CA-125, were over 900.
During March 2024, I spent many hours online researching the damage an aggressive cancer like PC would have on me. Now I was showing signs of ascites (abdominal swelling caused by accumulation of fluid) and the pain that came with it. I knew I had to do something as four doctors told me to leave Canada and get out-of-country help quickly. During my search online I found Allison Ducluzeau, who had gone public with her struggles dealing with PC. She too had difficulty with our healthcare system and sought help from Dr. Armando Sardi at Mercy Cancer Center in Baltimore, MD. It was a miracle that she was from Victoria. She returned my message immediately, gave me much support, and then helped me get the information Dr. Sardi would need to review my condition.
During our first telephone conversation Dr Sardi said, “If you want to live, get here now.” My husband and I booked flights immediately. I underwent a laparoscopic biopsy by Dr. Sardi within a few days. The diagnosis was not good, the cancer had advanced throughout my abdominal area. He recommended that I go home and immediately get three rounds of paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. If the treatment worked, I might be a candidate for CRS HIPEC.
We returned home and the fight began. I had to be admitted to the BCCA to get my first oncology appointment. I was told it would be nine weeks. After reaching out to political friends for assistance, the oncology appointment was moved up to a three-week wait, and chemo started within a week after my oncology appointment. Whew! I did not have nine weeks to wait.
The treatment worked! Chemo had cleared up an enormous amount of cancer. In late August Dr Sardi performed another laparoscopic procedure and stated he was amazed I had responded to treatment so well. Unfortunately, not all patients have the same outcome.
The CRS HIPEC was scheduled for early September but had to be rescheduled for late September as I came down with a cold. Due to possible complications, I was advised to wait until I was better. At the end of September Dr. Sardi and his team performed a 10-hour operation removing all organs that did not support life, including my gallbladder, spleen, omentum and appendix. I had a total hysterectomy, and a large section of my bowels and peritoneal wall were removed. I was in the ICU for four days, and in the hospital for an additional 10 days.
We are from the West Coast of Canada, so it was a very lonely time for my husband as we had no family or friends living in Baltimore for support. I, of course, had my husband’s visits plus a steady stream of healthcare providers monitoring me. I never felt alone.
My husband Shane was staying in a furnished apartment within walking distance of the hospital. We stayed there after I was released from Mercy Hospital for another 10 days prior to flying home. As much as I thought I was ready to travel by wheelchair, sitting in an aircraft for hours was too much. We finally arrived home some 15 hours later. I was a complete wreck, in pain, and barely able to stand. A few days later I was taken by ambulance to hospital and recovered there for three weeks, then an amazing team of nurses from a “Hospital at Home” program cared for me until I was well enough to function without IVs. Fluid around my heart and lungs was causing me pain, and I was unable to eat, which made me very weak. I received TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition by IV) for five weeks, then out of the blue I finally began to feel hungry. During my illness and recovery, I lost 49 lbs.
The support we received from family and friends was incredible, so many prayers and positive wishes. My husband helped me navigate every obstacle of every day. He looked after me, made meals, was up until 11 p.m. and again at 4 a.m. to change my IV bags. Our friends affectionately refer to him as “Nurse Shane.” I could not have managed any part of this journey without him.
It has now been four months since my surgery. I have just finished three more rounds of chemotherapy. We walk two kilometers daily, I’m eating well, I see a physiotherapist, psychologist, and have acupuncture a few times a month. Climbing stairs is much easier now. I feel stronger each day, and it really does feel like I’m getting my life back.
The next part of my journey will include PARP inhibitors (a type of targeted cancer drug). Dr. Sardi and Dr. Kotiah from Mercy and Dr. S. Addison from BCCA feel the inhibitors will be my best option for a longer cancer-free life.
Never give up.