Barb Tremblay, a longtime resident of Prince George, recently received the National Medal of Courage from the Canadian Cancer Society during a ceremony in Vancouver.
"I certainly don't deserve it, I really don't," said Tremblay, who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2001.
Four months later after major surgery to reorganize her system, as she put it, and followed by chemotherapy treatment, she was cured in Prince George.
"I'm so lucky," said Tremblay, who knows that esophageal cancer is one of the most deadly, with a very low survival rate. Most people become aware of symptoms in the disease's advanced stages, making it hard to battle. It started with pain after swallowing for Tremblay and once she went to the doctor she was on the road to diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
"Fifty per cent of cancers are preventable, which astonishes me," said Tremblay. "And it's the same three things for everyone - diet, exercise and don't smoke."
During Tremblay's treatment, she used CancerConnection, a free service to connect people living with cancer with trained volunteers who have been there, who listen and offer encouragement.
"We need to make sure people know about CancerConnection," said Tremblay. "After you're diagnosed call CancerConnection at 1-888-939-3333. You can talk to people like me, who have had the same type of cancer. It's good because it's someone who's been there, who knows what's happening and who knows what your challenges are likely to be."
Tremblay has volunteered with CancerConnection for years and offers her support to those with the similar diagnosis that she once experienced.
"I mostly listen and they talk," said Tremblay, who has spoken to people all across the country and as far away as Ontario. "The biggest thing I've found when I first call someone is they want to know how long I've survived because that gives them hope and that's really key. A lot of people who I've talked to have not survived. And that reminds me again, how lucky I am."
In the nomination package submitted about Tremblay, it pointed out how truly special Tremblay is to call upon her own experiences as she connects with others who have received the same cancer diagnosis as she did. Many people who have survived cancer, wish to move on from it but Tremblay, who was a dedicated volunteer for the cancer society before her diagnosis, has continued her volunteer work without fail and now visits the chemotherapy patients at the cancer treatment centre once a week to keep them company as they take their treatment.
"CancerConnection has been really rewarding for me and I think I get more out of it than the person on the other end of the telephone," said Tremblay. "You get to talk to some very interesting people."
After the connection is closed, either once the person has recovered or they die from the disease, there is a follow up done with the Cancer Society and within the nomination package there is reference to so many people following up and thanking CancerConnection for Tremblay's efforts.
"She is lovely and gentle, it was extremely helpful talking with her," said one letter writer.
"I certainly hope I help," said Tremblay. "It's been really rewarding for me."
