Student cancer survivor featured

Bif Naked is a tough act to follow.

Wendie van Brok is no rock star, but as guest speaker of this year's Evening of Pink, the UBC medical student's story of surviving breast cancer is no less inspiring than that of the Naked, the Vancouver rocker who held the guest role at last year's Civic Centre fundraiser.

Van Brok was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, the deadliest form, named for the absence of three proteins typically found in breast cancer cells. The triple-negative subtype accounts for 16 per cent of all breast cancer diagnoses and close to 25 per cent of breast cancer deaths.

Van Brok, 44, learned she had Stage 4 metastatic cancer on her first day of medical school classes at UBC. After a series of drug therapies, one of the treatments was successful and she's made a full recovery from the disease. She graduated medical school in 2010 and is currently working as a resident doctor in Victoria.

"Wendie had non-recoverable breast cancer and the research department at UBC went through four or five chemo regimens and one literally attacked the cancer," said Monica Peacock, the Evening of Pink event co-ordinator.

"Wendie is going to be like Bif Naked. I wanted her to be comfortable telling us about her journey and how she felt the first day of school, and how she felt about her chances. She's coming here to be herself."

In April, researchers in the faculty of medicine at UBC announced they've decoded triple-negative's genetic makeup, which could lead to more effective treatment. Peacock said Van Brok and Margaret McDiarmid, the BC Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government, are the only two B.C. residents to survive triple-negative breast cancer.

"Wendie is young, being in her 40s, and because she's a medical student that just rang true to me and she needs to be here because we are part and parcel to that

research," said Peacock.

Since 2005, the event has raised close to $160,000 to provide medical equipment for University Hospital of Northern BC, including a renal cancer computer, a node probe and an endoscope. Last year's dinner raised $40,000.

Tickets for the seventh annual Evening of Pink, set for Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Civic Centre, are now on sale at the Inn Flower Place at the Coast Inn of the North for $85 each. A silent auction is also planned and Peacock is seeking more auction item donations.

"I'm very excited to have three tables of cancer patients, purchased by the community, and I'm looking forward to bringing that up to seven tables," said Peacock.

"If someone is not going to be in town but wants to support this, they can call in purchases of two tickets, for patients and her spouse or friend."

More volunteers are needed. Meetings for the volunteers will take place at the Four Points Sheraton on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., starting Aug. 31.

For more information call Monica at 250-552-4114 or email eveningofpink @gmail.com.