Active Champions

Trude LaBossiere Huebner

What Activities Keep You Fit and Active?
Walking! From South China Creek Park to Commercial Drive, or from Vanier Park along to Kits Point and Kits beach are two of my favorites. Sometimes I walk home from the Cancer Agency - all 17 blocks. Swimming! At Kitsilano Pool in spring and summer - I so look forward to the opening every year. I swim and attend "Water Works" water fit developed by Melanie Galloway (Lord Byng Pool), along with the "Passport to Wellness" program throughout the year.
Riding! Well, on my exercise bike at home while chatting on the phone with friends, but that still counts!

What Motivated You to Become Active?
Being diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer in 2004 and discovering that physical activity contributed to a better survival rate and a better quality of life was a strong motivation. That is when my son, who is a strength and conditioning coach and racing cyclist, bought the exercise bike for me and set me up on a cardiac fitness program. I had been a lifeguard/swim instructor in the past, and was used to training for recertification tests every two years, but had become much less active over the years.

How Do You Motivate Yourself to Stay Fit?
Because I am HER2 positive, my cancer treatment involved the drug Herceptin, which is a fabulous new drug, but one side effect can be heart failure, caused by a softening of the left ventricle. Gaining and keeping cardiac fitness therefore became a priority. HER2 means the growth of cancer cells is aggressive. The HER2 binding site on the cell surface is affected by Herceptin, (a so-called "targeted drug"), which interferes with the protein called "Epidermal Growth Factor". This has the effect of slowing or preventing tumour growth, and it is not as nasty as standard chemotherapy, which I had for six months. One year of treatment, with regular heart function monitoring at VGH was not easy, or without fear of recurrence, but I felt I had to keep exercising, just to keep my spirits up.

What Are the Benefits of Being Fit?
I am better able to metabolize Arimidex, the drug I currently take daily to prevent recurrence. I am in a Phase III Clinical Trial with the BC Cancer Agency for the testing of this drug. Because the cancerous lymph nodes were removed from the right side of my body, fitness helps me to combat Lymphedema. I participate in many studies and clinical trials - being fit gives me the energy I need to be able to contribute to finding prevention and/or a cure for HER2/ER+ Breast Cancer.

Who Are/Were Your Role Models?
HER2 is found in less than 20% of breast cancer diagnoses. In the past it was pretty much deadly - thankfully, the BC Cancer Agency has made Herceptin available to us - we can now be role models for other women. Thank you to the brave women who participated in early trials.

Hobbies/Interests?
I love to read. I enjoy hearing other people's stories and listening to Red Robinson's radio show on Sunday afternoons.

Thrills?
Waking up each morning and knowing I am alive because of science and the determination of aggressive research scientists -and the generous donors who funded the clinical trials for Herceptin.

Favourite Things?
My cat Cohen, a handsome Chartreux I adopted in November of 2006. My neighbour's flower garden - strategically planted so I can view the gorgeous flowers while sitting on my deck.

Favourite Quotes
I may have cancer but Cancer doesn't have me.
East Van Rules.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

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