Patient Stories
Don Goss
“In the first month, you are devastated physically by the treatments. I had days where I thought, ‘Should I brush my teeth or my hair today, because I can’t do both.’ You just have to push through this whole thing and hope for the best.”
In July 2019, Don Goss was tired and feeling a bit off, but he didn’t think much of it. He was on a guys’ trip in Montana and dove into the lake, hoping the cold water would energize him. When Goss emerged from the water, though, he still wasn’t feeling like himself. He tried to sleep it off, but when he woke up, his face was paralyzed. Doctors in Montana diagnosed him with Bell’s Palsy and sent him home to Canada with a steroid treatment.
Those symptoms repeated over the next few weeks until Goss was admitted to the Misericordia Community Hospital in early August 2019. A month later, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (a blood and bone marrow cancer) at the University of Alberta, and his life changed very quickly.
Goss finished his chemotherapy treatment in spring 2021. He was feeling very weak, but better. Just six weeks later, his cancer returned.
The clinical trial that changed everything
Goss heard about the trial from Dr. Michael Chu himself, whom he met when he was first diagnosed with cancer. But at that time, the trial was still in its infancy and not yet accepting patients. (Goss was accepted into the trial shortly after it was ready to accept patients.) Most importantly, he heard the success rate for CAR T-cell therapy was very high. In fact, the response rate for CAR T-cell therapies is 80 per cent.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy removes a patient’s own cells and genetically modifies them in a lab before infusing them back into the patient. The modified cells work to kill the cancer cells.
Goss’ CAR T-cell therapy happened over a matter of weeks, instead of the months of chemotherapy, so the side effects were much less.
“I was sick, but it was a good sickness knowing that it was killing the cancer cells,” says Goss. The therapy worked for Goss: he began receiving CAR T-cell therapy through the clinical trial in February 2022, and he has no signs of cancer. He receives checkups every three months to make sure his leukemia hasn’t returned. Now, he is focused on building his strength back as he comes to terms with an outcome that took him from hospice to a bright future.
“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am, and others not so much,” says Goss.
Mike Zurawell
“Some cancer journeys are short. And some last decades. But I have learned that being diagnosed with cancer is a journey full of ups and downs. Laughter and tears. Heart and soul felt conversations and connections. “
Mike Zurawell is your everyday Albertan. He led a quintessential life, with family vacations, weekly hockey games and golf rounds, coaching both volleyball and hockey and savouring evenings and weekends by the lake with friends. He was living a normal life, his days revolved around family, a job he loved and the simple pleasures of life. But everything changed in November 2022. His world was turned upside down when he was told, “You have cancer.”
Doctors found a 27 cm mass in his abdomen and further tests revealed that Mike had double-hit lymphoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer. “I remember feeling scared, shocked and had way more questions than answers, “said Mike. That’s how his cancer journey began. Mike spent countless days at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, undergoing rigorous treatments for 9 months, including 32 nights in the hospital, and 83 sessions of chemotherapy.
The chemotherapy was sadly ineffective, and his tumour initially shrank before starting to grow again.
But there was hope. Mike was able to receive a new, innovative treatment made possible by the support of Alberta Cancer Foundation donors – called CAR T-cell therapy. Car-T cell therapy is personalized medicine whereby a patient’s “T-cells” are removed, modified in the lab to attack malignant cells, and then returned to the body, where they destroy cancer cells.
From the outset of his treatment, Mike was briefed on the sequential stages: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and finally, CAR-T. Positioned as the final hope—resorted to only if the preceding treatments proved unsuccessful—CAR-T loomed large in Mike’s mind. After enduring months of chemotherapy and radiation with his scans persistently showing no tumor reduction, doctors recommended CAR-T. “That’s when things got scary, knowing that CAR-T would be my last and only option.”
Mike is a great reminder of why our donations to the Alberta Cancer Foundation matter. Your donations help us support all clinical trials in Alberta, such as CAR-T cell therapy. By making a gift today – big or small – you will help bring the life-saving treatments of tomorrow to patients who need them today.
Barrie Stafford
“Today, because of advancements in treatment from research funding, I’m confident I won’t die from Multiple Myeloma. I couldn’t say that before. I do my best to live with gratitude daily.”
Barrie was always healthy. That’s why it was such a shock when a hug from a friend broke his collarbone. Months later, lifting a light chair caused a fracture in his vertebrae. His back and rib cage were slowly consumed with pain.
After months of discomfort his doctor directed him to the University of Alberta Emergency ward. It was there he heard the words nobody ever wants to hear: “Mr. Stafford, I have bad news…there’s a high percentage chance you have bone cancer”.
In the uncertainty, his wife turned to him and asked “what am I going to do if you don’t get out of here?” He’d come face-to-face with his mortality and couldn’t answer her question. “I didn’t know if I was going to live or die”.
After a difficult week in hospital, Dr. Sandhu introduced himself. “He told me I had Multiple Myeloma but he also said ‘I think I can help you’. That was the best thing I’d heard”.
After months of treatment and a stem-cell transplant he was released from the Cross Cancer Institute. He had no appetite and was scary thin. After about four months he began to feel human again. His rehab started with short daily walks, and eating the only thing he could stomach: his wife’s home-made grilled cheese sandwiches.
Today Barrie is nine years post-transplant, on a chemo maintenance program, and still in remission. “I feel like my foot is on the head of a snake…I really don’t know when it’s going to strike…but I’m a very lucky guy”. Currently, there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma.
Barrie is retired after 38 years with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s spending his time with his wife of 24 years and dedicating a lot of time to the Cure Cancer Foundation, trying to help other cancer patients. He and co-chair Brian Anstice, a fellow Multiple Myeloma patient, established the Toast of the Town event to raise money to help fund a cure. “We really want to bring awareness to the great work the Cross Cancer Institute is doing. The doctors, the researchers, every one is really doing incredible work and we’re making huge progress.”
Brian Anstice
“That’s why there’s more to do”
Brian was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2016. He’s been put through the ringer, undergoing chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and many other uncomfortable medications and treatments, but managed to be cleared. Unfortunately, he relapsed again in 2020, 2021, and then again in 2023. However, in early 2024, he began a new state-of-the-art clinical trial aimed at wiping out his cancer.
He’s living well with cancer – the best one can hope for. He remembers getting diagnosed, how scary it was and how determined he was to get better. “This ain’t getting me” he said aloud, to no one but himself.
He’s been married to Darlene for 40 years, has three kids and three grandboys that keep him busy. He is happily retired and just finished his time coaching university basketball.
In early 2024, Brian was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, for his remarkable contributions in the cancer fundraising community.
How did he get involved with the CCF? Brian chuckles. “It began as just a bunch of old guys having coffee. We all either had cancer or knew someone close to us with cancer and we just thought we should do something.”
They started Toast of the Town as a way to raise money for cancer research here in Alberta. Immunotherapy was something Brian knew about but it would have required him to travel to a far country without the comfort of home. Not to mention it would have cost about the same as a house. The goal was to make this therapy available in Canada and at a reasonable price – and they did.
He is proud the foundation is making such a big difference in people’s lives but admits it can be hard when you know you’re helping, but people you love are still dying.
On January 6, 2025, Brian lost his courageous battle with cancer. His legacy lives on with the committee and the drive and passion he had to find a cure for Multiple Myeloma and Blood Borne cancers.
Please take a moment and watch the tribute video to Brian.
Barrie Stafford
“Today, because of advancements in treatment from research funding, I’m confident I won’t die from Multiple Myeloma. I couldn’t say that before. I do my best to live with gratitude daily.”
Barrie was always healthy. That’s why it was such a shock when a hug from a friend broke his collarbone. Months later, lifting a light chair caused a fracture in his vertebrae. His back and rib cage were slowly consumed with pain.
After months of discomfort his doctor directed him to the University of Alberta Emergency ward. It was there he heard the words nobody ever wants to hear: “Mr. Stafford, I have bad news…there’s a high percentage chance you have bone cancer”.
In the uncertainty, his wife turned to him and asked “what am I going to do if you don’t get out of here?” He’d come face-to-face with his mortality and couldn’t answer her question. “I didn’t know if I was going to live or die”.
After a difficult week in hospital, Dr. Sandhu introduced himself. “He told me I had Multiple Myeloma but he also said ‘I think I can help you’. That was the best thing I’d heard”.
After months of treatment and a stem-cell transplant he was released from the Cross Cancer Institute. He had no appetite and was scary thin. After about four months he began to feel human again. His rehab started with short daily walks, and eating the only thing he could stomach: his wife’s home-made grilled cheese sandwiches.
Today Barrie is nine years post-transplant, on a chemo maintenance program, and still in remission. “I feel like my foot is on the head of a snake…I really don’t know when it’s going to strike…but I’m a very lucky guy”. Currently, there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma.
Barrie is retired after 38 years with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s spending his time with his wife of 24 years and dedicating a lot of time to the Cure Cancer Foundation, trying to help other cancer patients. He and co-chair Brian Anstice, a fellow Multiple Myeloma patient, established the Toast of the Town event to raise money to help fund a cure. “We really want to bring awareness to the great work the Cross Cancer Institute is doing. The doctors, the researchers, every one is really doing incredible work and we’re making huge progress.”
Brian Anstice
“That’s why there’s more to do”
Brian was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2016. He’s been put through the ringer, undergoing chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and many other uncomfortable medications and treatments, but managed to be cleared. Unfortunately, he relapsed again in 2020, 2021, and then again in 2023. However, in early 2024, he began a new state-of-the-art clinical trial aimed at wiping out his cancer.
He’s living well with cancer – the best one can hope for. He remembers getting diagnosed, how scary it was and how determined he was to get better. “This ain’t getting me” he said aloud, to no one but himself.
He’s been married to Darlene for 40 years, has three kids and three grandboys that keep him busy. He is happily retired and just finished his time coaching university basketball.
In early 2024, Brian was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, for his remarkable contributions in the cancer fundraising community.
How did he get involved with the CCF? Brian chuckles. “It began as just a bunch of old guys having coffee. We all either had cancer or knew someone close to us with cancer and we just thought we should do something.”
They started Toast of the Town as a way to raise money for cancer research here in Alberta. Immunotherapy was something Brian knew about but it would have required him to travel to a far country without the comfort of home. Not to mention it would have cost about the same as a house. The goal was to make this therapy available in Canada and at a reasonable price – and they did.
He is proud the foundation is making such a big difference in people’s lives but admits it can be hard when you know you’re helping, but people you love are still dying.
On January 6, 2025, Brian lost his courageous battle with cancer. His legacy lives on with the committee and the drive and passion he had to find a cure for Multiple Myeloma and Blood Borne cancers.
Please take a moment and watch the tribute video to Brian.
