Sonia Lopez (right) and her good friend Dr. Karin Kilpatrick have nothing but praise for Canada’s health care system. Lopez has been battling ovarian cancer since early April and is thrilled to announce her cancer is now in remission. (Keith Lacey photo)
It’s going to be an exceptionally Merry Christmas for one Osoyoos cancer survivor and she wants to thank Canada’s health care system as well as all of her good friends in Osoyoos for assisting her on her road to recovery.
Sonia Lopez, the proud longtime owner of Boutique de Sonia in downtown Osoyoos, was told 10 days before Christmas that her ovarian cancer treatments have been successful and she’s officially in remission.
“My doctor told me I’m doing very well and I don’t have to see him for another six months,” said Lopez. “That was obviously very good news.”
While Canada’s universal health care system isn’t perfect, it remains the envy of world – and rightfully so – says Lopez and her good friend Dr. Karin Kilpatrick, an oncology specialist and general practitioner who splits her time between running her family practice in Osoyoos and working on an specialized oncology treatment team at Penticton Regional Hospital.
Lopez emigrated from Mexico to Canada in 1986. She came to visit an aunt in Vancouver when that city hosted Expo, decided to stay a year and eventually made the decision to become a Canadian citizen.
Kilpatrick grew up in South Africa and received all of her medical training in that country. She has spent over 30 years in Canada — working as a general practitioner in rural Saskatchewan and the past 10 years in the Okanagan Valley.
As transplanted Canadians, Lopez and Kilpatrick wanted to stress how wonderful the Canadian medical system is and how any consideration by our federal government towards instituting a two-tier private system would be ill advised and frowned upon by the average Canadian.
Lopez was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in early April after attending the South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver.
After her diagnosis was confirmed by an oncologist at Penticton Regional Hospital, Lopez was being treated by oncologists at Vancouver General Hospital.
She stayed at the Jim Barber Cancer Lodge near the hospital and was immediately impressed by the level of care and compassion shown to her by everyone she met.
“I was so impressed by the level of service at every level,” she said. “I’m talking about everyone from the volunteers who greet you at the lodge to the entire nursing and medical staff.
“I had never been sick in my life and this was my first visit to a big hospital and the care and compassion shown to me those first few days was something I will never forget.”
Lopez underwent surgery to remove a large tumour on April 30.
Her good friend Irene Holz, who spent virtually every day with her after her diagnosis, was allowed to be with her until minutes before surgery, which was very comforting and not something she thought would be allowed.
“Going for cancer treatment can be traumatic, but I was allowed to have my best friend right beside me until a couple of minutes before being wheeled into the operating room,” she said. “Once again, I was so impressed.”
After surgery, her physicians explained to her in great detail the course of post-surgical treatment she would be facing.
To be sure there would be no post-surgery complications, Lopez opted to stay at the cancer lodge for 10 days after her surgery.
It cost her only $45 per day for meals and accommodation, which eases the burden of worrying about finances during a very difficult time, she said.
She was referred to the oncology team that Kilpatrick is part of at Penticton Regional Hospital and informed about all her treatment options for chemotherapy and radiation.
The lead physician felt surgery had gone so well that she might not need chemotherapy, but there were concerns cancer cells from her tumour may have spread into her intestines, so it was agreed she would receive three chemo sessions instead of the regular six for many patients, said Lopez.
Those treatments were easily the toughest thing she has had to deal with since being diagnosed.
“My body rejected the chemo, which happens a lot, but I told myself I have to accept it and eventually I got through it,” she said.
A deeply religious woman, Lopez believes the prayers of her many good friends in Osoyoos played a significant role in her battle against cancer.
“I didn’t know I was on the prayer list at the local Lutheran Church as well as the United Church as well as at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, where I’ve been a member for many years,” she said. “I also had many others drop into the store and tell me they were privately praying for me. I’m a believer and I do believe all of these prayers have played a big role in my recovery. I know the importance of prayer and I’m just so impressed with the show of support for me in this community that I love so much.”
Now that her cancer is in remission, Lopez believes this experience has been one of the most positive of her life.
“The only bad thing has been the tumour and I did have the brief bout with depression and anxiety, but that’s pretty common when you get diagnosed with cancer,” she said. “But the way I’ve been treated and supported and the way I have been able to see how wonderful the Canadian medical system is has been such a positive experience.
“Every single doctor and nurse I’ve dealt with has been amazing and the support I’ve received from my many friends in Osoyoos makes me appreciate them more than ever.”
Her close friendship with Kilpatrick also played a significant role in her recovery, said Lopez.
They met at Lopez’s boutique and became good friends and that friendship has grown exponentially since her diagnosis eight months ago, said Lopez.
Kilpatrick said she’s not surprised Lopez has received such quality care because Canada’s health care system, despite its flaws, is comparable to any in the world.
“I’m thrilled she’s in remission and doing so well,” she said. “I would pop into the store like I always do and pretend to be looking at buying some more clothes, but I was actually here to see how she was doing.
“I knew she was in good hands, but I had to say I’m so very impressed with the treatment offered to cancer patients across the Okanagan Valley. Canadians should be very proud of level of care provided to cancer patients because it’s leading edge and comparable to the very best in the world.”
Having worked in remote, rural communities in Canada for more than 30 years, Kilpatrick said the resources now available to cancer patients in isolated areas is remarkable.
Using video technology, specialized oncology teams can communicate with doctors and nurses in remote communities to share information and initiate treatment programs, she said.
“No matter what community we’re talking about, my experience is proper patient care is always put first,” she said. “Everybody in the system is trying really hard to expedite appropriate care.”
When she worked in rural South Africa, she had more than 25,000 patients to take care of “and that was back in the 1980s … I would expect that number has likely doubled,” she said.
“My daughter is studying medicine at UBC North right now and her passion for universal health care simply amazes me.
“Canada’s health care system is wonderful. It’s not perfect, but it’s so much better than almost anywhere else and I would hate to see that ever change.’
After her experiences over the past eight months, Lopez couldn’t agree more.
“I never thought I would get cancer and still wish I hadn’t, but otherwise it was be a wonderful experience,” she said. “The kindness, care and compassion shown to me by so many is something I won’t ever forget.’
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
