Jane Adams at her home in Oakville, Ont. “If people hadn’t donated before me, I wouldn’t have had access to my programs.”DELLA ROLLINS/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
“Every day that I wake up and my feet hit the floor, is a good day,” says Jane Adams.
After nearly eight years of cancer treatment – including a breast cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, emergency brain surgery and radiation – Adams has every reason to feel grateful to be alive. Now, she’s paying it forward, leaving a gift in her Will to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation to support its world-renowned research and patient care.
“If people hadn’t donated before me, I wouldn’t have had access to my programs,” says the Oakville, Ont., resident. “The treatments were there for me because of the generosity of others.”
Legacy gifts like Adams’s are crucial to the work done at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. These powerful acts of philanthropy help fuel three pillars: the development of new diagnostic approaches for the early detection of cancer, innovative treatments to ease the physical and mental challenges associated with cancer care, and comprehensive support for patients, survivors, their families and caregivers. As a global leader in cancer diagnostics, research and treatment, the Cancer Centre relies on philanthropic support to drive discoveries and improve lives, not just in Canada but around the globe.
Today, more than 850 clinical trials are active at The Princess Margaret, including many focused on supportive care and psychosocial wellbeing.
“At The Princess Margaret, our clinician scientists treat the most complex and rare cancers,” says Dr. Miyo Yamashita, president and CEO at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. “Legacy gifts help fund innovative research that is saving lives and transforming outcomes for patients and their families across Canada and around the world.”
Gratitude for leading-edge care
Adams was first diagnosed in 2017 after she discovered a large lump under her arm – one that hadn’t presented at a physical just two months earlier. She was referred to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre (GRDC) for a biopsy. Unlike traditional diagnostic processes that can leave patients waiting nervously for weeks or even months, the GRDC often provides a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan within 48 hours, sometimes sooner.
“I was relieved to get my diagnosis the next day because there’s less ‘scanxiety,’” Adams says, using a term that captures the fear that builds while waiting for diagnostic results.
Recognizing the urgency, her oncology team recommended neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery to treat her aggressive stage 3 cancer. What followed was a whirlwind of appointments, scans and hours spent in the chemo suite, where Adams received a new, leading-edge medication targeted to her specific cancer type. Through it all, she remained focused on recovery, finding ways to maintain a sense of normalcy and always grateful for the compassionate care she received.
When her survivorship approached the four-year mark, Adams set out to earn her MBA while continuing work. But at the end of 2022, Adams’s cancer took an unexpected turn. After experiencing intense headaches and dizziness, she visited the local emergency room where a CT scan revealed the unthinkable: her breast cancer had metastasized and six tumours were found in her brain.
A few days later, she underwent emergency brain surgery. In the months that followed, her care moved back to The Princess Margaret, home to a specialized clinic for patients with metastatic brain cancer.
From loss to hope
Just as Adams was adjusting to her new reality, she faced another heartbreak: the loss of three loved ones to glioblastoma. She says that witnessing the devastation of this rare brain cancer deepened her resolve to update her Will in order to support glioblastoma and breast cancer research at The Princess Margaret.
“I feel very passionate about these two areas,” she says, adding that her metastatic diagnosis prompted her to increase the amount, hoping cancer patients would have access to the newest treatments and technology. “At the end of the day, The Princess Margaret saved my life eight years ago and is the reason I’m here today.”
Today, Adams continues to live on her terms. Seven months after brain surgery, she and a friend stood at the base of Mount Rainier in Washington state, ready to run a half-marathon. They had registered for the race pre-surgery, paid for the flights and booked the Airbnb – so why not at least try?
As they stood at the starting line on that sunny morning, Adams teared up.
“Seven months ago, we didn’t know if I’d be alive at that point,” she says. That day wasn’t about trying to prove anything to anyone – it was about reclaiming her autonomy and celebrating life.
“I wanted to show myself that I could enjoy life even while living with cancer. Because that’s how I see it: I’m living with a chronic disease. I don’t want it to define me.”
Thanks to Adams’ determination – and generosity – it never will.
To learn more about including a gift in your Will to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, visit CARRYTHEFIRE.ca/legacy or contact the Estates and Gift Planning team at legacy@thepmcf.ca.
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.