In the summer of 2017, Allison Kelly was living a full and active life. It wasnsa国际传媒檛 until she completed a strenuous back-country hike that the 36-year-old registered nurse started to notice a pain in her leg. Chalking it up to muscle soreness, Allison left for a lake getaway with her twin sister. It wasnsa国际传媒檛 long before she noticed her leg swelling.

Upon her return home, Allison made a visit to the hospital where they confirmed it was a blood clot.

Unbeknownst to her, that clot was the result of restricted blood flow due to a large ovarian tumour.

Allisonsa国际传媒檚 life quickly became a blur of tests and appointments followed by immediate surgery to remove the mass. During surgery, the clinical team found evidence of further spread. After additional scans and pathology studies, Allison was diagnosed with Stage IV clear cell ovarian cancer.

On her 37th birthday, Allison received a call from BC Cancer to say that she met the criteria to participate in a groundbreaking clinical trial: Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy for patients with advanced disease for which there is no curative therapy.

Allison received her first dose of immunotherapy on Sept. 15, 2017. Six weeks later, her tumours had shrunk by an incredible 50 per cent.

Every scan thereafter showed continued shrinkage, and 18 months later a PET scan showed sa国际传媒渘o evidence of disease.sa国际传媒�

Allison hopes her story inspires others who may be facing a similar situation.

sa国际传媒淧articipating in this trial is my way of helping other women who will face this diagnosis, by providing hope that outcomes like mine are possible,sa国际传媒� she says. sa国际传媒淚 am living proof that the research being done in immunotherapies at BC Cancer is working.sa国际传媒�

Dr. Anna Tinker, Allisonsa国际传媒檚 medical oncologist at BC Cancer, specializes in the treatment of gynecological cancers. She says the support of BC Cancer Foundation donors is an important catalyst in fuelling current and future research.

sa国际传媒淲ithout donor support I think many of the successes wesa国际传媒檝e seen would not have occurred,sa国际传媒� she says. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e on the brink of some major changes and advances in the treatment, detection and prevention of women with gynecologic cancers and continued support helps ensure they can move forward.sa国际传媒�

Despite the challenges wesa国际传媒檙e facing at this time, cancer wonsa国际传媒檛 stop. The BC Cancer Foundation wonsa国际传媒檛 stop either and is committed to changing the outcome for the 5,545 British Columbians this year who will be diagnosed with a womensa国际传媒檚 cancer, like Allison.

While her check ups with Dr. Tinker may look a little different these days as most have gone virtual, Allison continues to receive world-class care at BC Cancer where her treatments are administered every four weeks.

sa国际传媒淭hanks to BC Cancer, I have a future,sa国际传媒� says Allison. sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 know what it will look like, but I know it involves living life to the fullest.sa国际传媒�

To learn how you can help, please visit