Page 35 - Bringing UHN into Focus - 2015-2016 Year in Review

CALprI/N15ICMAayL/15OJPunT/1I5MIJZul/A15TIOAuNg/15 Sept/15 Oct/15 Nov/15 Dec/15 Jan/16 Feb/16 Mar/16

Dear Cancer, Part One: Diary of a Five-
Time CCAaRInNGcSAeFErLYSurvivor

My name is Sabrina Fuoco and I am a It was 1984. I was three.
After a week of taking antibiotics, I went to The
fhPiavAev-eTtibImEeeeNncTabnaEtctXelriPnsguErtRhvIiivsEogNrr.uCIeEalimng3i4llnaensds Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) for a biopsy.
I was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form
for 31 years: as a child, teenager and of cancer most commonly seen in children ages one to
young adult. Over the years, cancer five years old.
has taken my health, my hair, my energy, chunks of my While most kids my age were playing with puzzles
and trying to colour inside the lines, I started
body and sometimTeEsAevMenEmNyGsaAnGityE–MbEuNt iTt has also chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink my tumour.
When this didn’t work, I underwent surgery to
given me a gift – to live life meaningfully and with great remove it.
urgency. Not knowing whether I have months or years By 1986, following surgery, I had undergone two
to live has forced me to live life in the moment and years of chemotherapy at SickKids and 23 radiation
treatments at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. I was
Tenhjiosyisthmeyporepseenntle.ItTterTtRoAcaNnSceFr.ORMATION five years old.

This is where my story begins. Link to full story: click here.
Dear cancer,
My dad was driving us to a relative’s house for dinner Also Making News

when my mom fiRrsEt SnoEtAicRedCyHouA–NaDsmINalNl bOuVmApTthIOe N

size of a walnut on my neck.

MICHENER INTEGRATION

Sabrina Fuoco’s cancer journey begins at the age of three. Her mother, Canadian first: UHN opens
Marcella Fuoco, noticed a small bump on her neck. (Photo: Sabrina Fuoco) multidisciplinary clinic on genetic
disorder

Woman dreams of driving after
revolutionary surgery improves
her sight

Making the invisible ‘visible’: first-
of-its-kind medical device shines
new light on chronic wounds

Year in Review 2015 – 2016 35