Shan’s Story - Shanna Larsen

Our daughter, Shanna (Shan), was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer following months of excessive bone pain, increased symptoms of ill health, and parental concern.  Shanna was not diagnosed until the breast cancer had spread from her breast to her bones and then to her liver. Shan died less than four months later.

Despite decades of early detection messaging, none of the three primary care providers or the bone specialist who saw Shan during her illness had cancer on their checklist. Diagnosed with a common, benign condition we were reassured that Shanna would be fine. On her sixth visit for medical followup, Shan was told by our family physician that if she returned she would be put on antidepressants. At the time, her symptoms had increased and included unresolved bone pain, fatigue, headaches, nausea and weakness. We were very concerned and I requested further testing. It was then that an abnormal liver function test alerted our doctor to something more serious and Shan was accurately diagnosed.

From the initial onset of her symptoms, the health care system we trusted failed Shanna. The physicians looked for what was common in an otherwise healthy 23 year old. When her symptoms persisted, the ‘weird, bizarre or out of the ordinary’ were not ruled out. Cancer was not on their radar. Too many teenagers and young adults with cancer face delays in diagnosis and valuable treatment time against an aggressive, insidious, often fatal disease is lost. For Shan, the war was over before she could begin the battle.  Cancer was allowed to win.

Shan lost her life, her dreams and goals for the future. Her potential and that for society was also lost. Shanna was a skilled lifeguard, talented artist, professional figure skating coach and university graduate heading off to teacher’s college. She had a passion for life and working with young children. Shan is sadly missed.

Young adults need the knowledge of symptoms and self help strategies to know their bodies, have the opportunity to self detect and obtain early medical diagnosis. They also need to be empowered to ask “Could this be Cancer?”

Lorna Larsen
Shanna’s Mom
Team Shan Lead
www.teamshan.ca