Leslie Ambrose has been cancer free for almost a year. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community support

Cancer survivor starts new support group

Apr 22, 2025 | 8:52 AM

Nearly a year has passed since Prince Albert’s Leslie Ambrose was informed she is cancer free.

The 43-year-old is now focused on helping others, and has created a new support group in the city. She told paNOW everyone’s journey and experience is different

“If I can just help one person get through their journey a little bit easier, I’d like to be able to that,” she said.

The group meets twice a month at the MN-S Western Region II office (donated space) and held its first meeting last week. Ambrose stated it went well, adding they shared some laughs and some serious conversations.

“It was a really nice setting for people to connect with friends to share, listen and who just understand and just get it,” she said.

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A link to the support group can be found through Facebook. (Submitted photo)

Ambrose received her diagnoses on Aug. 1, 2023 and recalled being told she was in stage 4, inoperable, and to get her affairs in order. Ambrose, a long time elementary school teacher, known for her energy and positive attitude, simply took that as a challenge.

“I just said that’s not what I plan on doing, here’s my plan,” she said.

Fast forward to late July of last summer, and Ambrose was informed she was cancer free. She noted the tremendous support she received from friends and family. One of the people Ambrose received advice from was Bruce Vance, who sadly lost his own battle with cancer last October. Vance told her not to let the chemo control her life and that she was in control of her decisions.

“That was awesome for me because I go on winter trips yearly with my son and I skipped a chemo treatment to make sure I could go last winter with him,” she explained. “I don’t know if I would have went had he not said that to me.”

While very independent, Ambrose did agree to a GoFundMe, with a goal of raising $6,000 for a water alkaline machine she wanted. Alkaline water has been theorized to starve cancer cells and is said to slow or stop cancer growth. Within a day, the online fundraiser raised close to $14,000.

“It was actually so overwhelming and I asked for them to shut it down after a day,” she said.

After receiving her clean bill of health, Ambrose said she was getting phone calls from both people she knew and from friends of friends, and who were asking for help and advice for their own cancer journeys.

Knowing there was at the time no support group in Prince Albert, she thought she could provide a safe place for people to come together.

“So many people struggle, they get angry and they get sad and they get lonely,” she explained.

According to statistics provided by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, for the year 2023-2024, there were 8,615 new patient appointments. For the same year, there were also 74,855 review appointments.

Here’s a list of some other groups people can access:

Brain Tumour Canada – virtual support group that meets every Tuesday of the month from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (PST). Braintumour.ca/virtualsupportgroupwestern-canada

Cancer Connections – Cancerconnection.ca/home offers free webinars and discussion groups to support you or your loved ones throughout your cancer journey.

Grief and Loss Group – call Family Services Saskatoon at 306-244-0127.

INpower – Young Women Living Well – breast cancer group for young women. For more information, please email inpowerregina@gmail.com.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada – Virtual Support Group – contact Katharine Yurkiw at katharine.yurkiw@lls.org.

Lung Cancer Support Group – join the Facebook Group: Lung Cancer Supports and visit the Lung Association of Saskatchewan’s website at Lungsask.ca.

Myeloma Support Group – Saskatoon – Email: saskatoonsupport@myeloma.ca

Ovarian Cancer Canada Support Group – an online community where women with ovarian cancer can connect for advice and encouragement. 1-877-413-7970 or 306-747-3211.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social