Two Montreal sisters, aged 19 and 21, are experiencing the unthinkable: they were diagnosed with the same rare cancer less than a year apart and will be at risk of recurrence for the rest of their lives due to a rare, unforgiving genetic mutation. not.
“Every day still, I wonder why,” admits Cassandra Harding. Sometimes I tell myself it’s a nightmare and I’m going to wake up. But this is not the case.”
“It’s stupid everything they are going through and will have to go through. It’s crazy,” adds his father Christopher Harding, still dismayed.
Aged 19 and 21, Katelyn and Cassandra are struggling to come to terms with the sudden turn their lives have taken over the past year. A genetic test revealed that they have a mutation in the TP53 gene, which predisposes them to developing cancers.
Of the scans All their life
They will probably not be able to have children because of the risk of passing on the defective gene. They will also need to have their breasts removed sooner rather than later, due to the high risks.
“I don’t think there will be a year in their lives where they won’t make scan», admits the Dr Ramy Saleh, oncologist who follows the sisters at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC).
“They are very strong. We love them at the hospital. We feel really bad for them and their father,” confides the 37-year-old specialist.
Everything changed in August 2022, when Cassandra developed intense pain in her left leg. The tests quickly revealed osteosarcoma (like Terry Fox). Rare, this only represents 2% of cancers.
The sisters before their cancer diagnosis, in 2022.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY the Harding family
For the family on Île Bizard, the word “cancer” brought back painful memories: the girls’ mother died of breast cancer in 2012. They were 6 and 8 years old.
Thanks to an operation and 40 weeks of chemotherapy, Cassandra has been in remission from her cancer since April 28, 2023. However, the family did not have much time to celebrate this victory, since Katelyn was struck in turn.
“My leg was numb, I couldn’t sit up,” she remembers. I didn’t want to know what it was, it worried me. I don’t like hospitals.”
“I wanted to vomit”
On June 21, 2023, the diagnosis came like a massive blow: osteosarcoma like its sister. This time, it was the sacrum that was affected.
“I wanted to throw up,” Cassandra admits.
“Two children with a rare cancer, almost at the same time… Everyone said it was impossible,” recalls the 53-year-old father, still in shock.
Faced with this exceptional case, doctors gave them a genetic test which revealed the defective gene. This was passed on to them by their mother, who was unaware that she was a carrier.
The two sisters, who are also best friends, experienced the same ordeals almost at the same time: hair loss, nausea, surgery, chemotherapy, etc. They were treated on the same floor of the hospital by the same doctors and nurses.
On October 31, Katelyn underwent a massive 36-hour surgery (in two parts) to remove her sacrum which was replaced with several metal rods and nails.
Katelyn’s sacrum was replaced with metal rods and nails during a 36-hour surgery.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY the Harding family
Even if the operation was a success, the young woman still has a long rehabilitation ahead of her to learn to walk again. He also has two cycles of chemotherapy left to complete.
Another cancer coming?
“I can’t believe my daughter still has a smile,” admits her policeman father, who spent a lot of time in the hospital with them. I’m doing everything I can to keep it positive, a normal. But, everything is so abnormal.”
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
As for the future, the Dr Saleh does not hide the fact that they have a “very high probability of having a second cancer”. For two years, they will have to do analyzes every three months.
“It becomes difficult to plan their lives 100%,” he concedes. But, if they have another type of cancer, we will treat it quickly. That’s why we do such intense follow-ups, to treat as quickly as possible.”
Ramy Saleh, Oncologist at the MUHC
PHOTO PROVIDED BY the MUHC
The exams will then be spaced every six months, then every year if all goes well.
“I call him scanxiety», confides Cassandra, who is learning to live with this sword of Damocles.
A crowdfunding campaign to help young women through this ordeal has already allowed them to raise more than $100,000. Despite everything, the sisters studying at CEGEP are thinking about the future and hoping to become pharmacists and radiologist.
“It’s something that no one but us is going to experience,” Cassandra encourages.