A breast cancer patient smiles while speaking with her oncologist in a hospital hallway, sharing a moment of reassurance and support during treatment.

Courage in her corner

When Stacy followed up on a concern, she stepped into a cancer care journey no one plans for

When everything changed

Stacy DiPasquale was a busy 42-year-old mom, juggling life and raising her two young children in Uxbridge, when she noticed something that gave her pause. While breastfeeding her son, who was 18 months at the time, she experienced an unusual pain she couldn’t ignore. “It was very different than any other pain that I've had during nursing,” explains Stacy. “So, I went to my family doctor.”

The concerning symptom, combined with a lump in her armpit, was cause for Stacy’s family physician to refer her for a mammogram at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH). Unfortunately, Stacy was all too familiar with the risks of breast cancer. Her mom is a breast cancer survivor, first diagnosed at the age of 43, and Stacy’s cousin was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38.

At MSH, Stacy had two mammograms, followed by a biopsy with Dr. Jennifer Li, Oak Valley Health General Surgeon. Dr. Li then delivered some of the most difficult news a patient can get. Stacy had breast cancer, and it was HER-2 positive — meaning it was aggressive and fast-moving.

“The cells were multiplying quickly,” says Stacy. “My care team at MSH had to act just as fast.”

Care beyond measure

The following week, Stacy returned to the hospital for a series of tests to give her care team a full picture of her diagnosis. She underwent a CT scan, a bone scan, a PET scan, an echocardiogram, a breast MRI, and a coil insertion at MSH.

“I was grateful for every diagnostic test,” remembers Stacy. “I knew the advanced technology at MSH was crucial to helping my team put together a treatment plan that would give me my best chance to watch my two children grow up.”

Stacy learned that although her cancer was stage 3, it was localized to her breast, clavicle, and armpit. Next, she met Dr. Mateya Trinkaus, Oak Valley Health Medical Oncologist, to begin her treatment in The Shakir Rehmatullah Cancer Centre. Under Dr. Trinkaus’ care, along with the nurses and staff in the Oncology Clinic, Stacy found the reassurance she needed as she began chemotherapy treatment.

“When you're going through all this, there's so many tests, follow-ups, and blood work. It can get exhausting. To have staff that you're looking forward to seeing makes it that much better,” says Stacy.

As a side effect of the treatment, Stacy developed some stomach issues that were out of the ordinary. Dr. Trinkaus went above and beyond to get to the root cause, ordering extra tests to rule out underlying issues, consulting with colleagues and pharmaceutical companies, and checking in with Stacy on the weekends.

After six rounds of chemotherapy, Stacy underwent a double mastectomy with Dr. Li in October 2025.

She told me the team would be there for me every step of the way and I relaxed for the first time in weeks

Stacy DiPasquale

A brave voice for breast health

Stacy had hoped the surgery would be the end of her treatment journey. However, she recently learned that she has cancer in her lymph nodes. Her next steps include 12 more rounds of chemotherapy, as well as radiation treatment at a partnering hospital.

Despite the challenges ahead, Stacy believes that raising awareness for early detection can inspire others like her to get regular cancer screenings.

“I’m sharing my story with other people because my cousin and mom also had breast cancer earlier in life and I'm so glad that they got early detection,” says Stacy. “When I talk about this with other people, they're like, wait, I can go get tested? And I say, yes, go get tested!”

In October 2024, the Ontario Breast Screening Program lowered the minimum age for screening. People aged 40-49 can now self-refer for a mammogram in Ontario. This potentially life-saving test is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

Finding a new normal

As she continues with treatment, Stacy is focused on finding moments of normal wherever she can. The hospital’s Gale & Graham Wright Breast Health Centre, designed with the patient experience in mind, features donor-funded wall decals and décor that create a calm, welcoming environment. “They make you feel at ease in a stressful situation,” she says. “It just makes the mental side of it a little easier to bear.”

Access to leading-edge technology, funded with support from MSH Foundation’s generous donors, also plays an important role in her care, supporting treatment options that fit her lifestyle as a dedicated mom.

“Getting new tools and equipment is very important to my life journey, not only to keeping me alive, but giving me options to maintain a very normal life,” expresses Stacy. “It gives more patients like me the chance to raise our children, live long and healthy lives, and ensure our stories have a happy ending.”