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Breast Cancer Survivor Aims to Make a Difference
At 31, Kristen Fiolleau was a vibrant, care-free Mom who was leading a successful career and loved taking care of her two-year-old daughter.
During the hustle and bustle of life with a young family, she took the advice of so many and tried to rest while her daughter was sleeping. As she crawled into her bed, she felt pain in her breast. She did a self-examination and noticed a hard lump.
She quickly booked an appointment with her doctor. He didn’t seem too concerned after examining the lump, but booked her in for an ultrasound appointment.
“I prayed for the best as I prepared for the appointment—not wanting to expect the worst,” said Kristen.
She didn’t realize that her whole world was about to change.
In May 2014, Kristen was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I felt crushed.”
She says her head was spinning with worry and thoughts of her daughter—how could she get through this with a two-year old who still needed and relied on her mother constantly?
“The numerous appointments and the long days receiving chemotherapy were hard to plan for each week,” said Kristen.
After she recovered from surgery, Kristen had a PET scan. The results revealed that her cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and had spread to her liver, lungs, and bones. Several months later, it also spread to her brain. She remembers feeling overwhelmed and scared for her future.
“Would I be here to see my daughter’s first day at school? Her Grade 12 graduation? Her wedding day? I couldn’t bear the thought of missing any of those important milestones.”
Luckily, she said humanity prevailed—family, friends, and even strangers were eager to support Kristen and her family in so many unexpected ways—meals, childcare, and rides to appointments, just to name a few.
“Positivity was paramount throughout my journey,” said Kristen. “I found relief in writing, documenting my experience—the good days and the bad, and finding hope along the way.”
She received treatment for more than two years at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. Kristen says her health-care team made her feel heard and cared for and is thankful for everything they did for her and her family.
“Thank you! I appreciate the care and attention that you gave to me to make me feel like I mattered.”
Thankfully, she has been in remission for more than five years.
As a mother with a young family at the time of her diagnosis, she wished there was a support group in Saskatchewan specifically tailored to young women with families in such a unique and challenging situation.
After her cancer treatments, she joined forces with several other women to fill that gap. Kristen trained with the Canadian Cancer Society and they eventually secured a space for the meetings.” Her aim was to offer emotional support and community to young women and families that she would have loved to have during her cancer journey.
In 2016, they launched a group dedicated to supporting cancer patients who were newly diagnosed or finished treatment. Their mission: to provide a safe space grounded in “value, advice, and encouragement.” It ran successfully for several years.
Kristen continues to be a voice for patients in many ways.
She appeared on C95’s Radio Marathon in October 2014, which ultimately led to her serving as an ambassador for several years. She has also been a recipient of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan’s Touchdown for Dreams.
Kristen continues to attend various galas and community events in support of raising funds for Breast Cancer Research.
Most recently, Kristen joined the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) in March 2025. PFAC is a dedicated group focused on integrating patient and family perspectives to improve care delivery and support services. Her voice contributes to shaping policies and programs that better reflect the lived experiences of those navigating cancer.
We extend our sincere thanks to Kristen for her continued advocacy in creating a safe and supportive space for people diagnosed with cancer.
“I joined PFAC so I could help make a difference in the cancer community,” said Kristen.
“After everything I’ve been through, I wanted to give back and help others navigate this journey. I want to provide that patient voice to help improve the experience of a cancer diagnosis and make an impact in cancer care. If it starts with a smile, a shared story, or leads to improvements in communication and care—I’ll be happy to make a difference in any way I can.”
