While pregnant, she found out she had cancer. Experts say screening needed earlier in Quebec

When Salimeh Maghsoudlou felt a lump in her breast during pregnancy, cancer was the last thing on her mind.

“I didn’t feel sick at all,” she said. “Many breast cancers are asymptomatic.”

Maghsoudlou, a federal public servant and policy analyst, was pregnant in 2019 when she noticed symptoms of the tumor herself – coincidentally.

Later investigation confirmed breast cancer. She started chemotherapy while pregnant, then continued treatment with surgery and radiotherapy after giving birth.

What should have been a happy time welcoming their son soon turned into a fight for survival.

Maghsoudlou says the most surprising part of her experience was realizing that routine breast exams were not part of her prenatal care in Quebec.

“In other countries where I lived, breast exams were part of gynecological follow-up,” she said. “Here, that was not the case. If my gynecologist had done a breast exam, he probably would have discovered it sooner.”

Her experience comes as Quebec is reporting the highest incidence rates of cancer for both men and women in Canada, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most commonly diagnosed, with lung cancer alone causing approximately 11,000 new cases each year. Breast cancer rates among women are also the highest in the country.

Look Quebec woman diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy:

Early screening might have changed everything for this Quebec cancer survivor

According to Canadian Cancer Statistics, Quebec has the highest cancer incidence rates in Canada for both men and women. Brossard, Q. Cancer survivor Salimeh Maghsoudlou is among those calling for better cancer prevention programs in the province.

Doctors demand action on province’s lagging behind

Dr. Denis Soulieres, hematologist-oncologist and spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society, says the high number of cases demands action.

“There needs to be a plan in place to contain the disease, to ensure that we detect it appropriately when it is possible to do so,” he said. “And better organized care so that affected people can be treated more effectively.”

While Quebec has breast cancer screening guidelinesExperts point to a big difference when it comes to colorectal cancer. Quebec is currently the only province in Canada that does not have a province-wide colorectal cancer screening program, despite the disease being one of the most common – and one of the most preventable if caught early.

“If we’re not screening correctly, we’re also in a situation where the mortality rate from cancer is going to be higher,” Sollieres said.

Advocacy groups say pressures on the health care system — ranging from staffing shortages to limited resources — are slowing progress.

“The system is under tremendous pressure,” said David Renaud, senior manager of advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society. “It really depends on what resources are made available to Sainte-Québec in the next budget.”

CBC News contacted Quebec’s health ministry to ask about screening plans, including for colorectal cancer, but did not receive a response by deadline.

Today, Maghsoudlou and her son are healthy, though she says the emotional impact of cancer never fully goes away.

“It’s not something you forget,” she said. “The fear of death still haunts me.”

Maghsoudlou says cancer should not be seen as an individual battle. She says the health care system’s responsibility is to take care of sick people.