Harjeet Kaur – From Edmonton to advocate, finding light in the face of cancer

Harjeet Kaur, a vibrant 38-year-old from Calgary, is the embodiment of resiliency. Before cancer, she was enjoying her new-found life in Canada, as her and her husband moved from Dubai in 2018. She was enjoying her job at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, she was cheerful and bubbly with dreams of family and a bright future in this new country. But in 2019, life took an unexpected turn.

It began with a persistent fever, that was dismissed at first as a virus in May of 2019. Then came the blackouts, the endless tests, and after a month of advocating and urging her medical team for more tests, she was admitted to hospital in June and ended up being there for two and a half months where she underwent testing, scans, biopsies and surgeries and she started to feel like a research study. Finally, in August of 2019 at the age of 32, Harjeet received her devastating diagnosis: stage 4 Non-Hodgkins subcutaneous T-cell Lymphoma, complicated with HLH (auto-immune disease).  At such a young age, Harjeet’s world shattered. She felt like she needed to be strong for her family, but once she was able to be alone with this new reality, she broke down crying like she had never cried before.

The road ahead was daunting. Aggressive chemotherapy sessions that left her weak and exhausted, a stem cell transplant during the pandemic where her brother miraculously was a 100% match, and the crushing realization that she’d lost her ability to conceive. Through it all, Harjeet faced each challenge with unwavering determination. When she realized she was losing her hair, this was extremely challenging as in Sikh culture, women grow their hair and never cut it. She eventually decided to shave her head, and her husband shaved his head as well in solidarity, which is just one small testament to the power of love and support.

Harjeet’s stem cell transplant was scheduled for March of 2020 in Calgary. At this time, her family had travelled from India to be there for her, but as we all know 2020 turned our medical system upside down. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic her surgery was rescheduled for April, and her entire family made the move from Edmonton to Calgary as travel back and forth was not possible. She underwent a stem cell transplant on April 14, 2020, completed 30+ days of isolation while still undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.  At this time, she knew she was struggling mentally, physically, financially and needed an outlet so she started writing in her journal.

Harjeet’s story is not just about survival, it’s about transformation. Cancer ignited a new purpose within her: to help others navigate the isolating and often terrifying world of cancer. Recognizing the lack of support for South Asian patients, she created a supportive online community on Facebook and Instagram, a safe space where individuals can share their experiences and find solace in shared understanding.

“Cancer turned me into a different person,” Harjeet reflects. “I respect the woman I have become post-cancer diagnosis. The main purpose of my life has been to help and support others.”

Her journey has been marked by immense challenges: the physical toll of the treatment, the emotional strain on her family, and the financial burdens that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. There were many moments of despair, of writing goodbye letters, and of feeling like a burden on her family who flew halfway around the world to be with her. But through it all, Harjeet found strength in her family, in therapy, and in sharing her story with the world.

Now, as a patient advocate and patient partner, Harjeet is dedicated to making a difference. She emphasizes the importance of hope, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. “Hope is a big word,” she says, “but when people say ‘you’re strong’, I’m not strong. I don’t have a choice.”

Harjeet’s message is clear: never lose hope and never be ashamed to ask for help. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, light can be found through connection, resilience, and a commitment of supporting others.

There are far too many similar stories as people in Canada are waiting to be a priority. Cancer Action Now is working to bring forward challenges experiences by people in Canada living with cancer in accessing timely, high-quality cancer care, and calling on policy makers to make cancer care a priority.

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