michelle’s brain cancer journey reveals the unseen toll of the disease — and the power of support
“connecting with brain tumour foundation of canada made me realize i’m not alone”
published may 19, 2026
5 minute read
5 minute read
for michelle materi, her brain cancer diagnosis triggered an immediate emotional freefall. supplied
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on any given morning, michelle materi might be found on a pickleball court, focused, determined and moving with purpose. it’s a small but meaningful ritual, one that helps her reclaim a sense of normalcy in a life transformed by a diagnosis she never saw coming.
just a few years ago, materi’s life looked very different. a mother of four boys, she worked full-time for the alberta government, played tennis several times a week, and juggled the rhythms of a busy family life. “life was good,” she recalls.
then came the headaches.
at first, they were sporadic. when they began occurring daily and became increasingly painful, materi went to see her optometrist.
what followed was a rapid and disorienting cascade of appointments: imaging, a spinal tap and, within days, a referral to neurology. “the neurologist just said, ‘oh, by the way, we found a brain tumour,’” she recalls.
a life-changing diagnosis
further testing confirmed the diagnosis made by the neurologist: materi had an oligodendroglioma, a rare tumour that starts in the oligodendrocytes — cells that cover and protect nerves — found in the central nervous system (cns). this tumour is a type of glioma, a cancerous tumour that originates in the brain’s glial cells, which support and protect the cns’s neurons and are essential for brain function.
for patients, the word “glioma” can feel both unfamiliar and terrifying. as dr. jacob easaw, a medical oncologist at the cross cancer institute in edmonton, explains, gliomas are not staged based on how far they spread, like many other cancers. instead, doctors grade them based on how aggressive the cells look under a microscope.
“at the simplest level, when one of those support cells becomes cancerous — or, in medical terms, malignant — we call it a glioma, he says.
dr. jacob easaw, a medical oncologist at the cross cancer institute in edmonton. supplied
gliomas are rare tumours that affect about five to six per 100,000 canadians each year. oligodendroglioma, the type michelle was diagnosed with, represents only a small fraction of these cases. despite their rarity, these tumours can have a profound impact. symptoms may include headaches, vision changes, seizures, or difficulty speaking, often prompting urgent medical evaluation.
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for materi, the diagnosis triggered an immediate emotional freefall. “when i found out i had brain cancer, i thought, ‘okay, i’m going to die. how long do i have?’” she says. “it was just…a lot of emotions.”
the shock reverberated through her family. telling her sons, each of whom processed the news differently, was one of the hardest moments. “you watch them cry, and they don’t know what to say,” says materi. “you’re trying to be strong for everyone else, while you’re still trying to understand it yourself.” but through it all, her husband was a steady presence beside her.
that emotional burden is something dr. easaw sees repeatedly. “the first response is shock,” he says. “often, these are people in the prime of their lives; they’re working, raising families. a brain tumour is not something they’d ever imagined facing.”
while materi’s tumour is a lower-grade glioma, which can be managed over many years, more aggressive forms, such as glioblastoma, carry a much more serious prognosis.
yet, even in the face of uncertainty, the message from clinicians is increasingly one of cautious optimism. “survival rates, year over year, are getting better,” says dr. easaw. “we’re also getting better at managing side effects more effectively.” he adds that therapeutic advancements are giving clinicians new avenues to explore.
one treatment option is a targeted oral therapy for grade 2 idh‑mutant glioma. the drug works by inhibiting a specific protein involved in the tumour cells’ ability to grow and divide, helping slow disease progression in this type of glioma. this approach follows a long period with limited changes in treatment options spanning roughly 25 years.
medicine is only part of the story
for many patients, navigating life with a brain tumour involves not just clinical care, but a complex emotional and logistical journey that often extends far beyond hospital walls.
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this is where organizations like brain tumour foundation of canada (btfc) play a critical role.
“we’re here to provide support to every canadian affected by a brain tumour — not just the patient, but their family and caregivers, along with health-care providers,” says nicole farrell, the foundation’s ceo.
from the moment of diagnosis, even before a patient is fully integrated into the health-care system, the btfc offers accessible, evidence-based information, support lines, and peer connections.
“there’s often a period of limbo where, after they’ve received a diagnosis, patients are waiting for next steps,” farrell explains. “they’re sitting there with a lot of fear, a lot of questions, and looking for somebody to turn to. as an organization, we’re there to help address those needs.”
nicole farrell, ceo of brain tumour foundation of canada. supplied
for materi, connecting with btfc proved invaluable. “it made me realize i’m not alone,” she says.
through virtual support groups and community events like the annual brain tumour walk, materi found a network of people who understood the nuances of living with a condition often invisible to others. “people look at you and think you’re fine,” she says. “but they don’t see the fatigue, the cognitive changes, the headaches.”
those unseen challenges can be among the most difficult to navigate. many patients face barriers returning to work, shifts in identity, and changes in relationships, all while managing ongoing treatment and uncertainty.
btfc works to address these realities across the entire care continuum, from diagnosis to treatment to end-of-life support, offering educational resources, webinars, and peer connections tailored to patients’ evolving needs.
“we hear directly from the community and try to respond,” says farrell. “whether it’s helping someone understand what to expect, connecting them with others, or providing trusted information — it’s about meeting people where they are.”
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for clinicians like dr. easaw, that partnership is essential. “the foundation is the voice for our patients,” he says. “the materials we provide come from them because we know they’re evidence based. in a world where there’s so much misinformation, having a trusted source is incredibly important.”
today, materi continues to navigate life with glioma, balancing the realities of her condition with a deliberate focus on what brings her joy.
there are challenges. she experiences fatigue and cognitive slowing and has had to step back from work. but she has also found new ways to move forward. “i swear, it’s pickleball and positivity,” she says, laughing.
her advice to others facing a similar diagnosis is simple, but hard-earned. “it’s not necessarily a death sentence,” she says. “be strong. don’t sit on the couch and let it take over your life.”
to learn more about glioma and show your support for brain cancer research, visit brain tumour foundation of canada.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of servier canada.
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