An always optimistic Bruce Vance has been sharing a journal online detailing his battle with cancer that began in 2013. (Submitted photo)

By Teena Monteleone

inspiration and hope

A journey of hope: Prince Albert man shares his fight against cancer to inspire others

Feb 18, 2022 | 10:00 AM

If you’re a Prince Albert resident, chances are you’ve heard of Bruce Vance.

He’s an energetic presence in the community, often appearing in the media through his work in the past for the Prince Albert Raiders and currently as the marketing and sponsorship coordinator for the city. He’s also a staple in the volunteer world having spent his spare time coordinating events like Relay for Life or founding the Girls Prairie Softball League and supporting his daughter’s hockey career when she played for the A&W Bears, among his other helpful endeavours.

However, it’s what Bruce is less known for that has become an inspiration for others: his fight against cancer. He was inspired by his wife Liane to start a blog, something she had done during her own bout with cancer. It was an easy way to keep family and friends updated on his treatments, but the writing has also been healing.

“It’s therapeutic to sit down and write and share my thoughts with a few funny anecdotes and try to keep it light and be as positive as I can be throughout the whole situation,” Vance said. “When Liane started her blog she had some really good response from people she didn’t even know who were replying. It helped a number of people through their own trials and tribulations.”

Now, Vance is reconnecting with childhood friends from Ontario and coworkers from across Western Canada who visit his blog often and offer words of encouragement.

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“The blog may be informative and inspiring to everybody else, but it’s really uplifting for me to see the comments and the great support I have and it really boosts me up when I’m feeling down.”

Leave it to Bruce to stay positive during a fight nobody deserves to be in.

Vance has been undergoing chemotherapy since September of 2020. (Submitted photo)

In November of 2013, emergency surgery revealed a golf ball sized tumour in his colon. He went through chemotherapy during the winter and spring and went into remission.

Liane was diagnosed, also with colon cancer, in 2018. She had an ostomy for six months.

“She’s such a trooper. We’ve leaned on each other through these journeys. It’s hard to believe two people can get three separate bouts of cancer in their lives, but here we are and it’s just the cards we’ve been dealt,” he said.

There were a few years where Vance had no evidence of cancer – blood tests and CT scans were normal. Then, in the spring of 2020, he started to get a pain while running. Doctors found a large tumour in his left shoulder blade.

“Colon cancer moves around in the body, and I have a huge tumour in my shoulder and then mets (metastasis) in a couple of other areas of my body. The big concern was the tumour growing in my shoulder from the size of a golf ball to a baseball and finally to a softball.”

He started radiation in September of 2020 and has been on chemotherapy ever since.

“It’s stage four. So, in the cancer world, that’s terminal cancer. I’m in what they call palliative care right now to preserve my quality of life for as long as I can.”

One of the athletes Vance used to coach in softball battled cancer and defeated it. She came up with the phrase ‘optimism brings magic’ and that’s now the moniker Vance and his wife try to live by. They’re planning trips in the future so they have something to look forward to. And when Vance feels well enough for it, he joins Liane who works out four to five times a week.

“It means a lot to get out and run together. It’s a special time for us. We have great facilities in the city and the Rotary Trail and we try to utilize them as much as we can.”

Liane, Bruce’s wife, also shared details of her battle with cancer through an online blog. The couple credits exercise, in part, for keeping their physical and mental health positive. (Submitted photo)

Vance admits there have been some really dark moments, but he too finds inspiration in others. Some of his practitioners are former athletes he used to coach. One is in charge of the pharmacy at the cancer clinic in Saskatoon and another is a community health care nurse that occasionally tends to him.

“It’s neat to see these ladies I mentored and hopefully helped become positive people and they’re now helping me.”

One of his friends, Vern Hodgins, also battles cancer. The two met while volunteering for the annual Relay for Life fundraiser for the Cancer Society. Hodgins displays a large ‘Hope’ sign at various locations around the city and recently set it up in front of Vance’s home.

“Stay positive. The mind is a very powerful muscle. It can help your body fight off not only dark feelings, but it can also help you actually heal better,” Vance said. “There are a lot of people that share their stories – me being one of them and I certainly have a group of people going through the same thing. We text back and forth when we’re going through treatment. There are a lot of positive groups on the internet and a lot of resources out there to reach out to, so you know you’re not in it alone. Just keep a positive mindset and live every day to the fullest.”

Vance’s friend, Vern Hodgins, placed this sign of ‘Hope’ in front of Vance’s home. (Submitted photo)

If you visit Vance’s blog, you’ll see entries that detail his cancer’s progression and the often-negative effects the chemotherapy and medication have on his body. Yet, he still finds a way to add something positive to every single post. Whether it’s celebrating ‘feeling reasonable’ that day, purchasing a new vehicle, getting out for a run with Liane, or enjoying a Rebellion Brewing Company beer that was sent to him, Vance finds the good in something, no matter what.

“I just want to try and be around as long as I can and be a part of the community as long as I can and hope we have a positive effect on the city and all my friends and family,” he said. “It’s very much a rollercoaster and there are some really dark moments…but there are good moments and we just try to make a trail for us that will give us some hope.”

It’s the hope he keeps day-to-day that keeps him going.

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Teena.Monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW