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Suzanne Gauvreau, Board member
Suzanne Guavreau grew up outside of Detroit, on land my grandfather farmed for many years. This land would eventually lie directly in the take off and landing flight path for a military base less than a mile north on the opposite side of the river, planes flying all day. All 6 siblings had plenty of land surrounding our home to play, ride bikes, ice skate, hike and generally spend all our available time outdoors. It was idyllic. As a young adult, I learned that I grew up in what is now considered a cancer cluster, along the edge of Lake St.Clair, where I swam with all my siblings and friends. This lake divides the US and the Province of Ontario, Canada, with a large shipping channel in the middle, accessible to Sarnia in the north, Detroit and the Downriver area where several auto plants have emptied their waste into the water, air and polluted the ground. The same water used to irrigate the farm fields, now gardens and yards, the same ground drenched in jet fuel dropped into the river and lake, the air and onto our ground, and children everywhere.
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The number of people, our neighbors, in Harrison Township diagnosed with cancer at young ages is astounding to this day, including my grandmother, 42 ovarian, mother, 36 breast, grandfather with 4 types of cancer, and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles on the maternal side of the family. So when I was first diagnosed at 36 with breast cancer, then again at 39, I tested for something new, a genetic mutation. Meanwhile I watched my young advocate friends die from metastatic disease, same as my mother age 56, knowing fully this was not a coincidence.
In my professional life, I worked as a Music Therapist, Music Teacher and Medical Massage Therapist, in both public and private schools plus my own practices and studio in Michigan, NYC and Texas. As a therapist I mostly worked with multiply-handicapped children and young adults, many autistic, the children no one else wanted to mentor.
I helped start Young Survival Coalition in NYC 1999, months after my first diagnosis. I volunteered with Livestrong and met many young survivors giving back to fill unmet needs we found as young adults struggling with cancer. I have worked beside so many survivors as a patient, advocate, caregiver, and loving friend. After my third diagnosis in 2015, resulting in several surgeries and more rehabilitation, I re-evaluated my life and decided to follow the advice of my physician, the caring woman who listened to me when I needed follow-up care, the tests ultimately culminating in my third cancer diagnosis. Finally, I applied for disability.
After years of helping start new avenues for young adults with cancer nationally, I now volunteer locally, to coordinate networking between Metro Detroit Gilda’s Club, Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Big 4 medical centers in the Detroit area. I provide cancer non-profit organizations with information and outreach. My interest focuses on research for cancer and as such, I participate in research studies, many studies. I serve on cancer grant panels with the Department of Defense and panels with the Society for Integrative Oncology. I lobby with one organization, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, also serving as an Advocate speaker to research and medical facilities. I contact my State and National representatives frequently.
All through these 21 years, I have continued my healthy lifestyle; food, exercise, mental and emotional health maintenance. And I credit meeting Ann at my first support group with SHARE, for leading my path through myriad educational opportunities and following me, to witness the advocate I am today.
I truly believe and practice professionally and personally in self empowerment. Therefore, I give presentations on complementary therapy integration and participate in healthy eating workshops as part of my outreach with the Annie Appleseed Project, so cancer patients, their families and anyone interested in leading a healthier lifestyle to reduce risk of cancer.
Michigan State University, BM
University of North Texas, MM
Registered Music Therapist, Board Certified
Registered Massage Therapist
Project LEAD Grad
In my professional life, I worked as a Music Therapist, Music Teacher and Medical Massage Therapist, in both public and private schools plus my own practices and studio in Michigan, NYC and Texas. As a therapist I mostly worked with multiply-handicapped children and young adults, many autistic, the children no one else wanted to mentor.
I helped start Young Survival Coalition in NYC 1999, months after my first diagnosis. I volunteered with Livestrong and met many young survivors giving back to fill unmet needs we found as young adults struggling with cancer. I have worked beside so many survivors as a patient, advocate, caregiver, and loving friend. After my third diagnosis in 2015, resulting in several surgeries and more rehabilitation, I re-evaluated my life and decided to follow the advice of my physician, the caring woman who listened to me when I needed follow-up care, the tests ultimately culminating in my third cancer diagnosis. Finally, I applied for disability.
After years of helping start new avenues for young adults with cancer nationally, I now volunteer locally, to coordinate networking between Metro Detroit Gilda’s Club, Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Big 4 medical centers in the Detroit area. I provide cancer non-profit organizations with information and outreach. My interest focuses on research for cancer and as such, I participate in research studies, many studies. I serve on cancer grant panels with the Department of Defense and panels with the Society for Integrative Oncology. I lobby with one organization, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, also serving as an Advocate speaker to research and medical facilities. I contact my State and National representatives frequently.
All through these 21 years, I have continued my healthy lifestyle; food, exercise, mental and emotional health maintenance. And I credit meeting Ann at my first support group with SHARE, for leading my path through myriad educational opportunities and following me, to witness the advocate I am today.
I truly believe and practice professionally and personally in self empowerment. Therefore, I give presentations on complementary therapy integration and participate in healthy eating workshops as part of my outreach with the Annie Appleseed Project, so cancer patients, their families and anyone interested in leading a healthier lifestyle to reduce risk of cancer.
Michigan State University, BM
University of North Texas, MM
Registered Music Therapist, Board Certified
Registered Massage Therapist
Project LEAD Grad
