As a child, Christine Bilodeau watched, devastated, as her mother lost her struggle with leukemia. Forty years later, when her husband Steve was diagnosed with the same disease, Christine’s mind went racing back to her mother’s experience and it filled her with dread.
“My mother was diagnosed when I was a young girl and I remember all the trips she had to make to the hospital for therapies that only worked for a little while,” says Christine.
To her surprise, rather than the transfusions and chemotherapy used to treat her mother’s disease, Steve’s disease was managed with a simple pill. Furthermore, when Steve was experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) issues from the medication he was taking, his care team switched him to another pill that is just as effective but does not cause any GI problems. This new chemotherapy pill was recently approved by the FDA.
“I am hoping that by walking each year in the Eversource 5k, I can raise awareness of cancer and contribute in some way to further research that will put an end to this disease. Every journey begins with a single step.”
On September 14, Christine will honor her mother’s memory and support the kind of innovative cancer research that helped make Steve’s new therapy possible when she takes part in the Mass General Brigham Eversource Cancer 5k Run-Walk.
“Each and every person who supports the Mass General Brigham Eversource Cancer 5k Run-Walk helps fuel innovative research advances that have the power to transform care for patients with cancer worldwide,” says David Ryan, MD, president of the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute. “These funds help ensure we can continue to develop the most personalized treatments possible for leukemia and other cancers.”
“It’s been truly incredible to see how far along treatments have come,” says Christine, an Eversource employee for more than 30 years. “Participating in this walk is such a meaningful way to show our gratitude and do our part in helping to support future treatments.”
Honoring Family While Giving Back
When Christine’s mother was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the early 1980s, there were no advanced treatments yet available. Christine remembers her mother repeatedly going to the hospital for platelet transfusions that were donated by her aunt Patti, who was the only person that was a blood match among her mother’s four siblings. This required several stays in the hospital, which meant uprooting Christine who was 12 years old and her younger 8-year-old sister Donna, and bringing them to their grandparents house each time.
“My mom was a single mother who was also managing a cancer diagnosis, so that was stressful for our whole family. She was such a warrior the whole time — we were all heartbroken when we lost her and wished there was more that could’ve been done,” says Christine.
When Steve was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2024, his care team prescribed an oral medication. Four months after beginning his treatment, Steve’s white blood cells went back to normal levels and show no traces of cancer. He will need to take this medication for the rest of his life, but it has worked amazingly well.
“I can’t help but wonder if my mom would still be here today if that drug was available to her,” says Christine. “I am hoping that by walking each year in the Eversource 5k, I can raise awareness of cancer and contribute in some way to further research that will put an end to this disease. Every journey begins with a single step.”
Christine is also grateful for the support she has received from Eversource.
“I’ve worked at Eversource for 36 years and they have been so supportive of me personally, as I continue to work and help my husband through his treatment,” she says. “The walk is a wonderful day where our family, friends and colleagues come together to make a difference and say, ‘thank you.’”
To learn more about the Mass General Brigham Eversource Cancer 5k Run-Walk, click here.
