awarded national community work assured her it was only brought on by stress. “Lt asked for a mammogram, but he said it wasn't necessary. Back then I wasn’t sure of my tights. You always heard about how wrong it was to change doc- tors. Eventually it became so large t couldn't close my arm. It created a large dimple in my breast — large ecaough that I could put the end of my little finger in it.”* Despite what she was led to believe -— that her doctor's mis- diagnosis was a rare case — more or less bad luck — Tudan- Sainberg believes mistakes are made regularly by doctors who refuse to take their patient's com- plaints seriously. “IT had five people with breast cancer cad me, and they all had the same tale to tell about the same doctor. He wasn’t paying at- tention to them. He was giving them tranquilizers, and told one of them to take up jazzercize. a cyst That same person found out later she had cancer of the bladder."” When Yudan-Sainberg — first learned of her own cancer she says she felt as though she'd been raped and let down by the doctors and health professionals she had trusted. Receivine Health and Welfare Canada’s national volunteer award doesn’t make up for the past or make the pain go away. But Tudan-Sainberg says she couldn't stop crying when she learned of the honor, because it made her think of herself for a change, of all the hours she had spent fighting for the rights of cancer patients — most of which was done over the phone from her bedroom. “A friend called me and said to me, ‘Well isn’t this hilarious Joanna. You've been turned away from all kinds of volunteer organizations and now you've ended up in the Volunteer Hall of Fame.” " In her own words Why did you embark on so many different kinds of pro- jects? ‘‘People look at what I’ve done and say they’re all different, but really, they all have one common denominator — people. I’ve fought anti- poverty groups, municipal, provincial and federal govern- ments, and I’m not a fighter. | only want things that will benefit society.*” interested in What got you writing Canada’s Health Plan and its Woes? ‘I heard so many stories of what was hap- pening to people. Over 70% of the ones I talked to had prob- lems with their doctors, clinics, treatment — it went on and on. When I started to in- vestigate their claims, |! iold some of these problems to doc- tors and nurses and they said, “Yes, it does happen.’ 1 said, ‘Why "don’t you listen to their symptonis?” We're told over a NEWS photo Neil Lucente TUDAN-SAINBERG spent five years researching and compiling a 162-page study criticizing Canada’s health care system, entitled, ‘‘Canada’s Health Plan and its Woes.”’ and over again that only we can take care of ourselves. But there are lots of doctors who don’t even recognize certain symptoms. They're just not in- terested."’ Why did you send a copy of your findings to a U.S. senator? ‘‘! wanted to show him (Kennedy) the problems we are having here in Canada so if they put in their own health care system they can learn from our mistakes.”” Why did you go after cor- porate sponsorship to start the hot lunch program? ‘‘1 wanted ing.” | was also asked to open children to see that the com- a health clinic. If 1 had the munity cared about them, money I'd do it. But I don’t that’s why I didn’t just want have time to bang on doors. government support. Anti- I'm afraid my book will be poverty groups didn’t like chat. buried with me.”’ | had students, seniors, univer- sities and many, many people and businesses from the North Shore Shore helping me.” How have you managed to keep going? ‘‘Sometimes I was so sick I would speak into a tape recorder and students, seniors and businesspeople would do my work for me. There were a lot of times I wanted to give up. But every time I tried I would hear the voices of people who phoned the information line.”’ Besides your book, is there anything else you'd like to ac- complish in the near future? “If there was such a thing as a good fairy, i'd say, ‘Please, | need a foundation to deal with all of the things I've got go- e’ve invested over 12 million dollars in your body — why not take advantage of . $60 Beginner's Fitness Program proceeds to benefit the aul, Brtencsas Css SEN Children's Hospital Call now for your $5.00 introductory program: NORTH SHORE COQUITLAM 1989 Marine Drive 4300 North Road 986-3487 421-7999 DOWNTOWN RICHMOND 1200 Howe Street * 7011 Eimbridge Way 681-3232 278-383) SURREY CITY SQUARE 13821 ~ 103 Avenue 12th & Cambie 588-1517 876-1009 BURNABY VICTORIA 5500 Kingsway 3301 Douglas 435-3385 388-5558