Local health care a ‘God send’ for Town’s Deputy mayor Diane Huber

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Saugeen Shores Deputy mayor Diane Huber’s public revelation of her recent breast cancer treatment included praise for the life-saving local health care system and a boost for a mammography fundraising campaign event. 

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“I was the beneficiary of early diagnosis because of mammography,” Huber said during councillors’ statements at the July 8 town council meeting. 

Acknowledging that “some didn’t know’ of her diagnosis and treatment, Huber said her first recent meeting as council rep on the Southwestern Isotope Coalition Group was “very powerful” as the discussion included potential expansion of medical isotype production at Bruce Power for prostrate and breast cancer treatments. 

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in late November,” Huber said, her voice catching briefly before she continued. “I’ve been through six months of chemotherapy – most people know that. I appreciate the people who always saw me and didn’t see my cancer diagnosis,” she said, 

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Huber noted how beneficial it was and how grateful she is that care was available close to home, thanks to investments made by the current and previous town councils, and major investments by community groups, residents and “people who care about this community’s health care.” 

Huber said she, and many others, benefited from a council decision to fund a VON Clinic in the lower level of Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton. 

“I was there on a weekly basis, and I saw a lot of other people in and out of there on a weekly basis, too – that’s a great facility,” Huber said, also pointing to a previous council’s funding of the ER and lab expansion at Saugeen Memorial. 

Huber thanked the quick, above-and beyond-the-call service of Kristen’s Pharmacy in Southampton; her physician, Dr. (Shaji) Khan who delivered the diagnosis at the Port Elgin Medical Centre, again supported with Council and taxpayer dollars;  her surgeon and the chemo suite nurses at Owen Sound Hospital who supervised her now completed treatments. 

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Huber said she was mentioning all this now because the Gran Fondo Lake Huron road race was coming up (August 17), and the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation determined event proceeds would go to the campaign for upgraded equipment at the Ontario Breast Screening Program mammogram suite at Owen Sound Hospital.

Since its 2018 inception – with no event in 2020 and a small virtual event in 2021 due to Covid – Gran Fondo Lake Huron riders and sponsors, presented by Bruce Power & Suppliers, have raised over $1.3 million. Last year, $500,000 was raised.

Huber said she benefited from early detection because of regular monograms. 

“If you’re at all able to support somebody in the Gran Fondo, the proceeds from that will go to this incredible situation that’s going to be upgraded in Owen Sound that will provide care and also diagnostic imaging that will likely save somebody else’s life,” Huber said. 

Huber said she really appreciated the support she’d received and the Town’s on-going efforts to provide care close to home because it makes “big difference” in the lives of a lot of people.
“I saw those people in Owen Sound at the chemo lounge – there were lots of sweatshirts in there every week with ’Southampton’ or Port Elgin’ on them….” Huber said, adding she appreciates the opportunity to sit on the Isotope Coalition and offer a different perspective as a “cancer person, not a nuclear person.” 

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