Hope at Home in B.C.’s North: Jacklyn Loder’s Story
December 17, 2025
Found in BC Cancer - Prince George, Immunotherapy, Ovarian Cancer
Prince George rallied around its beloved Earls general manager, Jacklyn Loder, after she was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening cancer. Now, thanks to BC Cancer’s provincial care system, Jacklyn is thriving at home surrounded by her supportive community.
Friends and family at Jacklyn Loder’s wedding reception in 2023 didn’t clink a glass, as per custom, when they wanted the newlyweds to seal the deal with a smooch.
“We told guests if you want us to kiss you have to come up and donate to the BC Cancer Foundation,” says Jacklyn. “We ended up raising $1,200.”
The Prince George couple’s twist on tradition was especially meaningful as, after being diagnosed with a rare squamous cell carcinoma that spread to her internal organs, Jacklyn wasn’t sure she’d have the chance to marry her longtime partner, Chris.
“Knowing I maybe wasn’t going to get there, and then being able to, made it really special,” says Jacklyn, who dismissed any suggestion they keep the wedding small and simple.
“I was like, ‘I don’t care, we’re blowing the top off this thing.’ We had a huge party. It was awesome.”
A Rare Diagnosis, an Unexpected Recovery
After years of gynecological issues — including severe abdominal pain and infertility —Jacklyn underwent surgery in September 2020 to remove an abscess. The procedure escalated into a hysterectomy and partial bladder removal, and subsequent pathology revealed squamous cell carcinoma, an aggressive skin cancer that developed internally.
With limited treatment options, as the cancer had also spread to her liver, Jacklyn was put on a chemotherapy protocol for ovarian cancer to give her more time.
“Hearing the word palliative was terrifying,” she says.
Although Jacklyn was surprised to be feeling better after two rounds of chemotherapy, she remained deeply anxious heading into an appointment at BC Cancer – Prince George to learn the results of her latest scan.
“I had verbal diarrhea — I was like, “blah, blah, blah, blah.’ My oncologist said, ‘I need you to stop talking.’ I was like, ‘Why?’ And she said, ‘Because this is working. We were just hoping to slow the growth of the cancer but it’s actually shrinking it.”
Jacklyn underwent seven more rounds of chemotherapy and has also been on immunotherapy — treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system to attack and destroy cancer — for the past four years. A combination which has her miraculously currently showing ‘no evidence of disease.’
Close to Home Care
BC Cancer – Prince George opened its doors in 2012, and Jacklyn is very aware that she had been diagnosed even just eight years earlier she may have faced extensive travel to Kelowna or Vancouver for treatment.
“I feel so fortunate that I’ve been able to receive all my treatment at home. Everybody knows what it’s like to be unwell. Even if you just have a cold, there’s something soothing, comforting and healing about being in your own space. I feel really lucky that I just had to drive five minutes down the road.”
Jacklyn is also grateful to the Prince George community who set up a GoFundMe campaign to support her, describing her as “a leader, mentor, confidant, a kind voice, a shoulder to cry on, and a friendly face with a contagious smile — to the people she works with, and to the guests she welcomes daily at Earls.”
The fund has since raised almost $80,000 in support — $50,000 of which came in on the first day it was posted.
“It was overwhelming, in a good way,” says Jacklyn. “The messages, the calls, the financial support — it’s hard to put my appreciation into words.”
Also crucial to her recovery was the support Jacklyn received from her parents. They initially made the three-hour trip from their home in Houston, B.C. to help her recover post-surgery and stayed through her diagnosis and treatment.
“They packed a bag for a week or two and ended up being here for nine months. They uprooted their lives and moved into our little condo — in the middle of a pandemic — to take care of me so that Chris could work.”
Guests donated to the BC Cancer Foundation when they wanted Jacklyn and Chris to kiss at their wedding reception.
Jacklyn checks in every three weeks with a nurse practitioner at BC Cancer – Prince George.
Her care is also overseen by BC Cancer – Vancouver’s Dr. Anna Tinker, a clinical expert in the treatment of women with gynecologic cancers and the Chair of the Provincial Gynecological Oncology Tumour Group.
“Dr. Tinker just follows along in the background right now,” says Jacklyn.
“We touch base twice a year on the phone. I’m really thankful because she doesn’t need to intervene. We’re just kind of coasting right now, which is a good place to be.”
Giving Back in Gratitude
Supporting cancer research and care in B.C. is something Jacklyn hopes to continue long term — especially as she feels the need is greater than ever.
“I’ve been going to BC Cancer – Prince George every few weeks for five years now. What hits me hardest is seeing how busy it always is. The chairs are always full.”
BC Cancer’s supportive care services — including a nutritionist and a counsellor — played a key role in helping Jacklyn return to the job she loves and her Earl’s family of 22 years.
“When your whole world is falling apart, having someone to talk to, someone who can guide you, offer advice, or even just give you a hug means everything,” she says.
“I honestly don’t think I’d be here without BC Cancer.”
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