Early Detection Saves Lives: Leigh Read's Story

When it comes to cancer diagnosis, early detection can make a huge impact. When you think about early detection, a can of baked beans isn’t what comes to mind. For Leigh Read, however, it was life changing.

“I turned 50 in 2018. I had a wonderful party, surrounded by many friends and family. One of my friends brought a basket of UK foods that he found as a gift. I’m from England, so he knew I would love it,” Leigh recalls. “I got up one morning, a few days later, and decided to make baked beans on toast with a can of beans from the basket. I took the can out of the cupboard and dropped it, breaking one of my toes.”

“The broken toe led to an infection that spread up my right leg, into my groin and lymph glands, and then down my left leg and into my foot. I ended up in the emergency department,” said Leigh.

Seven days into his 19-day stay in the hospital, Leigh received news no one wants to hear. The testing had revealed a tumour on his kidney.

“I was like a Formula 1 race car those first days in hospital: they did so many tests. There wasn’t a department, besides maternity, that I didn’t go into during that time,” said Leigh with a smile. “It was incredible the number of scans and tests they did. You name it, I had it.”

Due to the continued blood infection, Leigh waited six months before being transported to Moncton Hospital for surgery. Because of the early detection of the tumour in his kidney, he was able to wait until the infection was under control.

“I had an amazing group of doctors on Unit 3 that just kept going to try and get the infection under control. I couldn’t have any sort of operation until the infection was gone,” said Leigh. “For 19 days, I wanted to beat the crap out of that can of beans, and now it sits on my cabinet with all my rugby trophies. It basically saved my life.”

Leigh’s experience didn’t end there.

“In 2023, after a routine scan on my kidney to ensure everything was well on the cancer front, I got a call telling me they found what they thought might be cancer in my bowel. Without that scan, it’s likely they would never have seen it,” said Leigh.

Following a colonoscopy to confirm that it was cancer, Leigh underwent another surgery to remove a section of his bowel. ”The care I received was beyond amazing,” Leigh remembers. “This time I was able to go home and recover for six weeks, and I felt that I was very much part of the process. Everyone worked to help me get back to my normal life. I was supported by my incredible family, my QEH family, my work family at Fox Meadow, and my rugby family, and it felt like everyone had me. Once they have you, they don’t let you go. They are there for you every step of the way.”

Leigh was lucky. Due to the early detection of both cancers, surgery was able to keep things under control, and he didn’t require any post-surgery treatment like chemotherapy or radiation.

“They can take as many pieces of me as they want, until I go into the ground. I don’t care, as long as we keep getting it early. As my father says, I’m the luckiest unlucky person in the world, and it’s true.”