Curtiss Kelly, a construction worker in Kelowna, B.C., was just weeks into a new job with Northland Properties when doctors diagnosed him with Stage 4 lung and brain cancer.
Still in his 90-day probation period, Kelly feared losing his job. Research from the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows 33 to 40 percent of Canadians face financial distress after a cancer diagnosis, with income often dropping nearly 25 percent in the first year.
But Northland Properties fast-tracked his benefits before the probation period ended. His coworkers also rallied, raising nearly $750 for him and his partner.
Now, as he starts chemotherapy, Kelly says the support has eased his worries and he's focused on treatment one day at a time.