An autopsy revealed that a Sons of Freedom Doukhobor woman who died during a hunger strike in November would have died from cancer within several months. Mary Astaforoff, 71, died on Nov. 24 after a 54-day fast.

ACROSS CANADA Hunger striker had cancer

00:00 EST Monday, February 10, 1986

An autopsy revealed that a Sons of Freedom Doukhobor woman who died during a hunger strike in November would have died from cancer within several months. Mary Astaforoff, 71, died on Nov. 24 after a 54-day fast. She was serving a 10- year sentence for burning several buildings at the Doukhobor museum near Castlegar. At an inquest on Friday, pathologist W. E. Shepherd said Mrs. Astaforoff had advanced cancer in the area of the large intestine, and that it had moved into her liver and lungs. A five- member coroner's jury did not make any recommendations, and did not dispute Corrections Canada policy of allowing prisoners to refuse medical treatment as long as they are mentally competent.