We formed this group in 2021.
We gratefully acknowledge funding by The Office of Public Engagement – Quick Start Fund that made this partnership possible! We also thank NLSUPPORT for supporting us.
The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research is a meaningful partnership between scientists at Memorial University and a diverse group of members of the public (including cancer patients, families, healthcare providers, and policy makers) in order to bring an impactful and positive change to the lives of individuals affected by cancer.
Promotion Video – Public Event on Transgender Individuals and Cancer
It was so much fun to shoot this promotional video on our upcoming public and virtual event “A Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion Event on Transgender Individuals and Cancer” May 16th, 2024 REGISTRATION: https://shorturl.at/gsuKY We gratefully acknowledge that this video is created by Shamila Yazdanpanah using Canva Pro. We are grateful for our funder (Office…
Episode 8 – “I had a tumor of the size of a tissue box” –Bonnie Morgan and Alana Walsh-Giovannini tell us about ovarian cancer and Belles with Balls
We are pleased to air our latest podcast today! In this episode, we talked with Bonnie Morgan and Alana Walsh-Giovannini. Together we talked about ovarian cancer, lived experience, messages of hope, the charity organization they have founded (Belles with Balls), and most importantly how a dedicated team of 8 women have raised more than half…
Episode 7 – Do you get patient-centered cancer care? A cozy, hopeful, and inspirational chat with Dr. Maisam Najafizada
Our special guest today was Dr. Maisam Najafizada 😊 Dr. Najafizada is the interim Assistant Dean of Social Accountability and an assistant professor of Health Policy at the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. In this episode: Please listen to our great chat here:
Episode 6 – A story of childhood cancers, resilience, and using lived experience to support others– Alan Winnett from Candlelighters NL shares
Our kids also get cancer – let’s not forget them when we talk or think about how to control and win over cancer. In Canada, every year around 1,000 kids will be diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, we will also lose around 200 kids to cancer annually. Pediatric cancers have impacts on the kids, their parents…
Registration open – DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION EVENT FOCUSING ON TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WITH CANCER
We are pleased to say that the registration for the “DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION EVENT FOCUSING ON TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WITH CANCER” is now open! Registration is free – please register here: https://www.med.mun.ca/oped/programs/4742 We cannot wait to screen the documentary called Trans Dudes with Lady Cancer and have discussions with a panel of transgender folks…
Podcast Episode 5 –“Prepare to die, but plan to live”: An impactful chat with Geoff Eaton about his lived experience, young adult cancers, and Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC)
Our special guests today is Geoff Eaton, the Director of Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC). In this episode: Take a look and hope you will enjoy this episode as much as Geoff and Sevtap have.
Impact of patient and family stories
I write this blog post as a part of our latest project where we (The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research) aim to create digital resources and stories about cancer in the form of blogs, video recordings, and podcasts. Today, I focus on the guest blogs. These guest blogs are written by folks affected by…
Guest Blog: “Then there was hope”
Guest Blog Post – 6 By Namiko Sakamoto March 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador ————————————————————————————————————————————– 1 in 8 women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in spring 2020 shortly after the world was placed under the first COVID-19 lockdown. With coughs and a choking feeling, I thought I…
Podcast Episode 4 – “There is a future where we do not have to worry about cancer”: Vision by two young leaders – Sophia Ryan and Emma McIsaac
Excited to present our 4th podcast! Kayla Crichton and Sevtap Savas, PhD talked to two young MUN students who are co-chairing the Relay For Life 2024 event for Memorial University of Newfoundland: Emma McIsaac and Sophia Ryan Relay for Life is organized by Canadian Cancer Society to raise funds and awareness about cancer. These two…
You Saved My Life
Have you ever wondered how genetics research was able to provide answers to affected families, including in the case of cancer? How do the researchers and individuals affected by cancer see this through their eyes and experience? How did Newfoundland and Labrador families help with identifying the cause of certain diseases? Take a look at…
GUEST BLOG: “DAD WOULD BE SO PROUD!” – PART II
Guest Blog 5 – PART II Darrell Peddle, P.Eng. February, 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Please see Part – I of this guest blog by Darrell Peddle here: ————————————————————————————– 5. What are the opportunities or new ideas that can make a difference in patient health and outcomes in NL? This is strictly my opinion, and based…
Podcast Episode 2 – At the intersection of being trans and having gendered cancer: A candid, timely, and educational conversation with James Moriarty
On behalf of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, welcome to Episode 2 of our podcast series! We have a very special guest today, James Moriarty! 😊 In this episode, James provides his experience and thoughts about cancer, cancer screening, and cancer care experiences as a transgender man in Newfoundland and Labrador. All very…
Guest Blog: “Dad would be so proud!” – PART I
Guest Blog 5 – PART I Darrell Peddle, P.Eng. February, 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador For Part II please see here: ————————————————————————————– 1. Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Darrell Peddle, and I was born and raised in Shearstown NL, presently living in Bay Roberts with my wife Karen of 28 years. We…
Podcast Episode 1 – A cozy chat about cancer, Newfoundland and Labrador, and fate of a bagel
On this World Day of Cancer, we are excited to release our Podcast Episode 1, where Jason, Janine, and myself talk about cancer, our province, and a bagel (!) in a comfy, cozy, and friendly way 🙂 A few things we – The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research – wanna achieve with this podcast…
Guest Blog: “A Message of Hope and Healing”
—————————————————————————————————————- Guest Blog Post – 4 By Deanna Roy January 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador My name is Deanna Roy, I was diagnosed June 1st, 2018 with stage 4 HR2 positive metastatic breast cancer at the age of 42. From St, John’s Newfoundland and my cancer journey is not a typical cancer journey in the way…
Guest Blog: “Leaving our lives in the hands of time”
—————————————————————————————————————- Guest Blog Post – 3 By Jenna Neville January 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador Imagine this: It’s the beginning of the 2000’s, you’re in your early 30’s, married with a young daughter. The time has come to go to your regularly scheduled Pap test appointment; while there, the doctor also performs a routine breast exam.…
Pilot Podcast Episode – Introduction to our team and project!
On behalf of the entire Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, we are beyond excited to share with you our first ever podcast episode aired today! Thank you Jason Wiseman, Janine Taylor-Cutting, Kayla Crichton, and Aaron Curtis for making this a reality! Podcasting is one of the digital tools that we have proposed in one…
SAVE THE DATE: Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion event focusing on transgender individuals with cancer
MAY 16, 2024 All interested individuals are invited! Registration details to be announced soon.
New Project! Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion event focusing on transgender individuals with cancer
May 9, 2024 UPDATE: We invite you to view our promotional video – it is so much fun! April 24, 2024 UPDATE: We invite you to meet our documentary makers and panelists. Please see here: https://strength-in-community.ca/2024/04/24/meet-our-documentary-makers-and-panelists/ April 7, 2024 UPDATE: Registration to this event is now open! Please see here: https://strength-in-community.ca/2024/04/07/registration-open-documentary-screening-and-panel-discussion-event-focusing-on-transgender-individuals-with-cancer/ Jan 15, 2024 UPDATE:…
Annual Newsletter for 2023_Public Interest Group on Cancer Research
We are pleased to share with everyone our Annual Newsletter summarizing what the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research is and its main accomplishments for the year of 2023 are! We have enjoyed our work together and succeeding in conducting and developing public engagement projects on cancer. Our members also have contributed to a number…
We would like to be a part of bigger solutions
The new questions I am working on. I know someone out there has the answers. Feel free to comment or email me at savas{at}mun.ca. Thank you. Sevtap Savas, PhD. Sept 20, 2023, St. John’s.
Public Interest Group on Cancer Research made two presentations in a national academic conference!
We are delighted to note that our group has made two presentations at the The Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC) Conference (Sept 14-15, 2023)! The titles and authors of these presentations are: 1. Partnering with patient advisers in designing and delivering public engagement events on cancer. Sevtap Savas, Alicia Follett, Holly…
Project end report for stakeholders: Development of a community engagement & outreach strategy on cancer
We are very pleased to share the Project End Report for our latest Public Engagement project entitled “Development of a community engagement and outreach strategy on cancer”. This is a project that was designed by the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research. The project leads include John King a public member and Sevtap Savas, a…
Public Interest Group on Cancer Research published their 2nd scholarly manuscript!
What a pleasure to share with you our new scholarly manuscript on lessons learnt, experience and perspectives gained as a result of the Public Conference on Cancer (Oct 15, 2022)!! This conference was organized and delivered by the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research. I strongly believe that the public members of this group were…
NEWSLETTER – Public Interest Group on Cancer Research – 2022
We are pleased to report back to our community! Please see the Newsletter below for our goals for and main achievements in 2022! We wish all of you a wonderful Holiday Season and Happy New Year. On behalf of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Sevtap Savas.
Guest blog: “The more I expand my knowledge the more I also understand that there is hope”
Pleased to introduce you to our first guest blogger, who wishes to remain anonymous but is happy to share their thoughts as someone affected by cancer. —————————————————————————————————————- Guest Blog Post – 1 September 2022, Newfoundland and Labrador Cancer has affected my family in so many different ways. I am fortunate enough to say I have…
Our manuscript describing the creation, aims, and work of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research has been published 🙂
Last weekend was a very proud time for us – our manuscript describing the creations, aims, and the work of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research is now published in a peer-reviewed, open access, and international journal 🙂 You can access it here: https://researchinvolvement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40900-022-00380-8
Presented the work of Public Interest Group on Cancer Research in an international congress (IPOS/CAPO 2022)
So excited to have represented and presented the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research in the International Psycho-Oncology Society / Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (IPOS/CAPO) 2022 Congress! This is a joint congress held between IPOS and CAPO between August 29-September 1. I truly enjoyed listening to talks from all corners of the world and…
Cancer patients and family members are very effective story tellers and public educators
We have been generously disseminating our work generated as the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research through a variety of ways. Recently, we have had three radio interviews. These interviews are excellent opportunities to hear our members affected by cancer (patients or family members from NL), and their opinions, experiences, perspectives, and motivations when it…
Proudly presented The Public Interest On Cancer Research in a national conference last week!
Happy to note that I presented the creation, work, and characteristics of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research in the Canadian ARCC (Applied Research and Cancer Control) Conference held early last week!! This was our first presentation of our highly successful group in an academic/scientific setting. I could not be prouder and excited to…
Dissemination of the work of Public Interest Group on Cancer Research (Jan-May 2022)
We widely disseminate the work of this group for wider audience. For example: Key points: Cancer group puts patient, family perspectives and experiences in centre of conversation LETTER: Moving towards patient-directed quality care in oncology in N.L. We submitted a report to Eastern Health / Oncology/ Provincial Cancer Care Program leadership in Jan 2022. One conference…
What did the Public Interest Group on Cancer achieve in 2021?
One of the primary aims of this group has been to identify the needs and priorities of the cancer patients and families in the province, and then design research studies and public engagement activities to address these needs. In 2021, we efficiently identified the key priorities of patients and families in the province and are…
Who are the members of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research?
This group currently includes 12 public members affected by cancer, in addition to three investigators (Drs. Holly Etchegary, Cindy Whitten, and Sevtap Savas). We thank the previous members in 2021, Dr. Teri Stuckless, Dr. Farah McCrate, Rebecca Roome, Doug Smith, and two public members, for their contributions! Dr. Sevtap Savas (Investigator): Dr. Savas is a…
Creating the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research (2021)
We formed this group in 2021. We gratefully acknowledge funding by The Office of Public Engagement – Quick Start Fund that made this partnership possible! We also thank NLSUPPORT for supporting us. The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research is a meaningful partnership between scientists at Memorial University and a diverse group of members of the public (including cancer patients,…