The current Conference Schedule and list of Speakers, together with the learning objectives for each talk, can be found below.
See you in the Public Conference on Cancer, October 15th!
Tag: cancer screening programs
Meet our speakers – Scott Antle and Gregory Doyle
Scott Antle and Gregory Doyle are health administrators at Eastern Health that oversee important cancer screening programs offered to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cancer screening services are offered to eligible individuals. By making it possible to early detect the tumors or cancerous tissues, they help inform individuals regarding their cancer risk.
Please talk to you physician to learn whether you are eligible for and can benefit from the cancer screening programs in NL.
Thank you Scott and Gregory for speaking about this important topic in the Public Conference on Cancer.
Meet our speakers – Derrick Bishop
Derrick is one of our patient speakers in the Public Conference on Cancer.
We are grateful for him taking time to share his perspective with us during the conference.
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***PRESENTATION (added on October 26, 2022)
Personal impact of hereditary cancer – My story
By Derrick Bishop
*Pre-recorded talk
Note: Conference materials (video recordings, presentation slides) are posted with the permission given by their creators (copy right holders). This website and its owner has no rights to or responsibility regarding the contents of these materials.
Disclaimer: The conference materials are shared for the purposes of education and sharing perspectives only. The information shared by presenters should not be interpreted as medical advice. All health information should be discussed with your health care provider. Organizers, funders, and supporting organizations are not responsible for any misinformation that may be shared.
Cancer Care Foundation and Provincial Cancer Care Program – what is the difference?
I have been a cancer researcher in this province for almost 14 years, but I must say I was always confused about these two very important provincial cancer care-related organizations: the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and the Provincial Cancer Care Program.
They both have many beneficial activities and support to cancer patients and families in NL. But, what is the difference?
I think I have finally got some clarity around this. If I missed anything, please comment/correct!
For example, the Foundation not only raises funds/money for cancer care, education, and patient and family support, but it also directly supports patients, families, and kids through two financial support programs https://cancercarefoundation.ca/get-support/. Check out their website for further info – a truly astonishing work and support shown to our residents through generosity of many donors. Thank you folks!
On the other hand, The Provincial Cancer Care Program has a focus of cancer control & offers other programs/services designed to help support the patients and families. Important ones include the population cancer screening programs (breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings), cancer patient navigator program, oncology social work, patient educational materials, nursing and many other services.
Please talk to you doctor if you or someone you know can benefit from these programs.
Whether you are a patient, have a family member or someone you know with cancer, the Cancer Care Foundation and the Provincial Cancer Care Program may bring relief to you and/or other affected individuals.
Till next time.
Sevtap Savas, PhD. July 23, 2022 St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
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 comes to cancer and being a member of the Public Interest Group. Their conversations were also great ways to raise awareness about critical knowledge. For example;
- Effects of the pandemic on cancer patients and family members/loved ones
- Our members’ motivation to help other individuals going through cancer. We hear such powerful, genuine, and strong motivation from patient and family members over and over. I keep thinking and comparing them with others that often speak on the public venues. Do you also think that they have no hidden agenda or financial benefits to gain, like corporations or politicians? That they have genuine interest in improving someone else’s life and wellness? That they have no intention or make no attempt to manipulate for personal gain?…. The only personal gain would be the happiness/satisfaction coming out of knowing they did help someone go through cancer journey a little bit easier, or helped them prevent or early diagnose their cancer?
- Our members’ experience with disease symptoms, and importance of early diagnosis and cancer screening programs. They mentioned multiple times that if tumors can be diagnosed when they are small, then treatment options are wider and more effective, and patients can have a chance of being cured. There would be also more chances of spending time with their family members/loved ones
- Our members’ experience with familial/hereditary cancers, and how genetic knowledge have lowered their cancer risk through clinical management and screening (that is, specifically looking for any abnormality or pre-cancerous tissues). Knowledge is power – knowing our cancer risk can inform us and our physicians, and help take steps to prevent cancer developing in our bodies
- Our members’ experience with wonderful/attentive physicians, nurses, and Provincial Cancer Care Program services, including the patient navigator program
The last one shows very nicely that while we do have issues, needs, or things to fix, luckily, we also have great people and services available to (at least some of) us in cancer care.
Note that the patient and family members affected by cancer have two things that we – researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers, administrators, and so on – often do not have:
1. The lived experiences
2. The ability to tell a story, capture the attention of the audience, and convey important messages like those noted above in a way that anybody can relate to or understand
Knowledge.
Skills.
Genuine interest to help others.
Our patient and family members affected by cancer do have these. These are why I think they are the best public educators I have ever witnessed so far.
Please feel free to listen to what our members say and let us know what you think:
CBC Crosstalk with Bernice Hillier (starting around 16th minute)
The Wahl Show with Dr. Mike Wahl
CBC Morning show with by Ramraajh Sharvendiran
Until next time,
Sevtap Savas, PhD. June 18, 2022, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador