cancer – Page 6 – Strength in Community

Letter to the Honorable Dr. Furey (Dec 16, 2024)

I have had the pleasure of sending a letter to the Honorable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, to advocate on behalf of the individuals, families, and communities affected by cancer.

The most recent report by the Canadian Cancer Society on the financial impact of cancer, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the governments of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador gave me the idea of this advocacy letter.

You can download, revise, and use this letter to reach out to your elected officials.

Better days ahead.

Sevtap Savas, PhD. December 16, 2024

Letter to The Honorable Doctor Andrew Furey Download

December 16, 2024December 16, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: BlogTags: Advocacy, cancer, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Government relations, Letter to elected officials, Lobbying, Loobying, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Premier, Provincial Government, St. John's Leave a comment

Save the date – “Cancer is Personal”: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) is excited to announce the date for their public, virtual conference titled “Cancer is Personal”: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada!!

Please save the date, March 15 2025!

Further information, including registration, speakers, and schedule will be announced in early 2025.

Please join us in this public conference designed for Atlantic Canadians by Atlantic Canadians.

December 4, 2024December 5, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: ACC PAC (Atlantic Cancer Consortium_Patient Advisory Committee)Tags: Atlantic Canada, Atlantic Cancer Consortium, cancer, Hope, Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, patient engagement, Precision Medicine, Public Conference, Public Outreach Leave a comment

Recruitment open for the new study: Social stigma associated with pediatric cancers in NL

UPDATE (JUNE 16, 2026): This study is now completed. Thank you for your interest.

Dear folks

Our team is conducting a new study focusing on social experiences and stigma associated with pediatric cancers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

You can find more information about this study in this document:

Study information letter (parents and adult participants)_R1_CLEAN Download

If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact the study team:

Dr. Sevtap Savas is the scientist leading this project. She will be happy to talk to you about this study and answer any of your questions. She can be reached at 709 864 6507, pedcancer@mun.ca, or savas@mun.ca.

Rasel Siddique is the graduate student, who will be conducting the interviews. He can be reached at 709-864 6659 or pedcancer@mun.ca.

Thank you

Posters updated on Feb 13, 2025

December 4, 2024June 16, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: BlogTags: Canada, cancer, cancer related stigma, childhood cancers, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Pediatric cancers, Stigma 1 Comment

A successful event: Workplace experiences and rights of cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador

We were humbled by the success of the public event held on Nov 23rd.

This hybrid event focused on the Workplace Experiences and Rights of Cancer Patients in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We had a very engaging dialogue, formed new connections, and heard from a variety of people about workplace and cancer experiences.

You can find the key take-away points of this event here: https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/opinion/letter-lessons-from-public-event-on-workplace-experiences-and-rights-of-cancer-patients-in-nl-101009604/

You can also access the pre-recorded talks by:

Carey Majid, KC. Executive Director of NL Human Rights Commission:

Sevtap Savas, PhD. Cancer scientist and advocate:

We thank the event organizers (Krista King, Sevtap Savas), all speakers and participants, event funder (Office of Public Engagement – Memorial University) and supporter (NLSUPPORT).

November 30, 2024November 30, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: BlogTags: Canada, cancer, cancer lived experience, Human Rights, Hybrid event, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Public Engagement, Public Outreach, St. John's, Workplace rights Leave a comment

YOU ARE INVITED: Workplace experiences and rights of cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador

We are pleased to announce that registration for the following event is now open!

It is a free, public event.

All is welcome.

Registration is required to participate: https://www.med.mun.ca/oped/programs/4779. Please create an account first if you do not have it.

Both in-person and virtual participation options are available

Location: Virtual (link to be sent upon registration) OR Faculty of Medicine, New Medical Education Building (also called “glass building”), 1st floor, Room 1M102

Event organized by Krista King at Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with the NL Human Rights Commission.

Free Parking: Lot 30 (outside of medical school) and parking garage (level 2) from 9 am-2 PM

Speakers include those with lived experience, researchers, and the executive director of the NL Human Right Commission. Please see the current schedule below.

See you there!

October 17, 2024October 17, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: BlogTags: Canada, cancer, Human Rights, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Public Engagement, Public Event, Public Outreach, Registration, St. John's, Wokplace rights, Workplace experiences Leave a comment

New scholarly publication – Toward a public outreach and community engagement strategy on cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador: An initial road map and recommendations

We are excited to share with you our new scholarly (peer reviewed) article just published in Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice!

In this manuscript, we worked on understanding public engagement needs and opportunities when it comes to cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador. We also developed recommendations for both our group and external stakeholders.

For example, we collated information about which topics on cancer are relevant, or an interest to public members. We developed plans to diversify our collaborations and improve the public outreach activities in the province. We followed some of these plans as well.

This project was co-led by a public member, John King and a scientist, Sevtap Savas.

We invite you to take a look – it is free to read: https://journals.lww.com/jporp/fulltext/2024/10000/toward_a_public_outreach_and_community_engagement.5.aspx

We thank our Group members, public members who shared their thoughts with us, our funder (Office of Public Engagement) and supporters (NLSUPPORT) at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

On behalf of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Sevtap Savas, St. John’s.

Image created by AI.

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Canada, cancer, Cancer topics, Community Engagement Strategy, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, public partnership, Roadmap, scholarly publication, St. John's Leave a comment

Special Episodes 15 and 16 – Advocacy, and issues and recent changes in workplace legislations when it comes to cancer

We were pleased to have two special podcast episodes in September and October with Tracy Slaney and Heather Mulligan.

Tracy Slaney is an amazing advocate and caregiver in Newfoundland and Labrador. Heather Mulligan is from Canadian Cancer Society Advocacy unit in Atlantic Canada.

We have had cozy and very informative chats about what it means to be an advocate, and how organizations like Canadian Cancer Society are helping with advocating/lobbying the governments for change. One recent example is extension of unpaid sick leave and job protection in Nova Scotia.

We hope to see similar changes in other Atlantic Canada provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador.

You can find our special podcast episodes here:

Episode 15 (special episode) – A heartwarming story of cancer advocacy and caregiving by Tracy Slaney:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sevtap-savas/episodes/Episode-15-special-episode–A-heartwarming-story-of-cancer-advocacy-and-caregiving-by-Tracy-Slaney-e2oe1mb

Episode 16 (special episode) – Role of advocacy in changing sick leave legislations in Atlantic Canada:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sevtap-savas/episodes/Episode-16-special-episode–Role-of-advocacy-in-changing-sick-leave-legislations-in-Atlantic-Canada-e2ovov0

Thank you for listening and enjoy!

October 5, 2024October 5, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, cancer, caregivers, Job protection, Lobbying, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Nova Scotia, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, Sick leaves, St. John's Leave a comment

Episode 14 – “You are not alone”. Mike Kehoe shares his messages of hope for all folks out there

In this last episode of our Season I, we talked with Mike Kehoe, a community member and person with a lived experience of prostate cancer. Mike shared not only his experience with us, but also his positive and empowering messages.

We are grateful that he took his time to converse with us.

Take a look:

We hope to be back with Season II next year, pending funding. We really enjoyed this experience, having wonderful guests and co-hosts, and learning from each other. Hope you will find time to listen to our podcast and perhaps be a guest in one of them in the future.

July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Canada, cancer, Lived Experience, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, messages of hope, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, prostate cancer, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, St. John's Leave a comment

Episode 13 – “I have led people to the promised land, but I could not enter the promised land. In memory of Dr. Robin McGee”

Our condolences to Robin’s family, friends, and the cancer community in Canada and beyond. Robin passed away from colorectal cancer in June 2024 after 14 years living with it . She was a fierce advocate and change-maker.

In this episode we talked with Robin and Hope Gillis about cancer, advocacy and coaching. It is one of a kind episode and hearing Robin speaks makes us even more determined to keep going. We have gigantic shoes to fill.

July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Canada, cancer, cancer coaching, cancer lived experience, change-making, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Podcast, Podcasting, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, Robin McGee, St. John's Leave a comment

Episode 12 – Indigenous Patient Navigator Program in Newfoundland and Labrador – Ashley Dicker shares important knowledge about this impactful healthcare service

We are very excited to air this informative and fascinating podcast with Ashley Dicker on Indigenous Patient Navigator Program available in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This program is designed to support Indigenous persons traveling for medical care in the province. Six Indigenous Patient Navigators in the province provide all bunch of services and support, making sure the Indigenous patients will be cared best and will feel at home while they are away from home.

Thanking Ashley for this amazing session.

June 17, 2024June 17, 2024 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Canada, cancer, FirstLight, Indigenous Patient Navigator Program, Indigenous Peoples, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, NL Health Services, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, St. John's Leave a comment

Tag: cancer

Letter to the Honorable Dr. Furey (Dec 16, 2024)

Like this:

Save the date – “Cancer is Personal”: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada

Like this:

A successful event: Workplace experiences and rights of cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador

Like this:

YOU ARE INVITED: Workplace experiences and rights of cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador

Like this:

New scholarly publication – Toward a public outreach and community engagement strategy on cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador: An initial road map and recommendations

Like this:

Special Episodes 15 and 16 – Advocacy, and issues and recent changes in workplace legislations when it comes to cancer

Like this:

Episode 14 – “You are not alone”. Mike Kehoe shares his messages of hope for all folks out there

Like this:

Episode 13 – “I have led people to the promised land, but I could not enter the promised land. In memory of Dr. Robin McGee”

Like this:

Episode 12 – Indigenous Patient Navigator Program in Newfoundland and Labrador – Ashley Dicker shares important knowledge about this impactful healthcare service

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