Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson proclaims National Cancer Survivors Day

This morning, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson proclaimed National Cancer Survivors Day in recognition of the nearly one million cancer survivors living in Canada today. This annual celebration of life took place at City Hall in the presence of representatives of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network and Prostate Cancer Canada Network Ottawa.

On National Cancer Survivors Day and the days following, thousands of cancer survivors and their families and supporters gather across the globe to honour cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding and even inspiring. It is also a time to draw attention to the ongoing challenges of cancer survivorship in order to promote more resources, research, and survivor-friendly legislation to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

Mayor Watson stated that “a cancer survivor is defined as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of their life; there are nearly one million cancer survivors living in Canada today.”

While early diagnosis and improvements in treatment have resulted in cancer patients living longer, much remains to be done to ameliorate the physical, emotional, and financial effects of cancer on survivors as well as including cancer survivors in decision-making on issues which affect them within Canada’s cancer care and healthcare system.

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) works to connect patients, survivors and other stakeholder groups with decision makers and the wider community to engage in discussion and to act on evidence-based best practices to alleviate the medical, emotional, financial and social costs of cancer and encourage research on ways to overcome barriers to optimal cancer care and follow-up for survivors in Canada.

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For information or an interview please contact:

Jackie Manthorne
President & CEO
Canadian Cancer Survivor Network
613-898-1871
613-710-3636 (cell)
jmanthorne@survivornet.ca

Photos attached.

 

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network hosts Ontario Legislative Reception to raise awareness of metastatic prostate cancer

Ottawa, ON – November 19, 2014 – In the month of November focused on men’s health, the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) was pleased to host its third annual breakfast reception at the Ontario Legislature to highlight the challenges faced by metastatic prostate cancer patients and their families and the increasing number of treatment options that provide a good quality of life while living with this disease.

The reception was hosted by Ann Hoggarth, MPP for Barrie, followed by an overview of CCSN by Sapna Mahajan, CCSN Board member, who shared the personal journeys of important men in her life to illustrate why young women should be concerned about best treatment for prostate cancer.

Ann Hoggarth, MPP Barrie; Jackie Manthorne, CCSN President & CEO; Indira Naidoo-Harris, Parlimentary Assistant to the Minister of Health & Long-Term Care

Keynote speakers included Dr. Andrew Feifer, an urolic oncologist at the Trillium Health Partners’ Fidani Cancer Center at Credit Valley Hospital and Derek Lawrence, who lives with metastatic prostate cancer. Indira Naidoo-Harris, Parliamentary Assistant to Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Christine Elliott, Deputy Leader of the PC Party of Ontario and PC Health and Long-Term Care Critic and France Gélinas, NDP Critic, also offered remarks.

"The treatment landscape for patients with metastatic prostate cancer is changing after many years without new options. We are pleased to continue to raise awareness among Ontario MPPs of the importance of access to new treatments that can extend life that is of good quality,” said Jackie Manthorne, CCSN President and CEO. "Most awareness campaigns for prostate cancer focus on early detection and prevention and celebrate survivorship. We feel it is also important to help men living with metastatic disease to tell their stories.” 

Derek Lawrence, Jackie Manthorne, CCSN President & CEO, Dr. Andrew Feifer, Urolic Oncologist, Fidani Cancer Centre, Sapna Mahajan, CCSN Board Member

Reception sponsor MPP Ann Hoggarth shared her own cancer journey and that of other family members. MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris spoke of the government’s commitment working with patients rather than for patients while striving for world-class treatment in Ontario, and urged  MPPs to listen to patients and patient groups. Both MPP Elliott and MPP Gélinas echoed the need for access to treatment and support for caregivers; MPP Gélinas highlighted the special concerns of those from northeastern Ontario in accessing treatments where they live.  “It is wonderful to see such support and sensitivity for this issue from our members of the Ontario Legislature,” said Manthorne. 

Dr. Andrew Feifer, noted urolic oncologist at Trillium Health Partners’ Fidani Cancer Centre and the University Health Network, reminded the audience of the need for access to a variety of treatment options. He spoke about the husbands, brothers, uncles and sons that he treats, saying, “We should not – indeed cannot – fail these men in their time of need.  Our profession must deliver new therapies and treatment protocols.”

Eighty-four-year old Derek Lawrence gave a human face to the discussions that preceded his presentation. He spoke of the impact that his diagnosis has had on him and his wife Margaret. “Time is so important to those of us living with metastatic prostate cancer. I am 19 years post-diagnosis and treatments are much improved today.  As long as we can access new medicines and receive support, we can be around for a long time.”

CCSN has also recently launched A Family Affair: Prostate Cancer Family and Caregiver Portal, an online portal recognizing and addressing the experience of prostate cancer, whether in its early or more advanced stages, as a family affair. http://survivornet.ca/en/cancer_basics/prostate_cancer_family_affair_portal.

New Canadian Cancer Survivor Network Chair wants patients to have more say

September 12, 2014, Ottawa, Ontario - Former breast cancer patient Elaine Dean was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) at their recent Annual General Meeting.

Says CCSN President and CEO, Jackie Manthorne: “We are pleased to welcome Elaine as our incoming Board Chair. Her appointment will  help CCSN continue to grow as an organization to achieve our mission, which is to empower collaborative action by cancer patients, families and communities to identify and work to remove barriers to optimal patient care.”

Elaine has been a volunteer member of CCSN Board of Directors since shortly after its incorporation in November 2011. Since 1990, she has participated as a trained consumer reviewer in peer review panels here in Canada as well as in the U.S. and overseas. Elaine has also served as spokesperson on breast cancer issues for CCSN, a role she will continue as Chair.

Says Elaine: “What is unique about CCSN is its ability to represent the voice of Canadians as cancer patients and cancer survivors, with Canada’s healthcare professionals, the public and with policy makers. As an organization, we are deeply committed to sharing the latest information available to Canadians about cancer. What we would like to see, is more active engagement of patients and former patients within Canada’s healthcare community.”

More than 2 in 5 of Canadians experience a cancer diagnosis over the course of their lifetime. While improvements continue to be made in the early diagnosis and treatment of the different forms of cancer, with research ongoing to find cures, more needs to be done.

Elaine’s election by CCSN members is an indication of the growing opinion within the organization that breast cancer patient and survivor concerns need more universal understanding and attention, and a seat at the table.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers both facing and feared by women in Canada today. Treatment is still not as effective or as coordinated as it should be, and unnecessary errors continue to be made in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Awareness continues to be a challenge, and more attention needs to be paid to the ongoing financial, emotional, family and workplace needs of Canadians and their families, who are experiencing or have experienced this disease.

To learn more about CCSN, please visit www.survivornet.ca or get engaged through social media:

Twitter: @survivornetca

Blog: http://jackiemanthornescancerblog.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanadianSurvivorNet

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network calls for increased training and closer oversight and supervision of radiologists

The approximately 3,500 patients who relied on results of CT scans and mammograms conducted by Trillium Health now called into question have every right to be both worried and outraged.  Canadians trust that mammography and CT scans will help them learn whether they are in good health or whether an abnormal scan requires further investigation, leading to an early diagnosis and treatment of cancer with better outcomes.

“When I have a mammogram and then get that letter saying everything is fine and I don’t need to come back for two years,  I believe that everything is okay and that I don’t have cancer,” said Jackie Manthorne, president and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network. “It would be devastating to be told that my mammogram was not read correctly and to lose that sense of assurance and trust in mammography, which is our only mass breast cancer screening program in every province in Canada.”

This is not the first time that the results of mammography screenings or pathology tests have had to be reviewed:

In 2010, the College of Physicians of Quebec ordered an investigation of 15,000 mammograms performed in Montreal and Laval, which showed that thousands of Quebec women might have been given inaccurate results.

In 2005, Eastern Health Pathology Lab in Newfoundland and Labrador, faulty pathology tests over an eight-year period resulted in 400 breast cancer breast cancer patients receiving the wrong treatment; over 100 of these women died.  The resulting judicial inquiry by Justice Margaret Cameron and her subsequent report stated that Eastern Health failed patients with shoddy lab work and nearly non-existent quality controls.

In 2009, hundreds of Quebec women diagnosed with breast cancer may have received the wrong treatment because of inaccurate pathology tests.

Faulty diagnosis or incorrect pathology tests can lead to onerous consequences, from the diagnosis of cancer at a more advanced stage, resulting in increased level of treatment, to an increased risk of recurrence, or the development of metastases, where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, which often results in a reduced quality of life and treatment which last a lifetime.

Canadians deserve better. The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network calls on provincial and territorial screening programs and hospital and cancer centres to ensure supervision and oversight of cancer screening program staff and that Canadian and provincial/territorial associations of radiologists and pathologists ensure that their members receive regular professional evaluations development opportunities.

To arrange interviews or for additional information:  Jackie Manthorne, President & CEO, Canadian Cancer Survivor Network. 613-898-1871 or 613-710-3636 or jmanthorne@survivornet.ca.