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E-Bulletin
Canadian Cancer Action Network
- March 2011 -
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Renewed cancer control strategy good news for
patients, survivors and their families! | |
The Canadian Cancer Action Network (CCAN), the patient-centered organization uniting national cancer groups from across Canada to ensure a strong unified voice on patient issues, is thrilled with the recent news of renewed support for our national cancer strategy as announced by the Prime Minister in Toronto, ON on March 10, 2011.
The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer was created with a five-year mandate to implement a national cancer control strategy that was developed in cooperation with more than 700 cancer leaders and survivors from across the country. CCAN looks forward to continuing to work with the Partnership, contributing an informed patient perspective to the important work of advancing cancer control in Canada.
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Simon Sutcliffe, MD
Chair, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer |
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CCAN past-chair, Jack Shapiro, selected as a Global Cancer Ambassador |
The CCAN board of directors is very proud to announce that the American Cancer Society has selected CCAN past-chair Jack Shapiro to serve as a Global Cancer Ambassador for Canada, a result of his leadership role in civil society cancer control.
Earlier this month, the American Cancer Society invited Global Cancer Ambassadors from around the world to attend a unique workshop in New York City (June 18th-22nd, 2011) focused on building a strong global civil society "cancer voice". The American Cancer Society will provide training on how to meet with UN mission representatives and decision makers in order to make cancer a global health priority.
While in New York, Global Cancer Ambassadors will meet with their respective Mission to the United Nations in order to share cancer stories. They will also put forward specific requests for the High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases that the United Nations will be convening in September of 2011. This is an incredible opportunity for the patient voice to be heard! |
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Patients to take centre stage at 2011 Cancer Drug Access Symposium | |
In 2009, along with our valued partners the Canadian Cancer Society and the Public Policy Forum, CCAN started the discussion with the introduction of the first, "Optimizing Drug Access for Canadians Symposium." In 2010, we brought stakeholders back together to identify actionable items during the "Second Annual Symposium on Cancer Drug Access." In 2011, we intend to put patients centre stage in order to focus on cancer drug access - an area that is of critical concern to patients!
MAKE THIS THE YEAR YOU BECOME INVOLVED! In the coming weeks, CCAN will be recruiting between six and eight patient voice representatives from across Canada to step forward and assume an instrumental role in the planning of a 2011 symposium. From creating the agenda to identifying speakers, this is an opportunity for members of CCAN - as well as informed patient voice representatives from the broader patient community who are linked to a CCAN member organization - to work with some of the most important decision makers working in
Canadian cancer control today!
For further information, or to express interest in joining this team, please contact Aaron Levo, Chair of the Symposium Planning Committee and CCAN member with the Canadian Cancer Society: alevo@ottawa.cancer.ca . |
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CCAN MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) | |
Cancer patterns among Canadian Inuit are distinct from those of the general population of Canada. There is an obvious need for more effective and inclusive policies, programs, services and strategies to respond to the challenges Inuit face with cancer. ACCESS to services is an essential component in dealing with this issue as Inuit are very seriously underserviced within the Canadian cancer care continuum. This gap in service provision to Inuit includes access to prevention methods/awareness raising, cancer screening / surveillance, cancer specific health human resources, treatment, follow-up care, and Inuit specific data, as well as culturally appropriate palliative care within a community setting.
ITK, in coordination with representatives of the four Inuit land claims regions, as well as with the National Inuit Committee on Health (NICoH) has developed close working relationships with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Canadian Cancer Action Network, as well as provincially/territorially focused cancer organizations. These partnerships have enabled ITK to participate in constructive dialogue in order to raise awareness about Inuit and cancer. These partnerships have also ensured the positive inclusion and advancement of the Inuit perspective within the national arena.
Active Inuit involvement is a key component to a cancer care system that not only considers and provides for Inuit needs, but devises policy for and by Inuit.
Submitted by Soha Kneen, Senior Researcher, Health and Environment Department of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami |
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Development of CCAN Patient Voice e-Learning Project underway! | |
The Canadian Cancer Action Network is excited to announce that production has begun on the new CCAN e-learning modules for patient voice representatives.
Developed to ensure that the cancer patient perspective will be heard in order to influence decisions on cancer control, the e-learning project is geared toward providing basic skills and knowledge to patient voice representatives.
On March 19-20th, introduction clips for the modules were videotaped on location in Toronto. In these short introuductory videos, patient voice representatives shared experiences and great tips on how to best represent patient interests on behalf of cancer patients and their families. With the production phase underway, CCAN will be seeking eight to ten volunteers from across Canada to provide valuable patient input on the modules through remote trial testing of the modules. As part of the trial testing, participants will be asked to provide feedback and suggestions on ways to improve the program before it goes live later this year.
This is a great opportunity for you to be part of an important new project that will have a tremendous impact on the patient community! For those interested in lending their energy and time, please contact the CCAN office prior to April 15th to register!
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CCAN Speaks Up for Advance Care Planning
The Canadian Cancer Action Network is pleased to announce that Alberta resident Tanny Nadon will serve as the CCAN representative on the Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada. (QELCCC)
The Coalition recently launched a national advance care planning campaign: "Speak Up: start the conversation about end of life care". In a 2004 poll, 70% of Canadian respondents had not done any planning for advance care, and fewer than 44% had discussed end of life care with a family member. Please note that April 12th is recognized as National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada, a day to raise awareness about end of life care.
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Be part of the "Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow" project | |
CCAN supports the "Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow" project!
The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow project will follow a target population of 300,000 Canadians aged 35 to 69 over the long term, and is designed to provide information on how factors such as genetics, environment and lifestyle influence the development of cancer and other chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease.
The study will collect information from participants over the next several decades, such as how much participants exercise, their diet, occupation, medications, family history and where they live. Researchers will also collect biological samples and physical measurements such as weight and height. The overall project consists of five regional studies known as Atlantic PATH, BC Generations Project, Quebec's CARTaGENE, the Ontario Health Study, and Alberta's The Tomorrow Project.
A recent Angus Reid poll of Canadians aged 35 to 69 revealed that 91% had been touched by cancer, 74% feel that they are likely to develop cancer themselves, and 80% agreed that it is critical to participate in studies like the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow project.
CCAN urges Canadians to sign up now!
For more information please visit: www.partnershipfortomorrow.ca.
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The Canadian Cancer Action Network (CCAN) is comprised of national cancer-site patient organizations and population organizations from across Canada representing an enormous network of cancer patients and their families. CCAN is dedicated to ensuring the patient voice is heard across the cancer continuum in order to accelerate progress in cancer control and achieve a health care system that is affordable and equitable to all Canadians. CCAN is affiliated with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, an independent body established by the federal government to implement Canada's cancer control strategy.
Publication of this communication has been made possible through a financial contribution
from Health Canada, through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.
The views expressed herein represent the view of the Canadian Cancer Action Network. |
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