Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada Blog
Cancer, Fertility and Motherhood Survey
May 16th
Every year, approximately 85,000 Canadian women are diagnosed with cancer; of these, over 4,000 women are between the reproductive age range of 20 and 39. Fertility and motherhood are important quality of life issues for young women with a history of cancer. However, very limited data are available to document how fertility matters are addressed when they receive cancer care in Canada.
The CCAC is proud to support a doctoral research study entitled, “Cancer, fertility and motherhood: Addressing the fertility needs of young women with cancer in times of stress, uncertainty, and time pressure”. The study aims to explore the retrospective views of female cancer survivors on fertility matters related to cancer care, and their perspectives on preserving fertility through assisted reproductive technologies.
Eligibility criteria
1.Female cancer survivor
2.received a cancer diagnosis after year 2000
3.between the age of 18 and 39 when diagnosed with cancer
4.received cancer treatment in Canada
5.have completed cancer treatment.
Should you meet the above criteria, please support this research by participating in this quick survey which takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Survey respondents can participate in a draw to win a $50 Amazon gift certificate.
How to begin the web-based survey:
Visit the project website www.cancerandfertility.com for more information or access the e- survey directly at http://fluidsurveys.com/s/fertility.
The Giant Colon makes a stop in Quebec City
May 11th
The Giant Colon Tour stopped in Quebec City for three days from May 9 -11 as part of the Salon Vancances Évasion in Les Galeries de la Capitale. Over 6,500 people passed through our fabulous interactive 40 ft. long colon.
Many thanks to our great volunteers Jeannette Pane and Jacynthe Boudreault who joined staffers Dave Black and Frank Pitman to help spread colorectal cancer awareness.
“Get Out There & Move”
May 10th
Did you know that people who engage in moderate to vigorous exercise on a regular basis are at a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer and other diseases?
The CCAC wants YOU to lower your chances of developing cancer and other diseases and that is why we need you to GET OUT THERE & MOVE! with us at Mount Royal Park this Saturday May 11th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.!
With the goal of advocating healthy lifestyles and cancer prevention, despite one’s age or background “Sortez! Bougez!” / ‘Get Out There & Move,’ will encourage participants to become more physically active in order to reduce their chances of developing colorectal cancer and other diseases.
Individually or within a team, participants will engage in various athletic outdoor activities of their choice, either on their own (walk, jog, bicycle, hike etc.) or by enrolling themselves in one, two or all of the offered classes or group activities – the sky is the limit!
Trial and Error
Try out as many activities as you can to see what works for you and add the ones that you enjoy into your weekly exercise routine.
Some of our planned group activities include:
Boot Camp:
Join instructor Phyllis Frost for her body blasting boot camp that is guaranteed to get participants to break a sweat and push their limits.
Boot Camp is a type of outdoor group exercise class that mixes traditional calisthenic and body weight exercises with interval and strength training. While there are a variety of styles of fitness boot camps, most are designed in a way that pushes the participants harder than they’d push themselves and, in that way, resemble a military boot camp.
Exercises include; sprints, push ups, plyometric and interval training with little rest in between sets.
Yoga:
Instructor Kim will be teaching a 1 hr Hatha Yoga class specially designed for the developing yoga practitioner, it is slow-paced, gentle and focused on breathing and meditation. This is a good form of yoga for beginners to learn poses, relaxation techniques and become comfortable with yoga.
Ancient Yogis believe that for man/woman to be in harmony with the environment, one must integrate the body, the mind, and the spirit. For these three to be integrated, emotion, action, and intelligence must be in balance.
Yoga exercises improve circulation, stimulate the abdominal organs, and put pressure on the glandular system of the body, which can generally result to better health.
Bicycling:
Join David as he leads a group through the beautiful bicycling trails of Mont-Royal. Cycling is one of the best all-around activities for improving health, it is easy to do and can be adapted to physical level.
Here are some of the reasons why you should get your wheels moving:
• Good for your heart – improves cardiovascular fitness and decreases risk of coronary heart disease
• Good for your muscles – tones and builds your lower body muscles (calves, thighs and butt)
• Good for your waistline – ramps up your metabolism and burns a lot of calories
• Good for your lifespan – great way to increase longevity
• Good for coordination – combines feet, hands and body weight movement
• Good for your mental health – proven study
• Good for your immune system – strengthen your immune system and increases general health
Kickboxing:
Join former Canadian champion Herby for a kickboxing class, guaranteed to knock you out – in a good way of course!
The class will begin with 5-10 minutes of warming-up, skipping and stretching techniques. Participants will then partake in different kickboxing drills with a partner or with Herby. The class will finish with push-ups and abs exercises.
Kickboxing has been on the exercise scene for many years and it is no wonder why with all of the amazing health benefits tied to it. By combining martial arts and heart pumping cardio, kickboxing provides a high energy workout that helps quickly melt away fat, while toning and strengthening core muscles at the same time.
Kickboxing is also a great activity to pick up some valuable defense moves or let out any pent up aggression or stress. Skip the beer after a hard day’s work by opting for a healthier way to get out some of the day’s frustrations out of your system.
Pilates:
Join Kim again for a one hour Pilates class that helps condition the body, while building flexibility, muscle strength in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment developing a strong core and improving coordination and balance.
By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely in tune with your body. You actually learn how to control its movement.
In Pilates the quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency.
Although a gentle workout for the most part, pilates is also very challenging and can definitely make you break a sweat.
Try a class to help develop a stronger core (flat abdominals and a strong back), gain long, create an evenly conditioned body, improve sports performance, and prevent injuries and last but not least get you to learn how to move efficiently.
Zumba:
Instructors Vered and Lauren’s Zumba class will get you up off your feet and dancing – what better way to exercise. Zumba Fitness® is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music, and contagious steps to form a “fitness-party” that is downright addictive.
Once selected activities are completed, participants will reconvene in the beautiful Pavillon du Lac-aux-Castors to pick up their healthy free lunch kit. CCAC staff and educators will be on-site answering questions and handing out information on colorectal cancer, its prevention and the importance of getting screened for this disease.
For more details on the event or bios on our guest instructors please visit our website.
RAIN OR SHINE THIS DAY IS ON!!!
Help Battle Cancer With a Limited Edition “Helwani Nose” Tee
Apr 26th
Step into the ring and join the fight against colorectal cancer by purchasing a limited edition Ariel Helwani “Helwani Nose” T-Shirt. Widely regarded as one of the best journalists in MMA today, Ariel is known for having a “nose” for Mixed Martial Arts news. He’s interviewed all of today’s top fighters on MMAFighting.com and FUEL TV. Now you can show your support to your favorite MMA journalist by sporting this limited edition charity tee inspired by Nike and Helwani’s quirky on-screen personality.
All of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), where the money will be put to good use for the “3 pillars” of that cause: Awareness, Support & Advocacy. The slim fit and comfy cotton fabric of this ‘Helwani Nose’ shirt is just the thing to inject some fresh style into your spring wardrobe. Order yours today!
The Story of a Survivor: Debbie Imada
Apr 9th
Debbie Imada in front of The Giant Colon
My name is Debbie Imada and I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer when I was just 43 years old. My husband and I met each other in our late 30’s and our son was born 10 months after our wedding day. At the time of my diagnosis our son was only 4 years old and we had just brought a new puppy home for him.
I thought that I had been experiencing a recurrence of hemorrhoids which had troubled me following the birth of our son, but I was to learn otherwise after my doctor detected a tumour in my rectum. She immediately sent me for a colonoscopy where I ultimately received the bad news from the surgeon, that indeed I did have cancer.
“I have been free of cancer for almost five years, yet I can’t help but wonder if I am truly free of this horrible disease.”
My initial reaction to hearing the word cancer was that “this is impossible and unacceptable”, I could not possibly be finished with my life! I just had a baby not long ago, this can’t be true!”
In my shocked and almost paralyzed state, I asked the doctor two questions. Where is it? What can we do to get rid of it? He informed me that I would require radiation treatment, followed by surgery to remove the tumour, surgery to install an ileostomy and I would have to have chemotherapy as well.
After the surgery, I had 12 sessions of chemotherapy over a period of 8 months. Life was getting complicated. I still had a big battle ahead of me, but I was determined to survive so that I could watch our son grow up together with my husband. Of course I was scared, but as I developed a treatment plan, I began to feel more confident.
While searching for information on colorectal cancer on the internet, I discovered a fantastic website from CCAC. The information was the most comprehensive I’ve seen anywhere and I was even able to retrieve questions to ask my physicians during my appointments. I found useful and pertinent information and connected with informed counselors that really understood my situation and provided great advice.
I was encouraged to discover that Colorectal Cancer has a 90% cure rate if caught in the earlier stages and I gained strength knowing that I could make it, if not for me then for our son.
I learned that I did not fit the stereotypical description of an at risk person for colorectal cancer, with the exception of possibly being too sedentary as I was working at a desk job, so I felt the need to investigate further. The CCAC helped me become well informed about my disease and gave me the courage, support and strength that I needed throughout this fight for my life.
After a very agonizing time going through my cancer treatment, I decided that I wanted to help the CCAC accomplish their mission by offering support to patients, heightening awareness about the disease across the country, advocating for colorectal cancer screening programs and searching for equal and timely access to treatments.
I have a very special connection to the CCAC and I am now a regular volunteer and advocate for the CCAC. Aside from organizing a very successful “Bumspiel” curling fundraising event last winter, I have also made presentations on colorectal cancer awareness and volunteered at numerous awareness activities including The Giant Colon Tour. With March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Canada, I am busier than ever.
The CCAC educates so many Canadians and provides important information so that we can understand more about our treatments and side effects and they answer so many important questions, but most importantly, they are there to listen to my questions and concerns and provide thoughtful and well researched responses.
So many Canadians have a connection with this disease, either personally or through family members or friends. The value of supporting the CCAC so they can continue their life saving programs is immeasurable. Thanks to your past support they have accomplished so much, however, they need your help to ensure that more people know that this is one disease you do not have to die from.
I would be so grateful if you renew your generous support to the CCAC today by donating as much as you can to an association that is working so relentlessly for all of us. Together we can make a difference!
Debbie Imada
CJAD Interview with Lisa Blobstein
Mar 6th
Lisa Blobstein was just 36 years old and a new mom when her husband was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. Her 38 year old husband Steve lost his heroic battle in June 2011. Their son AJ was just 17 months old at the time. Hear Lisa’s story as we launch Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with National Dress in Blue day and learn about the 2nd annual softball game she is planning in her husband’s memory.
Lisa and our very own Frank Pitman at last year’s event
Second Annual Softball Game in memory of Steve Lisiak
Saturday June 1st, 2013 at Alexander Park in Pierrefonds, Quebec
For more information, please contact Lisa Blobstein at 514-624-6954 or lblobstein@yahoo.ca
Jen’s Booty Banter: Hot Ass. Spice up your life
Jan 29th
Chronic constipation. Yuk. Ok, you’re probably thinking, there she goes again, that pooping princess, obsessed with number two. However, the latest research confirms common sense. If you can’t go regularly, you increase your chances of developing colorectal cancer. Eat right, eat fibre and exercise to stay regular. Indeed. But let’s face it, it’s winter. It’s dark, it’s cold and I know I’d rather hibernate in my duvet rather hit the gym (which is my main weapon against being backed up.) Then again, eating a box of All Bran when I am unmotivated to exercise is an equally unappealing option.
So I hit my spice cabinet instead. Why? Not only do spices make your food taste great, they can help you keep from overeating, are packed with stuff to keep your butt healthy and can actually help keep you going. Here are a few that I have found to be helpful in that department:
- Hot and spicy — the hotter the better. Think about the last time you had spicy Indian, Thai or Vietnamese food. Or jalapeño peppers for that matter. I bet you went. I will leave it at that. Don’t be afraid of it. Embrace it and have a hot ass.
- Instead of adding whipped cream to your hot chocolate, try sprinkling cinnamon instead. Put it in your coffee too. Surprisingly, the stuff is high in fibre (who knew?).
- Oregano has calcium, magnesium and fibre, all magic for your butt. Try oregano oil. It has antioxydants, lowers cholesterol, and in this crazy flu season, will help alleviate symptoms.
- Ginger and peppermint are both good for everything, especially digestion. (Ginger is also great for libido and peppermint has fibre).
- Garlic – the more the better I say. (I find the mixture of garlic, ginger, broccoli and Chinese bok choy is an unbeatable combo for keeping things moving along.)
- Cayenne — hot stuff. Full of fibre, gets the blood flowing, reduces inflammation, is good for your heart and acts as a natural appetite suppressant. A wonder spice.
- Turmeric is the new super spice. Some say it can significantly decrease the risk of all cancers, including colorectal cancer. Regardless of whether or not that is true, it tastes great.
In an unusual fit of foresight, in the next Booty Banter, it being in February and the month of the heart, I will talk about foods that help you out down below (of course) but also in the bedroom.
Jennifer Hartley is a features writer and copy editor for Ottawa Life Magazine and writer for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. Previously she was theatre editor for Ottawa Xpress and now defunct Metro newspaper and has written articles for a variety of magazines across the country and abroad in the United Kingdom.
A Caregiver’s Story – By Cameron Von St. James
Jan 15th
“Cameron is husband to Heather Von St. James, survivor advocate for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, and father to Lily Rose. He, along with Heather and young Lily, had their world’s turned upside down when Heather was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, just 3 1/2 months after the birth of his only child. When faced with the very real possibility of raising Lily on his own, he fought alongside Heather in her battle with mesothelioma. It was his determination and refusal to compromise on doctors or treatments that led them to Boston to receive radical surgery from esteemed mesothelioma surgeon, David Sugarbaker. Heather continues to thrive 6 years later.
Through out the next few years, while being a caregiver to Heather and dad to Lily, Cameron returned to school full time to finish his degree. He worked full time, went to school full time and graduated with high honors at the top of his class in June of 2010 with a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology. He was soon offered a position at US Bank as Network Analyst and continues to pursue his career.
Like Heather, Cameron is passionate about bringing awareness to mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos exposure. It is his hope that sharing his story will help others those battling cancer and their caregivers who provide them care and guidance in their journey.”
Caring for My Beloved Wife During Cancer
My wife, Heather often tells me that I was her rock after she got her diagnosis of mesothelioma. As her caregiver, I’ve really only talked to her once about what I went through, but I’d like to share more with the people who might benefit from hearing our story.
A mere three months before we got that fateful news, we welcomed our first child, Lily into our family. It was a wonderful time, but then, all too quickly came a period of real terror and helplessness. The doctors said the word “mesothelioma,” and as I watched my wife cry, I realized that I was at a loss. I had no idea how we were going to handle it.
I was on the verge of a real breakdown, when suddenly the doctor’s questions brought me back to reality. There were choices in front of us, and we could definitely fight. In the middle of that stress, I realized that I could not fall down on the job, not when I needed to make an endless amount of difficult decisions with my wife.
I will admit right now that I was angry and afraid. I felt furious all the time, and sometimes, I simply fell down into fits of cursing. I was out of control, and was angry at the world for putting us in this unfair situation. However, I quickly began to realize how selfish I was being. I needed to control myself, and I needed to be strong for my wife and our daughter. The last thing either of them needed was to see how scared I really was. They needed me, and after I realized that, I held it together much more effectively. I still had moments of weakness, but from then on they were few and far between. My wife didn’t need to see my fear, so instead, I worked on being her rock. I wanted her to be happy and stable, and though this took time and a lot of conscious effort, it was worth it.
There were days where I really did feel overwhelmed. Suddenly, there were a million and one things to do. We had to think about travel arrangements, and we had to think about where our daughter and our pets would stay. I still had my full time job, and suddenly there were a great number of new responsibilities falling on me. It was certainly an adjustment. I quickly learned to prioritize my tasks and focus on the most important items first. I also learned that I was never going to be able to handle this load unless I sought help from others. There were many wonderful people who looked after us, who would go out of their way to make sure that we were cared for. Both Heather and I are eternally grateful for the incredibly generous outpouring of support we received from our friends, family, and neighbors.
By far the hardest time for me as Heather’s caregiver were the two months immediately following her very intense and invasive surgery. Right after her surgery in Boston, Heather flew to South Dakota, where her parents live and where Lily had been staying. She went there to be with our daughter and to recover and prepare for her next phase of mesothelioma treatment: chemotherapy and radiation. I would have loved to have been with them, but I had to remain behind to continue working. I only saw my beloved wife and daughter once during this entire period.
On this visit, I waited until Friday after work, and drove 11 hours through a late snowstorm overnight. I wanted to see them very badly, but I had to sleep in the car, hoping the plows would come through while I slept. When I turned up on Saturday, I was exhausted, but it was worth every second of the drive to see them for a handful of precious hours, before getting back in the car and making the 11 hour return trip to be at work by Monday morning.
Being away from my wife and my daughter was incredibly difficult, but I did not consider it a loss. It was just one of the countless impossible choices that we were forced to make during our battle with cancer. There were many different tough decisions that we had to make, and my wife’s illness was one the darkest times I have ever gone through, but the fact remained that they were decisions that were wholly ours to make. We learned not to anguish in them but to take comfort in the fact that we could make decisions at all. It gave us some small amount of control over a situation that often seemed completely out of our control.
Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against her, Heather has persevered and is still here, healthy and cancer-free over six years later. It is our hope that our story can bring some amount of comfort and understanding to families currently battling cancer.
To read more about Cameron’s story or Mesothelioma please check out his blog.
Jen’s Booty Banter: To Carb or Not to Carb
Dec 17th
If you’re like this pooping princess, despite all efforts, you are likely going to over-indulge over the holidays. Let’s be honest. That’s part of the season. But as you gear up to shed holiday pounds, you may look at cutting carbs. Don’t. Every part of you needs them but in that weight loss quest, many people view them as the Dark Side. They are wrong. In fact, very wrong. Drastically cutting carbs means you’ll miss out on the nutritional benefits of whole grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, and legumes, according to the Dietitians of Canada. And all those foods are critical in staying regular. Sure, cutting carbs might help you shed pounds in the short term, but that’s really because you are eating less food and fewer calories. Furthermore, if you cut them out, when you add them back in, which you will do eventually, stats show you will likely pack the pounds back on. So why cut them out in the first place? Just embrace them.
The REAL question is what KIND of carbs to eat because there are good carbs and there are bad carbs. An easy rule to follow is to stay away from high-sugar foods. Take a look at food labels. Anything that has a lot of sugar will have a lot of carbs. Those are the bad ones and do nothing for you. Frankly, stick to Canada’s Food Guide and you can’t go wrong.
One question that has plagued this pooping princess is how many carbs are enough? It all depends on your level of activity (if you work out a lot, you’ll need more), but for the average person, 2-3 grams of carbs per body pound ought to do the trick. So, for example, a 130-pound person should take in between 260 and 300 grams per day.
How does that convert into food choices? Well, your average pasta portion will yield roughly 65 grams of good carbs, two pieces of whole wheat toast have about 39 grams of carbs, an apple has roughly 20 grams and one cup of chick peas has 36 grams. But remember these are GOOD carbs for your butt. Compare that to a can of pop (full of sugar and bad carbs.) It weighs in with roughly 40 grams of useless carbs.
But there are times when this pooping princess craves those bad carbs. Here’s a tip. Before woofing down junk food, hit the hay. Turns out if you’re craving bad carbs, you may need more sleep. The Mayo Clinic says adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of it. When you don’t, your body looks for a caloric hit to get it through, which may make you eat more and more of the wrong foods — ie. high sugar/bad carbs — than if you were well-rested.
The bottom line here is, good carbs are your friend. Go ahead, eat that oatmeal with impunity.
Jennifer Hartley is a features writer and copy editor for Ottawa Life Magazine and writer for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. Previously she was theatre editor for Ottawa Xpress and now defunct Metro newspaper and has written articles for a variety of magazines across the country and abroad in the United Kingdom.
Annual Gala Makes Fashion Statement
Nov 23rd
The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada’s (CCAC) 3rd Annual Gala was yet again an outstanding success, raising over 300,000$. Supporters, patients, survivors and family members flocked together at the Windsor on Nov. 6th for an evening of red carpet glamour and couture.
“True to its promise, the CCAC delivered one of the best fashion shows in Canada as part of its annual Gala fundraiser. Funds raised from this magnificent event will help ensure the delivery of important programs in awareness and education, support and advocacy on behalf of patients in Quebec and across Canada,” said CCCA President Barry Stein.
Hosted by the beautiful and charismatic Anne-Marie Withenshaw, the event featured a silent auction, a live auction, a Java U-catered cocktail dînatoire, and an exclusive showing of PAVONI‘s Resort and Spring/Summer 2013 collections.
The Montreal-based design duo, made up of Mike Derderian and Gianni Falcone, are known for their crystal covered, tulle puffed creations. These beautiful works of art have been seen on celebrities such as Kylie Minogue and country popstar Miranda Lambert at the Grammys.
From micro-minis to Cinderella-worthy ballgowns, the runway lineup wowed attendees with its lavishness only to be further embellished by stunning pieces from Anzie Jewelry.
Delighted with this year’s outcome, Stein wished to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the dedicated supporters, volunteers and sponsors who contributed to the success of this wonderful event, particularly their Platinum sponsor, INTACT who generously donated 40K to the Association. Silver sponsors of the event included; Bayer, Sanofi and Hoffman La Roche.
To view the full photo gallery please visit our Facebook Page:
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