Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada Blog
Archive for April, 2011
Perhaps the only time we’ll suggest cookies – treat yourself and support the CCAC!
Apr 25th
A sneak preview of trail mix biscotti- delicious!
If you’re familiar with our nutritional guidelines, you know that sweets should be an occasional treat- and the upcoming Calgary Marathon is just the right occasion!
From now until May 17th, place your order for Handmade Gourmet Biscotti by Vicky. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the CCAC via Michelle Graham Christoffersen, one of our GET YOUR BUTT SEEN running team members You can check out her fundraising process here.
There are four delicious flavours to choose from- Almond Butter & Chocolate Chip, Triple Chocolate, Lemon Cranberry and Trail Mix (mixed nut and fruit). The suggested minimum donation is $5 per package of four biscotti. We’ll be ordering a few to munch on after healthy meals!
Join Cookies for Cancer on Facebook and send a message to Michelle to place your order!
For more information about running and pledging for the CCAC in the Scotiabank Marathons (Calgary, Halifax, Vancouver, Toronto), contact gailg@colorectal-cancer.ca.
Making the grade: 2010-2011 Report Card on Cancer in Canada
Apr 19th
Cancer treatment is often described as a journey- but just how bumps in the road will a newly diagnosed patient encounter on that journey?
The Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada (CACC) considers a variety of healthcare system topics in the Report Card on Cancer in Canada, including the debate about whether clinical trials should be part of the “standard of care” for patients as well as the ongoing struggle to implement prevention programs. The CCAC is proud to report that Dr. Pierre Major (a close friend and member of our Medical Advisory Board) contributed an interesting article regarding wait times. Please click the link at left to visit the CACC’s website to learn more about the work they do and download the report. You can also request a hardcopy.
Click here to read the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada’s official press release.
Introducing a new partnership with ELLICSR at the Toronto General Hospital – join us April 21st
Apr 19th
ELLICSR (the Electronic Living Lab for Interdisciplinary Cancer Survivorship Research) is a welcoming environment at the Toronto General Hospital. From the University Health Network website:
The goal of ELLICSR is to improve the cancer experience by exploring novel ways to learn from survivors, to develop new survivorship communities and to study how cancer survivors can be engaged, empowered and active in adopting healthier behaviours that minimize the negative impact of cancer and its treatment. It is a spacious community centre with teaching and self management areas for patients and survivors that include: a full kitchen, a community resource space, consultation rooms and an exercise room.
We are excited to announce that we will be joining organizations such as Prostate Cancer Canada and Rethink Breast Cancer at an event this Thursday. We hope you will join us for our first Community Connections event!
Freezing rain couldn’t keep us from running for a good cause!
Apr 18th
It was a chilly day, but our team ran our butts off at the Banque Scotia 21k et 5k de Montréal!
CCAC friends and family braved the weather to run in both events as a part if the Scotia Charity Challenge. We raised over $4,500 for the CCAC’s support, awareness and advocacy programs.
Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a power-walker extraordinaire, we hope you’ll going us for the remaining Scotia Charity Challenge events across Canada this season:
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- Halifax – Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon
MAY 20th to 22nd
- Calgary – Calgary Marathon
MAY 29th
- Vancouver – Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K
JUNE 26th
www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm/
- Toronto – Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
OCTOBER 16th
www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com
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The outcomes of our “Improving the Quality of Colorectal Cancer Care in Quebec” conference
Apr 12th
Our Montreal team hosted an incredible medical conference at the Hyatt Regency on March 23rd. Entitled Improving the Quality of Colorectal Cancer Care in Quebec, the conference highlighted the details of Quebec’s pilot colorectal screening program, explored the power of healthy diet and exercise in the prevention of the disease and provided the updates on cutting-edge treatments. We promoted the multidisciplinary Communities of Practice care model, and strategies for applying this model to colorectal cancer surgery in Quebec were discussed, too. We also organized a powerful Patient Forum, which allowed late-stage colorectal cancer patients to take the mic and share their experiences with the obstacles they faced while trying access to anti-EGFR biologic therapy.
It was a jam-packed day of sharing and learning amongst respected professionals from all over la belle province!
Invited stakeholders included representatives from the Quebec colorectal cancer pilot screening program, gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, psychosocial oncology practitioners, nurses, patients and industry representatives.
Our multimedia Giant Colon exhibit was also featured at the center concourse of Complexe Desjardins (mere minutes away from the action of the conference) as part of the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) health fair.
The conference was a tremendous success. We want to thank all of our sponsors who helped made this event possible!
Clinical Research Updates for March
Apr 8th
Did you know that the CCAC has a full-time Research & Education Specialist? Along with our Medical Advisory Board, this individual is a vital link between medical research and the many patients who come to our site seeking information about colorectal cancer screening, treatment and prevention. Below, you’ll find a selection of this month’s selected journal article summaries. A gift to you from our Research & Education Specialist! Click here to catch up on previous months’ selected articles.
- KRAS Mutations Match in Primary Tumour and Liver Mets
- Administering Folfox 6 with Avastin in Non-optimally resectable Liver Mets
- Effect of Simvastatin on Erbitux Resistance with KRAS Mutations
- Addressing the Hypersensitivity to Cold Caused by Oxaliplatin
- Venlafaxine for the Prevention of Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathy
- Stronger Chemo + Immune Boost May Help Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients
- Liver Resection in the Elderly
- Outcomes Are Affected by Recurrence Patterns After Liver Mets Surgery
- Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery in the Elderly
RADIATION / INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
- Phase III Clinical Trial Using Theraspheres for Liver Mets
- Liver Mets Respond to Radiation Microspheres
- OncoDefender Can Assess Risk of Recurrence in Stage I/II Patients
- Automated Reminder System for Colonoscopy Deemed Effective
- Utilization of Virtual Colonoscopy Triples in the U.S.
- Providing Quality of Life at End of Life Study
- Stress of Cancer Makes it Difficult to Quit Smoking
- No Link Between ABO Blood Group & Risk of Colorectal Cancer
- Link Between Stem Cells and Colorectal Cancer
- CRC Groups Join Together to Offer Clinical Trial Matching in the U.S.
- A New Formula Developed to Help Determine Disease Free Survival
- Gene Discovered to Be Linked to Colorectal Cancer When Folate is Low
On a serious note – We assess the importance of quality of life during cancer treatment (and end-of-life care)
Apr 6th
If your case was deemed terminal, how would you spend your last few days, weeks, or months of life?
This was just one of the difficult questions on a national survey commissioned by the CCAC. Entitled “Weighing Quality of Life in Cancer”, the survey found that an astounding 80% of Canadians were touched by some kind of cancer, either personally or through a friend or relative- and that quality of life during treatment is a top priority.
But what is “quality of life”?
It turns out that “quality of life” is a complex issue that encompasses social, economic and cultural components. For example, one of the top challenges respondents cited was the difficulty of obtaining adequate government benefits and insurance to cover the costs of their treatment. Others found greatest difficulty in finding adequate emotional and psychological support.
On that note, we stand by our assertion that a supported patient is a well-coping patient. Call us at 1-877-50-COLON (26566) to be put in touch with one of our highly trained Cancer Coaches.
We look forward to publishing the full results of our survey soon, but click here to read more in the meantime.
The Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon is fast approaching! Run, walk or volunteer with us on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, 2011
Apr 5th
The CCAC is proud to introduce Becky Pink. You may recognize her from the Get Up There (GUT) For Colorectal Cancer event on March 4th, where she spoke as a patient representative of our organization. Now Becky is tacking a new challenge as she prepares to run in the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax- we hope you’ll join her on the course!
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Hi guys,
You have all expressed interest in joining my team in the Bluenose Marathon and raising funds for the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. I am just reminding you to sign up online. The
CCAC would like to cover the registration costs of as many participants as possible who will commit to raising $250. If you are not interested in fundraising you are still welcome to join our team and participate in the run with team “Get Your Butt Seen Nova Scotia”. If $250 sounds daunting to you, don’t worry, in addition to soliciting friends and family for individual pledges we are planning group fundraising events as well, such as bake sales, car washes, potluck dinners, etc. Anybody who participates in a group event will have a share in the proceeds to put toward their individual fundraising goals.
To join our team go to www.bluenosemarathon.com and click on the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, then click on the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. Sign up as a new participant. The team name is “Get Your Butt Seen Nova Scotia” and the team captain is Gail Grief. You will also need to register for the actual bluenose marathon by filling out the pdf located on the marathon website. I will soon send along instructions on forwarding that to the CCAC for complimentary registration. Tell your friends an
d get them to sign up too! I am planning on running/walking the 10k, but you can do whatever portion of the marathon you would like.
Thanks for supporting me in my effort to raise money for a charity that is near and dear to my heart (and butt) and motivate me to participate in my first long-distance run!
Becky
A cheeky eyeful for Toronto, ON and Laval, QC
Apr 1st
Behold, the fabulous “butt bus” currently making the rounds in Toronto and Laval. We launched these extra special additions to our GetYourButtSeen campaign to celebrate Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2011. Can’t wait to come up with next year’s cheeky scheme!
Many thanks to Ogilvy Montreal, the creators of this daring (and fun!) campaign; to our partners at Hill & Knowlton for assisting with media outreach; to the Toronto Transit Commission and the Societé de Transport de Laval for approving the risqué designs; to CBS Outdoor and MetroMedia Plus for your impeccable service ; and to Dr. Alain Sotto, a true trailblazer in the world of workplace colon cancer prevention and screening programs (can’t wait to tell you more about the work he’s done for the TTC!)
After the cut, see some pics of our media events in each city and just a glimpse of the press we got!
Browse the gallery of our 2011 print/image category Public Service Announcement Contest entries!
Apr 1st
Cue Vivaldi’s Four Seasons– these works of art astound us!
Be sure to visit www.ccacpsa.com to vote on your favourites! Simply assign each entry a star rating (out of five). Don’t forget the video and audio categories!
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