Hi everyone!

Please join me next, Thursday, November 25th on Zoom at 1:00 pm for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group.  I will not be able to attend this group due to a family event, however, Courtney will be there to chat with you!

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 973 4621 9916

Passcode: 152699

And in other news

Ask Two Oncologists

Thursday December 2nd at 8pm 

This free event will cover topics such as:

  • Maximizing your chance of recovery from cancer
  • Getting the best care from the medical system
  • Specific medical questions / worries about delays
  • Covid, cancer, and vaccination
  • Empowering your body including an anti-cancer diet
  • Essential healing techniques / complementary medicine
  • Improving your immune function and mental health during covid
  • The best resources for healing and much more

Presented by: 

Dr. Rob Rutledge is a Radiation Oncologist in Halifax specializing in breast, prostate and pediatric cancers, as well as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University. He received a Cancer Care Nova Scotia’s Award for Excellence in Patient Care, and a Doctors Nova Scotia Health Promotion Award in recognition of my contribution to physician health and health promotion in cancer patients.

Dr. Rutledge founded the Healing and Cancer Foundation (HCF) and has co-facilitated more than 50 “Skills for Healing” cancer weekend retreats in Canada and abroad. The foundation equips cancer patients and family members with a practical and integrated approach to their journey – helping people to heal at levels of body, mind and spirit. The Foundation draws on proven medical science, the vast teachings of world traditions, and the inherent wisdom within each person.

Dr. Robyn Macfarlane completed her MD from Dalhousie in 2005. She then went on to complete her internal medicine degree at the University of British Columbia, followed by a subspecialty in medical oncology at the BC Cancer Agency. She did a Genitourinary Fellowship with a focus in Prostate Cancer research from the BCCA.

Joining the Division of Medical Oncology in October 2011, as assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Division of Medical Oncology. Her clinical interests are in genitourinary and melanoma cancers. She is actively involved with undergraduate and postgraduate education within the division. And her primary research focus is in prostate cancer, and she heads the prostate, bladder, and melanoma trials portfolios.

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CancerCare Connect Education Workshop

The Latest Developments Reported at the 44th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 1:30 – 2:30 PM Eastern Time

This one-hour telephone and webcast workshops are a cost-free way to learn about cancer-related issues from the convenience of your home or office. Leading experts in oncology provide the most up-to-date information via phone and online.

Topics:

  • Overview of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, in the Context of COVID-19
  • New Research on TNBC Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)
  • Triple Negative Breast Cancer-Specific Treatment Updates
  • The Important Role of Surgery in the Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
  • Updates on Clinical Trials in Advancing Treatment Choice
  • The Increasing Role of Diagnostic Testing, Biomarkers & Genetic Testing in Informing Treatment Options
  • Investigational New Therapies in Clinical Trials
  • New Developments in the Prevention & Management of Treatment Side Effects, Symptoms, Discomfort & Pain
  • Communicating with the Health Care Team with Telehealth/Telemedicine, including Technology, List of Questions, Adherence, Follow-Up Care & Discussion of OpenNotes
  • Key Questions to Ask Your Health Care Team
  • Questions for Our Panel of Experts

Speakers:

  • Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc, Professor of Medicine, Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers Chair in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, A.B. Alexander Distinguished Chair in Oncology, Leader, Breast Oncology Program, UT Health San Antonio, MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Kamel Abou Hussein, MD, Lead Physician, Breast Medical Oncology, MD Anderson at Cooper Cancer Center
  • Lisa A. Newman, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCO, FSSO, Chief, Division of Breast Surgery, Director, Interdisciplinary Breast Program, Medical Director and Founder, International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork Presbyterian Hospital Network, 2nd Vice President, American College of Surgeons
  • Minetta C. Liu, MD, Professor and Research Chair, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Consultant, Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Medical Director, Office of Specialty Collaborations and Contracts, Co-Leader, Genomics in Action Strategic Priority, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic
  • Sylvia Adams, MD, MSCI, Director, Breast Cancer Center Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, Professor, Department of Medicine NYU Grossman School of Medicine
  • Hayley Dinerman, JD, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Carolyn Messner, DSW, OSW-C, FAPOS, FAOSW, Director of Education and Training, CancerCare®

For more information and to register, please visit www.cancercare.org/connect or email [email protected].

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CCSN’s Cancer Can’t Wait Virtual Action Week 1

Thursday November 25, 2021 – 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

21 months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, half of cancer patients across Canada still report their cancer care appointments are cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled.

Throughout the pandemic, CCSN has been meeting virtually with elected officials from across the country – provincial and federal – to discuss the COVID-19 and Cancer Care Disruption Survey. Their survey confirmed that measures in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to negatively impact cancer patients and pre-diagnosis patients’ ability to access cancer care services. In the meetings, some of the key findings of the survey were explored as well as shared stories from cancer patients, and discussions of the need to ensure that access to cancer care remain a priority during and beyond this wave of COVID-19 and any subsequent pandemics.

In this first webinar, of this 3-part series, there will be discussions on the key findings from the survey, a closer look at the data, and tories of some cancer advocates. 

As this is running at the same time as the support group, you can register and receive a copy of the webinar to your inbox:

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Please reach out to me if you have any questions, or if you’d like to make sure that we have a discussion about a particular subject during our support group. I am ALWAYS just an email or a phone call away. 

And also, if you no longer wish to receive these emails, please let me know and I’ll delete you from my list!!

Stay safe everyone!!!

The doors that we open and close each day, decide the lives we live.

Laurie Tresa