Community Conference 2021

All sessions were recorded and will remain available below for your viewing.

Session where tools are given to empower you to share your story, recognize your choices and advocate on your behalf.

Speakers: Dominique Côté (CEO COSAWI) and Chana Cohen (Patient Support Specialist CCC and EAO survivor)

Explore the emotional impact of treatment through the eyes of a patient and develop coping mechanisms that will help you preserve your emotional well-being.

Speaker: Dr. Mary Jane Esplen (Full Professor & Vice-Chair, Equity & Mentorship Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, U of T)

Panel: Samantha Megarry (yoga teacher and theatre artist, Stage 3 colon cancer and Lynch syndrome patient)

Develop a deeper understanding of how to incorporate integrative medicine into your treatment plan and how it may positively affect your life.

Speaker: Dr. Rebecca Hauser (Ottawa Integrative Health Centre)

Panel: Melissa Eng (Patient), Paulette Hebert (Relexologist)

Hear about the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis or recurrence on the caregivers/family members of a patient and develop coping mechanisms that will help you preserve your emotional well-being.

Speaker: Carly Berlin (Wellness Program Manager, Hope & Cope)

Panel: Enza Ricco (President, Fig Interiors, spouse of stage 3 patient), Matthew Ross (husband)

Discover the emotional impacts of a cancer diagnosis post-treatment, develop tools for transitioning back to daily life and how to increase your empowerment by advocating on your behalf.

Speaker: Dr. Marylise Boutros (Program Director Colorectal Surgery Residency & Head of JGH Colon & Rectal Surgery Research Program)

Panel: Dr. Carmen Loiselle (RN, PhD, FCAHS, FCAN, Professor), Elliot Goldberg, Anna Urbani, Chris Schwartz (Survivors)

Early age onset within Canada is on the rise. Learn the signs and symptoms to look out for, treatment options and coping mechanisms during and post-treatment.

Speaker: Dr. Mary DeVera (Assistant Professor Pharmaceutical Sciences Dept UBC & Canada Research Chair in medication adherence, utilization, and outcomes and EAO survivor)

Panel: Pierre Campeau, Dylan Fournier, Bryna Dilman, Haydn Bechthold (EAO Patients)

COVID-19 has disrupted cancer screening across the nation. Join us in creating solutions to improve Canada’s cancer care system with the aim that it will be resilient enough to function without interruption during future crises.

Panel: Ross Wallace (Principal, Santis Health), Dr. Timothy Hanna (Clinician scientist at Div. of Cancer Care & Epidemiology) Dr. Darren Brenner (Molecular cancer epidemiologist, University of Calgary) Barry Stein (President & CEO, CCC))

Learn about the types of diagnosis and treatment approaches, leading treatments in each type, and considerations for deciding on an approach and/or treatment.

Speakers: Dr. Jonathan Loree (Medical Oncologist at BC Cancer who treats cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, and Assistant professor at UBC) and Dr. Brandon Sheffield (Pathologist at William Osler Health System)/ Surgical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto and Dr. Sami Chadi (Surgical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto)

Learn about effective medical and complementary ways to prevent, manage or reduce impact and severity, and cope with treatment side effects. Come away equipped with a list of options and things to consider when choosing what is best for you.

Speakers: Dr. Sharlene Gill (Medical Oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies at BC Cancer), Dr. Shilo Lefresne (Radiation Oncologist, BC Cancer)

Panel: Ms. Rebecca Latimer (advanced nurse practitioner, BC Cancer), Aneta Fishman (Stage 3b CRC Survivor)

Gain nutritional knowledge and develop a realistic outline of how to implement healthy changes into your daily diet.

Speakers: Judith Blucheau (Nutritionist, specializing in cancer prevention) and Tracey Rapier (Registered Dietitian at the Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Hospital), Cathy Erickson (Patient)

Learn about Clinical Trials and how trials help patients and advance treatment, how to access trials, and how you can add your voice and experience to ensure patient values are considered throughout all phases of the journey

Speakers: Catherine Vayssier (Project Manager, Clinical Research Awareness, Q- CROC – The Quebec Clinical Research Organization) and Dawn Richards (PhD, Director of Patient and Public Engagement, Clinical Trials Ontario)