Spring • Summer 2013 - Canadian Cancer Society
Transcription
Spring • Summer 2013 - Canadian Cancer Society
believe A Canadian Cancer Society PUBLICATION spring | summer 2013 An ace up the sleeve: Scotiabank’s A-team The tobacco industry’s secret weapon 75 years of milestones and cancer breakthroughs believe contents years OUR SUPPORTERS A royal honour 6 An ace up the sleeve: Scotiabank’s A-team 14 School spirit 17 Research History in the making 22 Meet the researcher 23 Look what we can do in a year 24 Join the fight by taking part in Relay For Life. celebrate Get your friends, families and co-workers together to fight cancer with the Canadian Cancer Society in a unique overnight event. Raise money and fight back against a disease that 2 out of 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with during their lifetimes. Ban the tobacco industry’s secret weapon relayforlife.ca The more you know: pancreatic cancer 29 Forever grateful 32 remember 26 SUPPORT SERVICES AND Information fight back Photo Credit: Len Cyca Photo Credit: Christine Hopaluk Photo Credit: Michael Ericcson ADVOCACY In EVERY issue Volunteers have been selling daffodils for close to 60 years to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, which adopted the flower as its official symbol in 2000. From the editor's desk 5 Cancer fighters 9 An ounce of prevention 10 Good for you 13 Team players 18 When you need us, we’re here 30 Voices 34 believe from the EDIToR's desk The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers and staff whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life for people living with the disease. Our vision is a world where no Canadian fears cancer. 1938 Canadian Cancer Society is founded. Editorial and Creative Director Tiffany Kraus Managing Editor Deanna Kraus Believe is a semi-annual publication of the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division. It is distributed free of charge to people living with cancer, Canadian Cancer Society volunteers, donors, researchers and community health partners. Contributors Deanna Kraus, Tiffany Kraus, Jen Little, Jennifer Nate, Emily Pratt, Lauren Sharp, Paula Trotter We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you would like to reach us, please email us at [email protected] or send letters to: Design Jen Little Believe Magazine 200, 325 Manning Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 1971 Clinical trials funded by the Society are established. Happy Printing Fundraisers begin selling daffodils. 1950s 1960s The Society begins educating school children about the risks of tobacco use and lung cancer. Mailed under Canadian Publications Agreement number 40065069. Please return undeliverable items to: Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division 200, 325 Manning Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 If you would like to be added or removed from our subscription list, please call 1-800-661-2262 or email [email protected]. Thank you to the Calgary Herald, whose generous support makes Believe possible. If you too would like to become a Believe sponsor, please contact Tiffany Kraus at [email protected]. office locations Calgary and District 200, 325 Manning Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 Phone 403-205-3966 Fax 403-205-3979 Lethbridge and District 317 – 10 Street South Lethbridge, AB T1J 2M7 Phone 403-327-5452 Fax 403-327-5883 Red Deer and District 101, 6751 – 52 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 4K8 Phone 403-347-3662 Fax 403-347-9690 Edmonton and District 201, 9452 – 51 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 5A6 Phone 780-455-7181 Fax 780-455-0277 Medicine Hat and District 102, 1865 Dunmore Road SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z8 Phone 403-528-2125 Fax 403-528-2235 Northwest Territories PO Box 2007, 4817 – 49 Street Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P5 Phone 867-920-4428 Fax 867-920-4162 Fort McMurray and District 150 MacDonald Crescent Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B2 Phone 780-791-0174 Fax 780-791-3178 TOLL-FREE Alberta 1-800-661-2262 NWT 1-877-920-4428 Grande Prairie and District 103, 9805 – 97 Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V 8B9 Phone 780-538-8205 Fax 780-538-2707 For information about cancer, our support services or to make a donation, call us at 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca. We are here to help. Working at the Canadian Cancer Society is many things – it is crazy busy and some days are crazy sad. But I know it is by far the most rewarding job I will ever have. Every day, I get to talk to people touched by cancer: survivors, loved ones left behind, donors and volunteers. It is an honour and a privilege to have strangers tell me their motivation for joining the movement we call the fight against cancer – the fight for life. Recently, I met our new national president, Pamela Fralick, and she commented on the special quality that all cancer fighters seem to have. I don't think it has a name but it has something to do with passion, strength and determination. I do, however, know where it comes from. It comes from enduring the wait for test results, the pain of watching someone lose their battle with cancer, or the pure life-changing joy that comes from hearing that treatment has been successful. And it comes from all the moments in between. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Cancer Society. For me – and many of my colleagues – the celebration is bittersweet. I could not be more proud of all the accomplishments and impact we have made in the last 75 years. Back in the 1940s if you were diagnosed with cancer, you had a 25 per cent chance of surviving the disease. Today, your chance is over 60 per cent. Forty years ago, it was not uncommon to see your doctor smoking. Now we know that tobacco use is responsible for more than 85 per cent of lung cancers. And, of course, because of early detection discoveries, we can beat breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal and skin cancers if found soon enough. And when I think about all the people we helped through our financial assistance programs, our transportation program and others, I am overwhelmed. This is all because of cancer fighters like you. 1970s Support programs for cancer patients are introduced. But with all the progress we have made over the years, we still lose too many people to this awful disease. To me, that is what truly matters. Until we stop losing our co-workers, our friends and our loved ones, the Canadian Cancer Society won't stop. That is our promise. All I keep thinking is, it would be amazing to have a 100 per cent survival rate for our 100th anniversary! Tiffany Kraus Editorial and Creative Director 1990s Relay For Life is launched. Special feature a Christine McCourt and her daughters, Isabelle (L) and Elizabeth. honour Most anniversaries are cause for celebration – maybe a cake, a party and – if you’re lucky – some presents. But when you’re royalty, that’s not going to cut it. Last year marked 60 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II – in royal speak, the Diamond Jubilee. To make it a celebration fit for a queen, the Diamond Jubilee Medals have been awarded to the most outstanding and deserving citizens in the Commonwealth countries. The Alberta/NWT Division of the Canadian Cancer Society can boast of six extraordinary supporters who received the prestigious medal. shaping the future An inspiring legacy Anyone who knew Alyson Woloshyn would tell you she was an extraordinary young woman. Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at just 32, she refused to give in or give up. In fact, she continued to excel as a volunteer and in her role as a University of Calgary director. At a time when others might have understandably retreated, Alyson poured her energy into advocating for brain cancer research and fundraising, motivational speaking and encouraging others faced with a similar situation. Alyson passed away May 2012, but her legacy continues to inspire. Since losing her husband to cancer at a young age, Christine McCourt has dedicated endless hours to the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual fundraiser, Relay For Life – bringing in more than $270,000 to date. She also recruits, trains and mentors fellow volunteers throughout Alberta and Canada. No small feat for anyone, much less a working mother of two. Christine’s passion and energy have helped shape the future of Relay For Life, helping to make it the largest cancer fundraiser in the country. Taking the wheel In it for the long haul 6 | Spring • Summer 2013 Tom Shindruk is a three-time cancer survivor and an outstanding ambassador for the Canadian Cancer Society. Since his first diagnosis, he’s made it his job to be the poster boy for good health. Tom is also a long-standing CancerConnection volunteer, providing peer support to newly-diagnosed cancer patients and is a regular speaker at schools and organizations, helping raise cancer awareness. express YOURSELF Once diagnosed, cancer patients often have many things to contend with, including getting to and from medical appointments. Behind the wheel as a volunteer driver since 1997, Jim Riddoch has been helping to ease that burden by providing thousands of rides to patients in Edmonton and the surrounding area. The Canadian Cancer Society is built on a foundation of donor and volunteer support – something Donald Logan exemplifies. Pitching in to support nearly all of the Society’s fundraisers and campaigns, Donald has made himself a very familiar face around the Edmonton office by logging more than 5,000 volunteer hours over the last 20 years. Three-time cancer survivor Alyson Woloshyn By shining a light on the impact that emotional distress can have on cancer patients, Dr Barry Bultz has brought about tremendous change for Canadians living with cancer. His work prompted a new focus on the emotional, psychological, social and spiritual well-being of patients and their families, in addition to their physical health. Dr Bultz is the Director of the Department of Psychosocial Resources at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary. To join the fight for life and volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society visit cancer.ca. Canadian Cancer Society Executive Director Dan Holinda, medal recipient Tom Shindruk, volunteer Board Chair Jason Holowachuk, and Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson, who presented the medals. believe | 7 Cancer Fighters The Canadian Cancer Society has a tremendous army of cancer fighters – people from every walk of life, including young, old, and in between. And every one has their own unique perspective. 12 How cancer has touched my life: Kirstina Rickes What are you Waiting for? 9 Another Canadian is diagnosed every Age: 8 Hometown: Calgary, AB How are you fighting back against cancer? When my aunt did a head shave two years ago, I decided that I wanted to grow out my hair and have it cut to make wigs for people with cancer. I wore my Canadian Cancer Society daffodil pin to support my classmate, and now I will wear it to remember her fight. I also fight back by promising never to smoke cigarettes. 3 Why do you fight back? I want to show my support for people with cancer because cancer is evil. 3 MINUTES. If cancer was in the room, what would you say? Go away and don't ever come back! What is the most important thing in your life? My family and friends because they love me for who I am. 6 Who is your hero? My mom and dad are my heroes because they take good care of me. What is your favourite movie? Favourite book? Invest your time as a volunteer in the fight against cancer. Don’t wait for it to strike again. cancer.ca | 1-800-661-2262 A classmate of mine was diagnosed with cancer when we were in kindergarten. She was very strong and brave. After going through lots of treatments, she lost her battle with cancer when she was only eight years old. I know of two other little boys and relatives of mine who have also died of cancer. It is very sad. My favourite movie is Frankenweenie because I find it entertaining. My favourite book is the Dear Dumb Diary series because it is funny and makes me laugh. One day I hope to… See a world with peace and no more cancer. If you could meet someone famous, who would it be? Taylor Swift because I think she is a good singer. believe | 9 prevention prevention Recapture A AN Ounce of Prevention a spot of In 1988, what did the World Health Organization add to the list of the highest level of cancercausing substances? Hint: You may have it in your fridge or on your kitchen counter right now. New analysis from Canadian researchers this year has revealed that smokers who quit by age 40 can regain the life-span of a non-smoker. The same researchers reported that people who never smoked were twice as likely to live to age 80, compared to smokers. Typically, smokers cut at least 10 years off their lives with tobacco use. But these new findings indicate quitting can add about nine years back. The research group examined health records from the US National Health Interview Survey and the National Death Index, focusing on approximately 16,000 people who had died but who had reported smoking earlier in life. If you’re ready for a change, find the tools and support that you need to quit at cancer.ca. Alcohol. Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine released findings earlier this year in the American Journal of Public Health, concluding that at least 3.5 per cent of all cancers can be blamed on alcohol. In fact, the Boston team found breast cancer was the most common cause of alcoholrelated cancer death. According to this latest study, even moderate drinking is linked to almost one-third of alcohol-related cancers. FYI FYI After water, tea is the world’s most popular drink. Maybe you like it on the go in something disposable. Or maybe you’re a traditionalist who prefers it served in fine china. Either way, make tea a habit. Because the evidence that tea is good for you continues to pour in. Green tea has been linked to a lower risk of certain cancers, including breast and ovarian. And black tea – think Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Orange Pekoe, for example – isn’t without its health benefits too. Whatever colour you choose, tea is a rich source of antioxidants which are believed to help protect cells by removing free radicals before they cause damage. Learn more about tea and the power of antioxidants in the online Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia at cancer.ca. 10 | Spring • Summer 2013 prevention Drinking approximately 3.5 drinks a day can double or even triple your risk of developing cancer of the mouth, larynx (the “voice box”) and esophagus. your risk Men should have no more than 2 drinks per day, and women should have no more than 1 drink per day. years of milestones The Society was one of the first organizations to share information about different types of cancer with Canadians. In 1954, the Society developed its first brochure, called Seven Danger Signals of Cancer, to alert Canadians to the signs and symptoms of cancer so they would seek early medical attention. a changer Known to cause more than 70 per cent of the cases of cervical cancer, the human papilloma virus will infect about a quarter of Canadian women by the age of 25. HPV: human papilloma virus Until a few years ago, there was no such thing as a vaccine against cervical cancer. But that all changed when groundbreaking research – funded in part by the Canadian Cancer Society – resulted in a breakthrough that would change cervical cancer forever. In 2006, Health Canada approved Gardisal – the HPV vaccine – for use in this country. Although it hasn’t been without some controversy, the vaccine is offered to the public in all provinces and territories today. • If you're a woman who is sexually active, you should start having routine Pap tests by the time you're 21 – something you’ll need to do every one to three years, depending on your previous test results. • Girls and women between the ages of nine and 45 should be vaccinated against HPV to help reduce their risk of HPV-related cancers. Even if you receive a vaccination, you still need to have regular Pap tests. • Boys and young men between the ages of nine and 26 should be vaccinated against HPV to help reduce their risk of HPV-related cancers and genital warts. special day, caprese On your AN Ounce of Prevention recognize a loved prevention good for you one with a Wedding Tribute. appetizer Servings: 12 Preparation time: 10 minuteS prevention ingredients 24 grape tomatoes 12 cherry-size fresh mozzarella cheese balls/bocconcini 24 fresh basil leaves 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp balsamic vinegar directions Using 12 small skewers, alternately thread two tomatoes, one cheese ball and two basil leaves. Place on a serving plate. In a small bowl, whisk the oil and vinegar; drizzle mixture evenly just before serving. Quick and easy to make, so pretty on a plate – all that and just five ingredients! Not to mention these mouthfuls are tasty and nutritious. These appetizers are infused with the flavours of Capri, the picturesque island off the southwest coast of Italy. Make your wedding day even more memorable and meaningful by contributing to the Canadian Cancer Society. You can ask for donations instead of wedding gifts or make a donation in lieu of wedding favours. For more ideas, visit cancer.ca/weddingtribute. Spinach salad with avocado This very well could be the world’s best spinach salad. In fact, if this doesn’t make a spinach lover out of you, nothing will! ingredients • 4 cups of fresh baby spinach • fresh lemon juice • 2 avocados, peeled and cut into thin wedges • olive oil • grape tomatoes • salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste directions Divide spinach leaves onto four salad plates or into salad bowls. Alternately arrange avocado and tomatoes over spinach leaves of each salad. Drizzle small amount of lemon juice and olive oil over each salad. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. 12 | Spring • Summer 2013 Servings: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes believe | 13 our supporters our supporters ACE an up the sleeve –Scotiabank’s A-team– We wanted to choose a cancer that was underfunded and has a high mortality rate so we could assist in putting a stop to that and provide some hope. F or Anne Bratton, Relay For Life provides another opportunity to celebrate her survival of breast cancer. matched our contribution right down to the penny,” Anne says of the accomplishment. “There was a lot of high-fiving going on.” For Gina Leahy, the event provides another opportunity to remember her brother who passed away from cancer 11 years ago. Scotiabank Bright Future is the bank’s global philanthropic program, which brings together charitable efforts and employee volunteer activities under one banner. Through Bright Future, Scotiabank supports its employees’ fundraising initiatives to be responsive and relevant at a grassroots level across the fields of health, arts, education, social services, sports and the environment. Cancer may have had a different impact on their lives, but from those experiences comes one common bond – their drive to fight back. It’s a commitment, the women realized, they also share with their fellow Scotiabank colleagues. In their team of 40 employees, everyone has their own cancer story to tell — be it a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one. That’s why, for the past two years, Gina and Anne have gathered some of their fellow Scotiabankers together to participate in the Calgary Relay For Life. In 2012, the team’s fundraising success surpassed everyone’s expectations. Gina credits the group’s early start to fundraising for the achievement. The 13 members of team A.C.E. – which stands for Assisting Cancer Elimination – started fundraising in January 2012 and continued right up until the event in June. Through bake sales, bottle drives, a head shave, the sale of Relay For Life merchandise, allowing colleagues to wear jeans to work in exchange for a donation and more, A.C.E. raised over $14,000 – nearly $5,000 more than their goal. A.C.E. team members researched a list of the most underfunded and deadly cancers, and came to the decision to dedicate Scotiabank’s matching contribution to pancreatic cancer research. “We wanted to choose a cancer that was underfunded and has a high mortality rate so we could assist in putting a stop to that and provide some hope,” says Gina. She was particularly pleased that her teammates chose to designate the matching gift to pancreatic cancer research, the same disease that took her brother. Relay For Life is the largest cancer fundraising event. The inspiring event celebrates cancer survivors, remembers loved ones lost to the disease, and unites Canadians in the fight. To find a Relay For Life event near you or to register a team, please visit relayforlife.ca. “On top of our own fundraising efforts, Scotiabank, through its Bright Future program, Last year across Canada: years of milestones 14 | Spring • Summer 2013 TEAMS: 17,265 36,000 survivors over Scotiabank's Team A.C.E at the Calgary Relay For Life in 2012. From left to right Kevin Leahy, Anna Sorensen, and Anne Bratton. 171,000 enthusiastic participants Improving the odds Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest and least understood of all cancers. Only six per cent of patients diagnosed with the disease survive five years after a diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect as symptoms usually do not develop until it’s in a late stage, making successful treatment unlikely. It’s also a particularly aggressive cancer that spreads rapidly. Because of this, most pancreatic cancers have already spread – or metastasized – at the time of diagnosis. FYI Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Canada. The Canadian Cancer Society is committed to supporting researchers who are delving deeper into the mystery of pancreatic cancer. Since 1999, we have invested more than $4.7 million in a variety of pancreatic cancer research projects. Most recently, the Society awarded an Innovation Grant to a team of scientists in Toronto who created a living 3-D organ model of a pancreas. Their study of this model could lead to new ways to detect and treat prostate cancer. To learn more about pancreatic cancer, please turn to page 29. 1999 The first Relay For Life event in Canada takes place in Toronto. believe | 15 our supporters OOL H SC irit sp Charitable giving starts young Dorthe, daughter of a uterine cancer survivor. During the month of April, wear the daffodil pin as a symbol of hope and support for those living with cancer. Join the fight. Wear a daffodil. Please give generously. fightback.ca Official DaffODil MOnth Partners After losing her grandmother to cancer, Destinée knew she wanted to do something to honour her memory. When she heard about the opportunity to donate her hair to cancer patients, Destinée jumped on the idea and gave her naturally highlighted long hair up for a good cause. Along with Destinée’s hair donation, the Fort McMurray resident also raised close to $500 for the Society. Who will you fight for this April? My mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 52 when I was still a teenager, and she fought it with amazing strength and optimism that was an inspiration to our whole family. Today, she is a happy, healthy woman who continues to inspire the people around her. O n a Sunday afternoon in September, a time when most children are playing with their friends, 10-year-old Destinée Harvey-Goodwin was doing something inspiring – and thinking of others. Bu W ye e lls ith a steady hand, precision and accuracy, 12-year-old Holden Heppler’s head was shaved to support and honour his loved ones, and others, touched by cancer. Supporters in Warner, Alberta, gathered in the public school to cheer on Holden as his shoulderlength blond locks, grown out for over a year, fell to the floor. “I was nervous and excited for it to happen,” says Holden. “There was a lot of preparation done before I shaved my head, but I was mostly excited.” Holden’s fundraising plans hit more than just his $2,000 target – the young archer raised over $16,000. Holden will donate 60 per cent of his funds to the Canadian Cancer Society and the rest to his school’s archery program. t c a g n i Juggl B etween juggling projects, part-time jobs and finals, 15 students – including three cancer survivors – organized one of the University of Lethbridge’s most successful and unforgettable Relay For Life events. “The Fight Back Ceremony was definitely the most memorable and impactful moment of the event,” says Dee. “Everyone was so inspired by one another and from that moment I knew we’d see a day without cancer.” Event committee representative, Dee Goyal, believes it all stems from the fire lit in all members and participants. The event’s 140 participants raised an impressive $28,000 – almost doubling last year’s total. believe | 17 our supporters team players I fIght for: ❏ My DaD ❏ My MOM ❏ My SIStER ❏ My BROthER , e c n o Going ! d l o s . . . e c i ing tw ❏ My GRanDpa go A lberta farmer Robert Pelzer thought it was just another day at the auction. Sure, his then 15-year-old son Jaxson’s lamb was on the block but that is something his three kids regularly take part in as members of the 4-H Club. But this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill auction. Robert’s good friend, Ben Payne, had organized it so that he and another friend bought the lamb – only to put it immediately back on the auction block for sale again. Within 30-odd minutes, the same sheep had been bought and sold nearly 10 times – raising more than $8,700 for the Canadian Cancer Society 18 | Spring • Summer 2013 ❏ My BESt FRIEnD Jaxson Pelzer and his lamb. in honour of Robert, who’s fighting cancer for a second time in less than 20 years. “To think that they kept this a secret right up until the auction, and to know they think enough of me to do all of this – I was overwhelmed with emotion,” says Robert, who lives in the town of Rosemary, where he grew up. “It’s still very emotional to talk about it now.” If you’re motivated to fundraise and want to put that money to work fighting cancer, go to cancer.ca/fundraiseforlife to get started. Did you know? e s i a r d n fu IFE L R FO ❏ MySELF Who are you fighting for? Every three minutes, cancer strikes again. Odds are, we all know someone who has been affected by cancer. Join the Canadian Cancer Society and fight back. When you Fundraise For Life, you’re in charge – not cancer. cancer.ca/fundraiseforlife Independent fundraisers brought in more than $1.5 million last year for the Canadian Cancer Society. believe | 19 our supporters g n i y a pl to the our supporters S d w o cr eeing buskers for the first time motivated Brysen Head to follow suit – except the five year old wanted to play music to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Armed with a brand new ukulele, the kindergarten student played a total of three shows in the fall and winter of 2012 at his uncle’s café in Grande Cache, raising just over $2,000. His efforts caught the attention of the local newspaper and a community member nominated Brysen for the Great Kid Award (which he received on March 3). But the proudest person in the crowd was always Brysen’s great grandfather, who was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011 and the inspiration for the youngster’s fundraising initiative. Brysen plans to turn the fundraiser into an annual event to raise money for the Society in honour of his great poppy, who passed away in January. Not your father’s insurance company F orget all the stereotypes about the insurance business. Western Direct Insurance is mixing it up – and part of its vision is making a difference in the fight against cancer. Its first foray into the ring was called Quote for a Cure, a campaign launched last year in October to mark Women’s Health Awareness Month. For every home or car insurance quote completed that month, the charitable-minded company donated $10 to the Canadian Cancer Society. been designated to Canadian Cancer Society-funded research specifically targeting women’s cancers. This year, more than 89,000 women in Canada will be diagnosed with cancer. Although there are more than 200 cancers, the primary offenders among women’s cancers are lung, colorectal and breast. But in addition to funding research, the company’s campaign reminded women to talk to their doctors about screening and early detection, two of the most important tools in the fight against cancer. In most cases, catching cancer in its early stages is the key to successfully beating it. To date, the money raised through the campaign totals $25,000 and it’s Teeing off against cancer Brysen Head, 5, strummed up support for the Canadian Cancer Society in the fall by playing his ukulele to raise $2,000 for the fight against cancer. SAVE LIVES CHANGE LIVES Whether you choose to designate your money to cancer research, or support programs for people living with cancer – or fund both – take a stand against cancer. 20 | Spring • Summer 2013 Ma k e i t p ers o n al Fight cancer in a way that’s meaningful to you. Everybody’s different – and that’s why the Canadian Cancer Society offers numerous ways for donors to contribute. Maybe a monthly contribution is your style – in which case, our HopeWorksTM monthly giving program would be a perfect match. Take the hands-on approach If you’re the kind of person who likes to get involved – how about organizing your own fundraiser? We can help you through the Fundraise For Life program. Get started at cancer.ca/fundraiseforlife. F un and fundraising – both are equally important at the People’s Golf For Cancer tournament. Hosted by Corinne and James Jewell every summer at the Buffalo Rock Golf Course in Elnora (about 70 km southeast of Red Deer), this popular community event attracts up to 90 participants between the ages of eight and 80. Wacky costume themes (think the Blues Brothers). Funny putters. Head shaves. Potluck dinners. Dunk tanks. Face painting. Camping. All of these and more are part of the annual tournament that raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society. In 2012, the 12th annual People’s Golf For Cancer tournament raised over $8,200 for the fight against cancer. See for yourself all the options we have for fighting cancer. Go to cancer.ca and find out what works for you. Because we need you. And the more than 16,000 people in Alberta and the Northwest Territories who are going to be diagnosed with cancer this year need you too. years of milestones Over the past 20 years, more than 100,000 Canadian lives have been saved because of research breakthroughs – many of them funded by Canadian Cancer Society donors. believe | 21 research research Un•con•ven•tion•al Not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed. Sacha Carey, WICC Alberta co-chair History IN the making Finding a cure will help all of us. We just want to put an end to cancer. A long-time supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society made a groundbreaking donation that will significantly boost the next wave of cancer research. That’s why the group chose to award its inaugural Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade Alberta Innovation Grant of the Canadian Cancer Society to Dr Frank Jirik of the University of Calgary. In December, the Alberta chapter of Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) became the first donor in Alberta to fully fund a research grant on behalf of the Society. “We wanted to back his research because it aligns with our goal of being universal,” says Sacha. “We believe in the potential of finding a cure,” says Sacha Carey, WICC Alberta co-chair. “Cancer affects every single one of us one way or another, whether it’s a co-worker or a family member or a friend. Finding a cure will help all of us. We just want to put an end to cancer.” Don’t let the name fool you. WICC ambitiously wants to have an impact on all forms of the disease, not just women’s cancers. 22 | Spring • Summer 2013 Dr Jirik’s novel examination into increasing blood flow to tumours has the potential to revolutionize the way treatment is administered to various cancers. That is why Dr Jirik’s research caught the attention of the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute’s highly competitive review panel, which approved his work for funding in 2012. “Innovative research is crucial in the fight against cancer,” says Jason Holowachuk, board chair of the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT Division. “Thanks to WICC’s generous contribution we’re able to support the work of innovative thinkers like Dr Jirik, who will potentially uncover a new approach to combat cancer – a disease that two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with in their lifetimes.” improve the ability of the immune system to fight back against cancer. They’re developing a new screening technology that will quickly identify which cancer cells the body’s defences can most successfully target and destroy. WICC has committed $200,000 – which will be paid over two years – to Dr Jirik’s unique project. “It is a privilege for my lab to be the first recipient of the WICC grant,” says Dr Jirik. “I have deep admiration for WICC’s dedication to this cause, and for all the hard work that this entails, and also to the Society for its tireless efforts in the battle against cancer.” While his work is currently focused on prostate cancer, Dr Kane says his screening system, once fully established, could be used for any cancer target – breast, ovarian and lung, for example. WICC also designated another $100,000 to Dr Kevin Kane of the University of Alberta this past year. This amount covers more than half of the Innovation Grant that the Society awarded to Dr Kane early in 2012. Dr Kane and his research team are striving to “We truly believe that by supporting hard-working researchers, WICC can help turn the idea of a cure for cancer into a reality,” says Sacha. WICC Alberta has mobilized the local insurance industry to generously support Canadian Cancer Society-funded research for the past 13 years. Since 2000, WICC Alberta has raised more than $1.5 million for the fight against all cancers. meet the RESEARCHER years of milestones Since it began funding cancer research, donors have allowed the Society to invest more than $1.5 billion into the best research. I t’s safe to say Dr Frank Jirik’s current research project is unconventional. It is, in fact, exploring the exact opposite of how conventional science says to approach the treatment of cancer. Cutting off the blood supply to a tumour has long thought to be one of the best ways to kill the cancer as well as prevent the spread of cancer cells, which is known as metastasis. But recent evidence indicates that doing so also hinders the ability to deliver cancer-killing drugs. So Dr Jirik is investigating how small molecules can be harnessed to increase blood flow to tumours in an attempt to better administer treatment to patients. Thanks to WICC’s contribution, the work of Dr Jirik is part of the Society’s expanding innovative cancer research portfolio. The idea is that nurturing creative and pioneering research has the greatest potential to significantly impact our understanding of cancer, thus paving the way for new approaches to successfully prevent, treat and beat the disease. believe | 23 research research look what we can Developing smarter treatments for RARE young adult Cancer do in a year Synovial sarcoma is a rare and often fatal form of cancer most commonly occurring in young adults – specifically in their limbs. Dr Torsten Nielsen and his Vancouver team have unravelled how the genetic mutation that leads to this cancer interacts with proteins in the cell to cause cancer. The researchers found that drugs or genetic inhibitors used to suppress these proteins can kill tumour cells, helping researchers develop more targeted treatments. With every passing day, Canadian Cancer Society-funded researchers are learning new ways of preventing, detecting and treating cancer. Their discoveries are saving lives by reducing cancer incidence and improving survival rates. Their work is also improving the quality of life for Canadians living with cancer. The following discoveries represent the highlights of 2012 in cancer research and illustrate the inroads we’re making in the fight against cancer. Obstacles delay referral to palliative care CONTROLS PROTEINS TO STOP CANCER Focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind vitamin D’s cancer-fighting abilities, Dr John White’s research group studied the protein that is elevated in at least 50 per cent of cancers. The researchers found many ways vitamin D can block the protein in human cells, adding to our growing knowledge of vitamin D and certainly sparking future studies in further understanding its role in stopping cancer development and growth. A 2012 study found that Canadian oncologists refer terminally ill cancer patients to palliative care too late – often in the last few months of life, and sometimes not until the final few days. The primary obstacles were identified as both a lack of availability and comprehensive services needed by palliative patients and their families. Referring patients sooner allows care teams to relieve symptoms and distress, provide appropriate social services, and offer advanced care advice to patients and their families to improve the quality of life. Improving survival for patients with rare form of pancreatic cancer Drug found to destroy human cancer stem cells, but spares healthy ones Dr Mick Bhatia, an international leader in cancer stem cell research, discovered that an anti-psychotic drug successfully kills the cancer stem cells responsible for leukemia without harming normal stem cells. Cancer stem cells can sustain the growth of cancer and may be involved in cancer recurring after treatment. Researchers aim to test the drug in clinical trials, focusing on patients with acute myeloid leukemia whose disease has relapsed after chemotherapy. Funded by the Society, a NCIC Clinical Trials Group study found that patients with a rare form of pancreatic cancer live longer if they are treated with surgery plus chemotherapy. This finding is an important step towards improving typically poor survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients. New ways to treat malignant childhood brain cancer breast cancer will lead to more personalized treatments 24 | Spring • Summer 2013 acute myeloid leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that can become very aggressive if not treated quickly. Dr Aaron Schimmer and colleagues in Toronto tested several drugs already approved for other conditions to determine if any of them could also target AML cells. The researchers found that the anti-malarial agent called mefloquine specifically causes AML cancer cells to burst, uncovering a potential new therapeutic strategy for this leukemia. Hodgkin lymphoma patients live longer with only chemotherapy A trial led by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group found patients with limited-stage Hodgkin lymphoma live longer when treated with standard chemotherapy, as compared with those also receiving radiation. The findings mean these patients can be effectively treated while avoiding the long-term side effects of radiation. years of breakthroughs 1947 The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) – the Society’s research partner – was created. 1950s Funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, Dr Vera Peters pioneered the use of radiation in cancer treatment. 1960s Decoding a deadly form of For the first time, an international team of scientists has decoded the complex genetic makeup of what’s called triplenegative breast cancer, a hard-to-treat form of the disease. Dr Sam Aparicio in Vancouver led the study, which found a wide variety of mutations in patients, making an important step towards better understanding this deadly form of breast cancer. Knowing more about the genes involved could change the way the disease is diagnosed and form the basis for the next generation of treatments. Drug shows promise in fighting Natural sea sponge product prevents cancer-induced muscle wasting Dr Imed Gallouzi and his research team have found that a natural product from sea sponges prevents muscle wasting in mice. Approximately 30 per cent of cancer patients die due to muscle wasting. The researchers found that the natural product, known as pateamine A, can be used at low doses to not only prevent muscle loss, but also stop muscle wasting that has already begun. Dr Michael Taylor in Toronto was part of an international team called MAGIC – short for Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics International Consortium – which identified several genetic abnormalities that lead to the development of a malignant brain tumour. This research has identified a number of genetic targets for more effective treatments and may spare some children the side effects of unnecessary radiation. The application of modern chemotherapy is based on a discovery made by Dr Robert Bruce, funded by the Society. 2009 NCIC was integrated with the Society, becoming the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute. Today, the Society continues to be the largest national charitable funder of cancer research in the country. believe | 25 advocacy advocacy BAN the tobacco industry’s secret weapon Local legislation is essential T the growing awareness of the link between tobacco and lung For one thing, loopholes allow the tobacco industry to continue targeting young consumers with an array of other equally dangerous flavoured tobacco products. cancer, the Canadian Cancer Society launched a public education Flavour additives are one of the industry’s secret weapons for snaring new customers. program for secondary school children. And neither ban restricts menthol – that minty flavour additive commonly used in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Start talking about a ban on menthol though and things seem to get complicated. “The tobacco industry is very protective of menthol,” says Angeline. “And why wouldn’t it be? It helps sell a lot of tobacco.” of milestones In the 1960s, due to he Canadian government banned flavoured cigarettes two years ago. Not long before that, Barack Obama did the same thing south of the border. So why are we still talking about it? “The tobacco industry knows what it’s doing, and flavour additives are one of the industry’s secret weapons for snaring new customers – especially the young ones,” says Angeline Webb of the Canadian Cancer Society. “And menthol just happens to be the king of all tobacco flavours – you can’t overstate its insidious role in tobacco addiction.” years Get ‘em started young! According to a 2012 survey of nearly 3,500 junior high students in Alberta, one out of six was using flavoured tobacco products. Approximately 80 per cent of new smokers are under the age of 18. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women in Canada. Last year, more than 20,000 Canadians died of lung cancer, one of the most preventable types of cancer. when minty fresh is dangerous Menthol masks the harsh flavour of tobacco – that’s no secret. And the evidence that shows just how dangerous the minty flavouring is when used in tobacco products is compelling. Recent research shows that: • New smokers who smoke menthol-flavoured cigarettes are more likely to become addicted. • Menthol numbs and soothes the throat, allowing for deeper smoke inhalation and enhancing nicotine absorption – ultimately increasing the risk of related health problems and tobacco addiction. • Menthol cigarettes are the second-most popular flavoured tobacco product among Canadian school children (Health Canada). • Considered to be a “starter product” for kids and young adults, the use of menthol cigarettes is higher among new users than adult tobacco users. Although there is a federal ban on flavoured tobacco products – excluding menthol – a comprehensive provincial ban would be more effective and more likely enforced. Add your voice to the call to protect Alberta’s kids from big tobacco companies. Stop the industry from targeting youth with products that are fruit, candy and mint flavoured, which all make it easier to push past the harsh unpleasantness of tobacco, ultimately making it easier for new smokers to become addicted. Get involved – help prevent addiction before it even happens. Visit cancer.ca. e h t Ban n a t Smoking rates in Canada were at an all-time high in the 1960s when nearly half of all adults smoked. Just 10 indoor tanning sessions can double a person’s risk of developing melanoma — the most dangerous of all skin cancers and the most common cancer among youth. Join us in calling on the Alberta government to ban underage indoor tanning. cancer.ca • Health Canada data indicates that menthol cigarette use among youth smokers is only second to cigarillos/little cigars at 36 per cent. 26 | Spring • Summer 2013 believe | 27 CanCer Can be frightening, but you are noT alone. the information more you know When you need to know If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – or any type of cancer, for that matter – contact the Canadian Cancer Society to find out more. We will provide you with the most up-to-date information on diagnosis, treatment and available resources in your community. Call an information specialist: Cancer Information Service 1-888-939-3333 pancreas The Canadian Cancer Society is here to support you. We are your best partner in the fight against cancer. We offer practical and emotional support services as well as the most up-to-date information about cancer for patients, caregivers and their families – all provided free of charge thanks to the donations of our generous supporters. CanCerConneCTion 1-800-263-6750 online CommuniTy CancerConnection.ca CanCer informaTion ServiCe 1-888-939-3333 Talking to someone who has been through what you are facing can make a big difference. That’s what our CancerConnection program is all about. We match people who have had similar experiences as a patient or caregiver. Our trained volunteers listen and offer emotional support and practical advice about living with cancer. Cancer patients, their family and friends can share their experiences and develop supportive relationships in our safe and secure online community. Start an online discussion, join a specific group, or start your own blog – CancerConnection.ca is waiting for you. The Cancer Information Service is a national, toll-free service offering comprehensive information about cancer and community resources. Our information specialists take the time to answer your questions in clear, understandable terms and search for the information you need about cancer. cancer.ca 28 | Spring • Summer 2013 a double-duty organ Originally named “Pan-Kreas” by the ancient Greeks This dual-function gland is part of the digestive and the hormonal systems. Its roles include: • making pancreatic juices to help digest food • producing insulin which converts food to energy • making hormones that help our bodies use or store energy from food Pick up pamphlets: contact your nearest Canadian Cancer Society office pancreatic CANCER breakthrough Last year, a clinical trial funded by the Canadian Cancer Society found that patients with a rare form of pancreatic cancer – called periampullary adenocarcinoma – live longer if they are treated with surgery plus chemotherapy. It’s an important step towards improving survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients. Read about more cancer research breakthroughs on page 25. believe | 29 support services support services WHEN YOU NEED US WE ARE HERE Online support | cancer.ca fills the tank The Volunteer Driver Program is fueled by volunteers but, nevertheless, it does cost money to run the service that provides safe transportation to cancer patients to and from treatment. The Society provides training for drivers, subsidizes the cost of gas, and staff work to coordinate drivers and patients Monday through Friday. Financial Assistance Program Providing financial assistance to Albertans who need help covering transportation and accommodation expenses when travelling to cancer treatment facilities in other cities. Compassionate Financial Assistance Program For end-of-life costs, the Compassionate Financial Assistance Program provides modest support to those who have been diagnosed as palliative and have exhausted all other means of financial support. Patient Care Kit A cancer diagnosis can prove to be very challenging, so we put together some practical items and lots of information with newly-diagnosed patients specifically in mind – making things just a little bit easier. Volunteer Driver Program Volunteers, who donate both their time and vehicles, provide much-needed transportation for patients who can’t otherwise get to and from their cancer appointments. Rides are offered free of charge to patients and their caregivers in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. 30 | Spring • Summer 2013 Cancer Information Service | 1-888-939-3333 The Cancer Information Service is a national, toll-free service offering comprehensive information about cancer and community resources. The free-of-charge service is available to cancer patients, their caregivers, family and friends, or any member of the general public. Edmonton foundation PRACTICAL Support information Last year, the Edmonton Community Foundation made a generous donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, designating its gift to pay for the Edmonton expenses of the Volunteer Driver Program. And that meant more patients in the Edmonton area had one less thing to worry about during their cancer journey. Wig Lending Program A good hair day might seem like a small thing compared to cancer, but there were days when I couldn’t even bring myself to look in the mirror. When the volunteer stylist fit me with my wig at the Society office, I was thrilled. Sometimes it is the small things that make all the difference. ~ Daphne Wigs go a long way in restoring confidence in patients who have lost their hair after chemotherapy, but are a luxury that many cannot afford. For that reason, the Society maintains wig banks in Calgary and Red Deer, where the operation is supported by motivated volunteers. Finding the answers you need about cancer might be easier and more comfortable at your own computer, and cancer.ca is always there, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The website includes a broad range of cancer information, including an online database of relevant information called the Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia. years of milestones Help someone get back on their feet and face treatment head on During the 1970s, the Society focused on providing support services for people living with cancer. By the late ‘70s, these services included financial support, transportation, and comprehensive cancer information. Every 3 minutes, another Canadian is diagnosed with cancer. Contribute to the Canadian Cancer Society and fund the vital support programs and services helping patients right here in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. For more information, go to cancer.ca. Emotional Support CancerConnection | 1-800-263-6750 Our telephone peer support program matches patients and caregivers with trained volunteers who have experienced cancer themselves or as caregivers, offering support, understanding and hope. Inspiring Hope Support Group Series Even if you have a strong support system, cancer can be an isolating experience. Together with community partner organizations, the Canadian Cancer Society provides group support than can minimize those feelings of isolation. Inspiring Hope Support Groups are led by experienced professionals and survivors throughout Alberta, and can make an incredible difference for newly-diagnosed patients. Online community | CancerConnection.ca A trusted online community for cancer patients, caregivers, friends and family, CancerConnection.ca offers a wide variety of discussions, blogs and groups. It's a meeting place where you’ll find caring, supportive people who want to share and talk about what they’re going through. For more information about these programs and services, go to cancer.ca. believe | 31 support services We are running dangerously low on drivers. Don’t leave cancer patients without a ride to treatment. orever fgrateful Don’t leave a cancer patient without a ride when they need it most. We need drivers – particularly in the Edmonton area – to help us keep up with the demand. In the Edmonton area, call 780-437-8406. For Calgary/Lethbridge, call 1-800-263-6750. W hile it was a difficult time, Lenore Lammi says she has plenty of good memories from the two-and-a-half years that her husband, Edward, battled brain cancer. There were nights that the couple, who had been married for more than four decades, would sit on the porch of the family farmhouse where Edward was born in 1928. During the afternoons, they would sometimes sit out on lawn chairs amongst the hay, watching the youngest of their three children work. There was an outpouring of support from family, friends, the greater community and medical professionals following Edward’s 2007 diagnosis. Lenore also fondly remembers how Canadian Cancer Society volunteers always provided a comforting experience while transporting Edward to his radiation treatments. “I don’t know how we would have dealt without the Volunteer Driver Program,” says Lenore, 75. The couple travelled more than 200 km from their home near Glendon, AB, to stay with their middle child in Edmonton while Edward underwent treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute. 32 | Spring • Summer 2013 Patients in Edmonton and Calgary urgently need your help. Call 1-800-661-2262 or [email protected]. If you can spare even one weekday per week, you can make a tremendous difference to cancer patients in your community. years of milestones In 1977 the Society developed new emotional support programs for cancer patients and their Although staying with their loved ones. daughter in the city was a blessing, getting to treatment proved to be difficult. Lenore doesn’t drive, public transportation wasn’t readily available where they were, and cab fare was prohibitive. Then someone at the Cross Cancer Institute told the couple about the Society’s Volunteer Driver Program, a free service that provides safe and reliable transportation to people undergoing cancer treatment in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. “They were all so friendly,” says Lenore, who accompanied her husband to all of his appointments. “Everybody was so concerned about making things easier for us.” The volunteers were always prompt with their pick-up and drop-off times, courteous and cheerful, and quick to offer uplifting conversations, she says. “It was a tough time, but all of these little things made a big difference.” Lenore and Edward were so pleased with the service that they made a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, designating their entire contribution to the Volunteer Driver Program. Edward ultimately lost his battle with brain cancer in the summer of 2010. Nevertheless, Lenore will fondly remember her husband’s final years. “I spent every minute that I could with him,” she says. “He was so easy to care for and he appreciated everything.” cancer.ca • 1-800-661-2262 VOICES either IT wins I WIN Heather Strange has been surrounded by cancer her whole life – losing her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and two best friends to the disease. But, at age 41, she didn’t think for one minute that it had its ugly eyes on her. I n 2003, I was happily married with two active, vibrant and beautiful daughters, aged six and three. The day after my very first mammogram, I was called back in for further imaging. I wasn't the least bit concerned – cancer was the last thing on my mind. I was very healthy, happy and active – surely this was a mistake! It wasn't a mistake, and so began our journey with doctor appointments, two surgeries, chemo and radiation. I made a decision: “Either it wins or I win”. It was as simple as that. And I wanted to win. Losing wasn't an option. Throughout my treatments, I continued to swim with my masters group and walk when possible. My husband, Jim, was our rock. He took care of his job, our family and our home – and didn't miss one of my appointments. I often worried and felt guilty wondering who was taking care of him. A GIFT that keeps on giving Nearly 10 years later, severe abdominal pain lead to CT scans, revealing the cancer had spread to my liver – making it twice its normal size and full of dozens of tumours. Chemo began immediately and, after just one treatment, I knew it was working. I believe strongly in the power of positive thinking, and I am so thankful for the loving support of my husband, our families and friends. On December 20, we received the best Christmas gift of all: a scan showed that approximately 80 per cent of the cancer was gone and my liver was back to its normal size. My cancer isn't curable, but with the assistance of hormone therapy, our goal is that I’ll live a long, happy life with a chronic condition. And that is exactly what I plan to do! Heather Strange lives in Calgary with her family. Your parents have done so much for you. Now they can make a difference in the lives of others. Give your parents a more meaningful gift this Mother’s Day and Father’s Day – the gift of a cancer-free future. Find unique presents in the Canadian Cancer Society’s online Gift Guide to celebrate your mom and dad. 34 | Spring • Summer 2013 cancer.ca/giftguide cancer changes everything unless we change Change depends on you. To donate or volunteer, visit cancer.ca. cancer