tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46232179496390588972012-01-26T23:48:29.905-05:00The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.comBlogger1891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-23398846593530567732011-12-08T14:48:00.000-05:002011-12-08T14:48:01.853-05:00

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The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-90305086193796478722011-10-20T09:54:00.000-04:002011-10-20T09:54:57.687-04:00

It’s getting chilly outside – and while some are keeping warm with scarves, turtlenecks and hot chocolate, Ottawa Fire Services Recruits are heating things up with nature’s original face warmers: moustaches. You can register a moustache, sponsor a moustache or simply donate. The funds raised go to some amazing technology that makes surgical interventions less invasive and dramatically reduces

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-45055060161208390222011-10-12T17:16:00.000-04:002011-10-12T17:16:03.882-04:00

Hockey Fights Cancer is a NHL-wide campaign that is a component of the NHL's Biggest Assist Happens off the Ice, Campaign,. The Sens take on the Philidelphia Flyers on October 18 at Scotiabank Place. There will be special merchandise including signed hockey pucks for sale that evening. They have also established a special ticketing program with a portion of the funds coming to the Ottawa Regional

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-43178851797095794012011-09-28T16:16:00.000-04:002011-09-28T16:16:39.534-04:00

The secret to good health was once summed up in four simple words: Eat less, move more. Here at the cancer Foundation we try to do our part by promoting activities that will benefit everyone's health. If you have visited our Nordic Walk event web site, you probably saw some of the proven health benefits for people at all levels of fitness. Nordic Walking is effective, efficient, low-stress,

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-17470660254068163732011-09-09T13:36:00.000-04:002011-09-09T13:36:12.855-04:00

What can you do for 50 minutes but is worth 90 minutes of exercise. If you guessed Nordic Pole walking you would be correct. The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation's inaugural Nordic Walk for Cancer Survivorship will be taking place on October 30, 2011. You can be part of a fitness trend that has taken Europe by storm and is gaining popularity in Canada in leaps and bounds. Nordic Pole walking

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-80079847898580596652011-09-01T15:12:00.000-04:002011-09-01T15:12:59.816-04:00

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The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-66093005868480151432011-08-26T11:09:00.001-04:002011-08-26T11:14:50.897-04:00

The story dominating the news this week was the sudden death of Jack Layton, only a month after telling the nation he was taking a break from his job because his cancer was back. The news stories were mostly about Jack's political career and his role in the amazing surge of the NDP in the last election. There was lots of talk of Jack's very personable and genuine approach to politics and life in

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-65167269257196357512011-08-18T18:26:00.001-04:002011-08-18T18:40:21.393-04:00

Capital hoedown was here and gone (no stage collapses) and the Cancer Foundation raised over $4000 with the guitar raffle thanks to the generosity of the folks here in Ottawa. It was the 30th anniversary of the Xerox 10k run on Tuesday, August 16. There was a good crowd that came out and the mayor kicked things off. We certainly appreciate that funds were raised for the Ottawa Regional Cancer

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-40229180302400583542011-08-11T14:34:00.001-04:002011-08-11T15:21:26.057-04:00

Finishing touches are being added everyday to the new Cancer Survivorship Centre. This week, workers are installing a water feature in the McGarry Family atrium. The water feature was designed by Nicholas Bott, owner of the Pond Clinic and the man behind the Ottawa Water Garden Festival.  The water feature will include a digital inlay that will highlight the thousands of supporters of the Ottawa

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-48228533424029358552011-07-13T15:45:00.000-04:002011-07-13T15:45:53.529-04:00

The entire staff at the Cancer Foundation was tremendously proud to arrive at our new home on Monday morning. We were greeted with home-baked scones and other celebratory morning goodies. Linda gave the staff a tour of the entire facility. For some of us it was the first time in months that we had been in the centre and every turn of the corner (there are many corners) brought more ohs and aws.

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-21661647220629865342011-07-11T15:49:00.001-04:002011-07-11T15:55:11.977-04:00

A NIGHT OF COURAGE Ottawa's partying young people got the cancer message on Friday night. Homegrown NHLers Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers and Martin St. Pierre of the Columbus Blue Jackets joined ORCF's Chuck Merovitz and Max Keeping in a midnight nightclub blitz to spread the word that cancer shows no bias on age. Breast and testicular cancers particularly hit the 20-something

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-43937156958185093862011-07-04T09:05:00.000-04:002011-07-04T09:05:33.014-04:00

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The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-47478104166362257502011-06-20T12:50:00.000-04:002011-06-20T12:50:45.573-04:00

It was amazing to be part of the 13th edition of the Alterna Do It for Dad Family Run and Walk. Not only was there record participation and money raised, but you could feel this positive energy ripple through the entire site. It's a unique running event. Given it's Father's Day, you have all generations represented from babies in strollers to the 70+ who actually ran the race. Over two thousand

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-47624009208940611582011-06-17T13:43:00.000-04:002011-06-17T13:43:34.838-04:00

The Cancer Foundation offices have been buzzing all week as staff get set for this weekend's Alterna Do It For Dad Family Run and Walk. We are looking at a record number of participants this year -- nearly 2,000. We added a new 5 km walk this year that has proven really popular. We already had the 2 km family walk, but I think people wanted a little more exercise without necessarily running. 

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-66768546203858800432011-05-18T14:03:00.000-04:002011-05-18T14:03:05.512-04:00

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The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-31171164989110240652011-04-06T14:27:00.003-04:002011-04-06T14:27:33.493-04:00

As we continue to attend appointments and have blood work/tests every couple of months, our thoughts turn to the future. We are happy that Andy’s health is returning to normal, and that we are able to live our life with some sense of normalcy again. We always still feel a little funny when we get to the Cancer Centre for appointments, but that may always be there. But we are living for the now

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-18121263408785009532011-03-25T12:29:00.003-04:002011-03-25T12:29:44.025-04:00

Of all the things we began to worry about in the first few days of Andy’s diagnosis, we didn’t realize that food was going to be one of them. At first, we had no desire to eat because of stress. Then, as Andy started treatment (or after surgery), we realized that what he could and wanted to eat would greatly change. We stopped eating most dinners at the table as a family. I would eat with the

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-33353032455963117882011-03-23T11:58:00.003-04:002011-03-23T12:00:16.712-04:00

In the early days of my husband’s diagnosis, everything we did seemed on autopilot. It was hard to have our usually fun-filled days with the kids. We kept them busy but we weren’t really in touch with anything else that was happening. Surgery happened within 5 days of diagnosis, and luckily we had family around to watch the kids while we were at the hospital. It wasn’t until Andy came home

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-19601838908303363992011-03-21T17:33:00.001-04:002011-03-22T12:40:00.108-04:00

We were all in, what we thought, was good health. We never missed our annual doctor’s appointments; we were conscious of what we ate; we were even using natural soap; and were happy. We lived as stress free as possible and did I mention we were happy? My husband worked full time and I was a stay at home mom. The kids were not quite 4 and not quite 2. It was a Monday that changed everything.

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-78469397554655907542011-03-18T10:37:00.002-04:002011-03-18T10:37:33.045-04:00

This is very simple. I hope to go into remission and be able to return to work and go on with life and put this behind me. I understand that I have stage 4 cancer and will most likely be on some form of chemo therapy for the rest of my life. What I hope for is a treatment that allows me to work and live on my own and just let’s me get on with life. If that is not possible, I would like to get to

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-39569359159102865092011-03-17T08:20:00.003-04:002011-03-17T08:20:57.960-04:00

Since I was diagnosed the biggest change has been the loss of my independence. Once I started my chemo treatment I was not sure whether I could handle it while living on my own so I moved back home. Being almost 30 and living at home was definitely not what I had ever envisioned for my life. It isn’t all bad because I have no rent; groceries and cable are paid for so those are bonuses. But if I

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-35873108899827650842011-03-16T10:29:00.002-04:002011-03-16T10:29:24.558-04:00

Starting at the age of 17 I had this weird gastro problem every few years. I would not be able to keep anything down for over a week every time it happened. I would lose 10lbs in a week. I would go to the doctor and they would tell me it was just a gastro virus and to eat very plain and eventually it would go away. And it always did. This happened every few years until I got really sick in the

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-63091743686720635862011-03-15T08:57:00.003-04:002011-03-15T08:58:10.958-04:00

It was a long, painful journey to diagnosis for me. It started in July of 2009. I got really sick and could not keep anything down and lost about 10lbs in a week. I went to the ER and they told me I had a gastro virus and to eat toast and drink lots of water and eventually I would get better. I did begin to feel better and went back to normal life until mid August when I got a severe pain on my

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-71644549732926555402011-03-14T08:46:00.004-04:002011-03-14T14:41:08.189-04:00

Whether or not robotic assisted surgery is currently cost effective, the technology is here to stay. The industry has grown at an incredible rate making this technology more accessible across Canada, the United States and across the globe. For example, in 2004 less than 25,000 da Vinci surgical procedures were performed worldwide. In 2009, a mere 5 years later, there were close to 200,000 da

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-67365418587908989732011-03-11T12:23:00.001-05:002011-03-14T08:47:39.532-04:00

As noted previously, robotic assisted surgery was developed to improve laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a common surgical technique to treat several types of cancers including prostate, colon, kidney and ovarian cancers as well as cancer of the throat and esophagus. Given the ergonomic advantages of a laparoscopic surgery using the da Vinci surgical system, which technique –

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-73558363463632363452011-03-10T10:32:00.001-05:002011-03-10T10:33:23.810-05:00

Cancer is a disease that has plagued the human race for centuries. The world’s oldest documented case of cancer hails from ancient Egypt (1500 B.C.), while the first attempt to treat it surgically dates back to approximately 1600 B.C. Today’s surgical treatments have very little resemblance to the techniques used several centuries ago as our knowledge of the human body, of chronic disease and our

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-65608163961192579382011-03-08T17:15:00.000-05:002011-03-08T17:15:44.971-05:00

There is no doubt that global cancer incidence rates are on the rise. It is estimated that 45% of males and 40% of females in Canada are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. Here in Ontario, cancer rates have steadily increased since 1996 including here in the Champlain LHIN region . Whether this is primarily a case of an aging population or due to environmental factors related to the food

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-50160676315749318182011-03-04T10:49:00.002-05:002011-03-04T10:49:25.511-05:00

Following common cancer treatment, such as surgery and radiation, muscle tension in the affected area may occur resulting in decreased lymphatic flow to surrounding tissue. In turn, this can make it difficult for fluid to penetrate through the tissues. In addition to being prescribed an individualized home exercise program by your physiotherapist, acupressure, or trigger point therapy, may be

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-37527230292028134572011-03-03T08:09:00.002-05:002011-03-03T08:09:56.865-05:00

Once damage has occurred to the lymphatic system, the affected area will be at risk of developing lymphedema from then on. Fortunately, there are steps one can take to reduce their risk: 1. Skin Care - Avoid cuts and scrapes to the skin as much as possible - Keep skin clean and dry - Apply moisturizer daily to prevent cracked skin - Protect skin with sunscreen and insect repellent, or cover skin

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-10970574731867940672011-03-02T08:52:00.003-05:002011-03-02T08:53:50.427-05:00

Early detection is the best defence against lymphedema. Seek treatment promptly from a Certified Lymphedema Therapist if you notice any of the following changes on your affected side: • Skin tightness • Feeling of heaviness • Clothing or jewellery feels tight on affected side • Aching or stiffness in the area • Feeling of ‘pins & needles’ • Swelling or increase of size in the area

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-84245505230256921202011-03-01T08:43:00.004-05:002011-03-02T08:54:25.992-05:00

The lymphatic system is a structure which unfortunately most of us do not fully understand. Yet, it is responsible for numerous essential daily functions within the body. The lymphatic system has three primary functions: 1. It plays a role in immune system function by destroying pathogens and clearing waste 2. It removes large cells our circulatory system cannot handle such as dead blood

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-88761203839621082842011-02-28T09:15:00.002-05:002011-02-28T09:34:54.745-05:00

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has asked us to share what we think would be helpful information in regards to physiotherapy for cancer survivors. This week I will provide a brief description of the services provided at Haley Rehab, introduce you to the lymphatic system and lymphedema, teach you how you can reduce your risks of developing lymphedema, and also educate you on acupressure and

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-9866685140395404902011-01-21T13:02:00.000-05:002011-01-21T13:02:50.665-05:00

Former President John F. Kennedy once opined that, “the courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.” After my mother’s initial diagnosis of cervical cancer, everyone in the family was understandably distraught. No one wants to hear that their mother has contracted cancer. My brother had

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-55599622955070243392011-01-20T09:25:00.000-05:002011-01-20T09:25:46.175-05:00

Grade 10 physics was a very difficult course. The teacher was amazing, the class was fun, but the material was painful. Hours of study were required to grasp the mathematical equations and theories behind such things as the speed of planetary masses and their volumes. These hours of study seemed to fly by a lot faster when I spent them with Jodie. She was the smartest girl in our class and one of

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-64862931052323671642011-01-19T09:01:00.002-05:002011-01-19T09:01:43.993-05:00

My grandmother, whom I affectionately call Nan, is currently battling with skin cancer. What started as a wee discolouration of her nose has, despite treatment, morphed into terrible tumours upon much of her face. The following is a copy of the letter I wrote and posted to her early in the New Year: January 13, 2011 Nan, Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of attending church with

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-15265510821252262652011-01-18T08:38:00.002-05:002011-01-18T08:38:23.223-05:00

Harvey was a strong and hard working fellow. He spent the majority of his life in a tiny outport community shadowed by the rugged set of coastal mountains which stand guard upon the Western shores of Newfoundland. Like most of his kin, he lived directly off of this imposing landscape. He hunted for moose in the fall of the year--an annual adventure which was always anticipated. Spring and summer

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-73967251164126154892011-01-17T08:42:00.001-05:002011-01-18T08:38:59.564-05:00

I was recently visiting with a friend of mine who is a nurse. He is someone that I consider not only a friend, but also, a man who understands spirituality in the same sense that I do. He is introspective and often reflects upon his day through the use of meditation. On this particular day, I happened to notice an intriguing wall hanging placed near the entrance to his apartment. It featured a

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-14177849422331711202011-01-07T15:55:00.001-05:002011-01-07T15:56:58.102-05:00

I was put on my first diet when I was nine years old, and, ever since, I have felt that bathing suits highlight everything that's wrong about my long-torsoed, generally plus-sized body. Then, when I lost a breast to cancer in 2006, finding a suit that fits went from frustrating to downright traumatic. I have not had reconstruction and I need a suit that will work whether or not I wear a

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-57476258485941707842011-01-06T08:27:00.002-05:002011-01-06T15:48:12.935-05:00

Further to yesterday's post, I thought I would write about what you can expect when visiting the cancer centre for a chemotherapy or other systemic treatment. When I was starting out, I found the chemo orientation and the tour to be very helpful but there was a lot of information to digest. And I was feeling so overwhelmed that much of it was quickly forgotten. Checking in: Present your green

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-29748661997450164832011-01-05T10:40:00.002-05:002011-01-05T13:46:46.438-05:00

I have a chemotherapy and Herceptin treatment tomorrow. And as always after a bit of a break, I'm very reluctant to go spend a day at the cancer centre and then come home feeling lousy. But of course I'll go and with only a few complaints. After all, I'm alive because of these treatments – and pretty happy most of the time. There are advantages to having been in chemo treatment for several

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-20791137717846248432011-01-04T09:15:00.002-05:002011-01-04T09:15:32.572-05:00

My name is Laurie Kingston and this is my story. I will never forget the moment when I discovered the lump in my breast, on December 2, 2005. It had been a long day, after a series of long days. I was feeling grumpy and a bit out of sorts as I went upstairs to get ready for bed. Then my hand brushed my breast and I felt what was, unmistakeably, a large, hard lump. I ran downstairs to show my

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-52495664570671188532010-12-24T09:18:00.001-05:002010-12-24T09:18:45.453-05:00

Cancer patients have access to an unprecedented array of information sources, support networks and other resources to guide us through the very complex maze of medical procedures and treatments. We have access to medical specialists such as: medical and radiation oncologists; gastroenterologists and neurologists. Through the Cancer Centre, we can make use of the Ninon Bourque library; consult

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-66164723096509525542010-12-23T08:50:00.002-05:002010-12-23T08:50:33.850-05:00

The other day I read a post on a friend’s Facebook Page wall that said, “Most people have a thousand wishes for Christmas, but a Cancer Patient only has one; to get better”. I don’t know where my friend found this quote and I have been looking for its source ever since to provide proper references and much thanks to its author for this meaningful phrase. Christmas can be a very trying time for

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-69291752407408066352010-12-22T09:26:00.000-05:002010-12-22T09:26:56.728-05:00

Through my involvement with support groups and by the virtue of being a cancer patient/survivor, I get to talk to a lot of people about cancer. Given we are living in the 21st century and experiencing the highest levels of education and information availability in human history, it is surprising that so many people are taking what I consider a laisssez-faire attitude  towards their, or their

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-17085682162366230242010-12-21T09:25:00.009-05:002010-12-22T09:53:18.641-05:00

The pieces of a puzzle came together for me late in the month of October 2008 as I sat in the Queensway Carleton Hospital, still drugged from a just finished colonoscopy.  Two years of strange aches and pains, unexplained symptoms and inconclusive lab tests were finally diagnosed. I wasn’t a hypochondriac after all. My mystery ailment now had a name.  A word no one wants to hear from their

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-3081240506812548762010-12-20T08:26:00.001-05:002010-12-20T09:20:33.770-05:00

When most folks think of “Cancer” the most important aspect seems to be whether the patient survived or succumbed to the disease. They may also inquire about treatments; radiotherapy versus chemotherapy, or possibly some crazy new clinical trial. I must admit, until I went through my own crazy rollercoaster ride that is the cancer journey, I really didn’t pay all that much attention

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"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-11015642351681238312010-12-09T08:35:00.000-05:002010-12-09T08:35:11.732-05:00

We've all known a person who complains about everything. I would think that all of us also realized at some point that this person was not the most pleasant to be around. But it's not always as simple to recognize how pleasant it can be to be around someone who is too busy being positive to complain! I was reminded by a loved one the other day just how pleasant it is. Positivity is infectious,

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Quite a few years ago, I lost touch with a friend of mine. Several years passed and I almost began to forget about her. Then one day, the opportunity to reconnect presented itself and I jumped at it. Even though we still don't see each other often, reconnecting with my friend is something I've never regretted. As far as friends go, there really isn't anything like an old friend. They are the

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I'm a busy woman. I study full-time as a Ph. D. student at the University of Ottawa and I teach Spanish classes three days a week. At the same time, I decided to begin a fundraiser for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. Many people thought I was crazy. "Where are you going to find the time?" they would ask me. But important things aren't hard to find the time for. Helping to bring cancer

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-6930238208040419202010-11-24T21:20:00.000-05:002010-11-24T21:20:01.224-05:00

There’s nothing funny about cancer, but there are stories that can make people smile. They may be the proverbial needle in a haystack, but they exist and sometimes they can even inspire. One of those stories is the Irving Greenberg Cancer Centre at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital. The four-storey, 85,000-sq.-ft. facility is already a world-class treatment centre offering shorter wait times for

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-70658269095889767342010-11-16T23:08:00.000-05:002010-11-16T23:08:28.415-05:00

I wrote about four sisters - their names won't be used because I haven't asked their permission to write about them again - who had every right to throw up their hands in surrender. Between them, they were diagnosed seven times with cancer. Breast (numerous), ovarian, melanoma, I can't even remember who had what because it was almost too much to take in. I'm sure as I interviewed them my jaw fell

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I’ve never had cancer, but I know firsthand the fear of thinking I might. A few years ago I was at work when my doctor’s receptionist called me to ask if I could go in to see the doctor. I had been coughing on and off for a couple of weeks and had already gone for a chest x-ray to what was what. I figured it was bronchitis or maybe even pneumonia, as I’d had both a few times before. So I said,

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Cancer is a serious chronic disease. Patients with cancer that opt for naturopathic medicine in conjunction with conventional medical treatments see further improvements in their health. The main reason patients with cancer come to see me at Family Naturopathic Clinic is for immune support. I provide treatments that are natural, holistic, and personalized. I will elaborate on the main natural

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In my last blog, I explained that conventional medicine and naturopathic medicine can both be helpful in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, such as cancer. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) have a long history of helping Canadians. In Ontario, naturopathic doctors have been licensed to practice since 1925, under the Drugless Practitioners Act. In the past several years, there have been

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When a person is diagnosed with cancer, they and their loved ones seek the best possible care. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are common conventional cancer treatments these days. Are there other viable options that can help? As experts in treating health conditions naturally and holistically including cancer, naturopathic doctors can also help. To better understand what is required to

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-30325697225952867202010-10-25T15:00:00.001-04:002010-10-26T16:02:42.298-04:00

There is a lot of activity at the corner of Alta Vista, Industrial and Riverside and it doesn't have anything to do with traffic. There is a new building going up ... and it will be a home-away-from-home for the thousands of cancer patients and their families in our community. Each time I drive by the construction site I am reminded of the impact we are having in this community.  With the

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-91418980650213930122010-10-15T08:49:00.000-04:002010-10-15T08:49:22.442-04:00

The longer I live, and it’s been seventy-seven years already, the stronger my personal conviction becomes that a human being’s basic nature does not change much. Nature and nurture play huge roles. Early childhood experience particularly shapes our perspective. Choices make all the difference. We make choices constantly on any given day, without thinking about the fact that we are choosing. I

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-84797593549500156992010-10-06T10:16:00.000-04:002010-10-06T10:16:18.833-04:00

I have not really played with fashion since I was a child playing dress-up. I have been one of those women shoppers who seek, find and leave. Since the loss of my hair, fashion has become a fun thing for me again. What look shall I achieve today? Will it be Johnny Depp, pirate of the Caribbean, with bandana and loop ear-rings, or will it be some entirely new look for me? Sixty years ago, when I

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8:41 a.m. Shall I do this? Why not? Last night I took a sleeping pill about nine o’clock. Insomnia has bothered me several nights in a row, so I decided to break down and take 5MG of Zopiclone as needed. While waiting for it to take effect I proceeded with some regular anti-insomnia activities: made and drank a hot chocolate accompanied by two arrowroot biscuits; played a few hands of solitaire;

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During the forty-eight hours subsequent to my first chemo therapy treatment I was a blob, a barely functioning, boneless mass of heavily medicated reactive tissue. Keeping track of thirteen medications, with much needed help from my ever concerned husband and the chemo home care nurses became my one and only priority. That and retaining fluid in my system took precedence. From some unknown source

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My name is Nancy Freeman and I am living with cancer. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, former teacher and published children’s author. My perspective is not from a podium. Rather it is from a bench. I am the one in the middle of the bench, listening to what one of my very interesting cancer-survivor friends has to say. My motto throughout this blogging experience will be:

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-91956675769472626192010-09-16T10:41:00.000-04:002010-09-16T10:41:53.595-04:00

The Survivor Park is in full bloom and is a joy to visit. This was the first opportunity for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation to get into the real estate business and this was an important decision for us. Thanks to the tremendous leadership of Chuck Merovitz and a group of dedicated volunteers, bureaucratic mountains were moved and partnerships were shaped and a fateful decision by the

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I can distinctly recall getting a clear sense that something was wrong with me at my doctor’s office on Bank Street. A testicular cancer diagnosis is arguably among the easier ones to identify. Testicles don’t generally get really large really fast. In fact, I think as a young doctor that he may not have had to deal with such a diagnosis yet – he seemed as shocked as I was. He referred me to an

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Megan’s life lessons and insights from her memoir from last week’s Guest Blog will be a tough act to follow. Of course I had to battle a bout of procrastination even to get to this point. I am typing on the front porch while my daughter Hilary tests out 3D chalk on the laneway with Mom. Yes, they have 3D chalk and it has the necessary and magical glasses… and it works!! So why am I a guest

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It’s such a cliché saying, but it’s true. For the most part, life’s complications mess you up a little, but everyone gets back on track. For my last guest blog entry, I want to share with you my thoughts and feelings of the exact moment I was diagnosed. What doesn’t kill you does make you stronger. I am living proof. I’m a stronger person than I was before – not just because of cancer. I’m a

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I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason. If I had not been diagnosed with cancer, I imagine that my life would be much different than it is now. I would not have met some of the people I now know, nor would I be where I am at this point in my life. There are many thoughts of "..what if?" But to put things in perspective, something good has come out of something bad. I have had the

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There is a fair amount of debate surrounding the causes of cancer. Some causes are said to be family history, poor diet, lack of physical activity, being overweight and certain hormones. Then, of course, we have the obvious – smoking and alcohol consumption which are major risk factors when evaluating causes of cancer. It’s in every human beings best interest to try to eat right, exercise

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In everyone’s life at some point or another, they come across something they find hard to accept. It can be something against their morals, their will or something they simply don’t understand. It can be a person, a dream or a way of life. For instance, I found it very hard to accept the fact that I had cancer. I did not want it. It was not fair. I did not understand. To be very frank, my first

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-53329106142602208102010-08-20T10:23:00.000-04:002010-08-20T10:23:37.083-04:00

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 17, shortly after graduating high school in 2005. I will be turning 23 on September 1st and it will be six years since that tragic twist of fate. Over the next week I will be guest blogging for ottawacancer.blogspot.com and I am privileged to share some of the most valuable life lessons I have learnt from being a cancer victim and today – a proud

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-40677285281140430642010-08-11T08:11:00.000-04:002010-08-11T08:11:44.274-04:00

I mentioned in my opening entry that one of the reasons why I had signed up to participate in the Underwear Affair was to get myself into better shape. I’ve done the lifestyle change before and for the most part had stuck to it, but just like anything else, it requires practice, practice, practice. I stopped practicing for a while. And then the weight started coming back on. At my heaviest I was

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-40776965203330777092010-08-09T08:50:00.000-04:002010-08-09T08:50:19.919-04:00

My name is Mike Cullen and I am a first time participant in the Underwear Affair. I have taken part in various cancer related runs for the last ten years or so, but felt that this year I needed a change of pace. When a friend suggested the Underwear Affair, it seemed like just the crazy type of event that I should take part in. I set up an ambitious fundraising goal of $1,000 and vowed to family,

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-48594831851860805472010-07-19T07:06:00.001-04:002010-07-19T07:06:39.174-04:00

Retinyl Palmitate (vitamin A)             A more recent ingredient being added to select sunscreens is retinyl palmitate. Retinyl palmitate is a form of vitamin A commonly used in cosmetic products to reduce wrinkles and fine lines by acting as an antioxidant that slows skin aging. The problem with retinyl palmitate, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), is that there is

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-15593112020072583982010-07-14T09:16:00.000-04:002010-07-14T09:16:20.990-04:00

Join Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation's Underwear Affair® presented by Mark’s and help uncover the cure for underfunded below-the-waist cancers like prostate, ovarian, and colorectal. On September 11, 2010, run the competitive 10K or walk the fun 5K and show Ottawa that there’s absolutely no shame in bringing a little awareness to down there-ness. The fun continues even after you cross the

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-88751657053682963792010-07-13T10:54:00.003-04:002010-07-14T09:00:45.031-04:00

  VIP Celebrity Team Campaign  Erik Gudbranson And they're off.... over 1,700 participants laced up in the 2010 Altera Do It For Dad! Honourary Chair and participant of the Alterna Do It For Dad Mr. Allan Rock A complete slideshow of event pictures is available here   Congratulations – together we raised more than $354,672 for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation at the 12th annual

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Hurry there only a few days left. Due to popular request, the campaign extended the date for you to drop off your new and gently used bras to any Browns Cleaners location in Ottawa. Visit www.ottawacancer.ca for a full list of drop off locations. The Bras For A Cause Campaign is officially coming to a close this Friday July 16. When the campaign wraps up this Friday, Browns will then triage and

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If you have cancer, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to maintain your nutritional health. It is well established that patients who are well-nourished have an improved quality of life, are better able to tolerate treatment and have shorter hospital stays. Malnourished patients do far worse: suffering with more severe and frequent treatment-related side effects, have a poorer

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Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention Most people are aware that Vitamin D is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, and we make this critical vitamin after exposure to the sun.  However, even in the summer, 66-68% of Canadians do not have sufficient levels of Vitamin D. Common sense would tell us that our levels drop in the fall, when our exposure to the sun is limited.  And drop they do, quite dramatically. 

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The “burning” question regarding the ingredients: Mineral Based Sunscreens (Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide) With the lack of scientific evidence regarding the safety of the long-term use of chemical (non-mineral) based sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, mineral based sunscreens provide a great alternative. Unlike chemical based sunscreens that absorb the harmful radiation from the sun,

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The “burning” question regarding the ingredients: Oxybenzone Based on their ingredients, there are two different types of sunscreens available in Canada: mineral and non-mineral sunscreens. Although not normally labeled as such, it is very easy to tell the differences between mineral and non-mineral sunscreens by simply by looking at the ingredients listed on sunscreen products. Sunscreens

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Sun Screen, Cancer and You: Buyer be Ware Should sunscreen be used for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays? Seems like a simple question doesn’t it? Not necessarily. Recently, The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), a non-profit organization with the mission of using the power of public information to protect public health and the environment, came out with a

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-6507901389569487792010-06-25T10:45:00.000-04:002010-06-25T10:45:37.719-04:00

Celebrations this morning at St. Laurent Centre as representatives from Cardel Homes, TELUS and Browns Cleaners gathered to present a cheque for $50,000 to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation in the finale to the Bras For A Cause Campaign. Photo Caption:  From far left, Linda Eagen, President of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is joined by Bras For A Cause sponsors Scott Vetter (PROSAR

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-53044496302597145902010-06-23T08:59:00.002-04:002010-06-23T09:02:46.436-04:00

 I had so many incredible "Dads" help me lose an amazing amount of weight (150 lbs.) and thus saved my life. ..so now I run the 5K.."Do It For Dad"..race..to fund the research to cure prostate cancer..maybe by running I will help save the life of someone's Dad... A few years ago I weighed over 300 pounds. I had so many health issues. I felt there was little hope to turn things around. My mother

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The 2010 Alterna Do It For Dad! set a new fundraising record for the event – raising more than $354,672 for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. More than 1,760 participants took part in the Father’s Day Walk and Run on Sunday, June 20, 2010. “We are thrilled with the results of today’s event,” said Linda Eagen, President and CEO of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. “Thanks to the

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-68193461761622526502010-06-18T10:08:00.002-04:002010-06-18T10:08:34.523-04:00

Sun Screen, Cancer and You: Buyer be Ware Should sunscreen be used for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays? Seems like a simple question doesn’t it? Not necessarily. Recently, The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), a non-profit organization with the mission of using the power of public information to protect public health and the environment, came out with a

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-3265412350431979632010-06-16T11:03:00.001-04:002010-06-16T11:05:45.034-04:00

Bisphenol A (BPA), an organic compound used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic, epoxy linings for food cans and packaging, has been getting a significant amount of attention concerning its harmful effects on human health. BPA is a well-documented xenoestrogen, a type of hormonal disruptor that acts like estrogen and interferes with the bodies’ level of this essential hormone. BPA can

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-75887947948468059152010-06-15T09:16:00.000-04:002010-06-15T09:16:24.932-04:00

The Cancer Prevention Project – Prevent Cancer Now This year alone, according to the Canadian Cancer society 2010 statistics, it is estimated that there will be 173,800 new cases of cancer in Canada. This represents an increase of 1.6 % of new cases from 2009. Although there has been a steady rise in cancer rates since the early 1980s, their remains a common belief that, outside of smoking,

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-12706248000086139422010-06-08T08:12:00.000-04:002010-06-08T08:12:26.738-04:00

Weekend to End Women’s Cancer – June 5th – 6th, 2010 WHAT A WEEKEND!!! – Where does one start? Let’s start with the money! $2.1 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!  For this event!  $11.4 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!  Since 2006! – give your self a pat on the back!  What a happy dance we can do on this! Speaking of happy dances – we saw lots of happy dances crossing the finish line on Sunday. Yes, it had to happen – it

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-54036607019879348022010-06-07T08:05:00.003-04:002010-06-07T08:55:48.001-04:00

Check out this year's WEBC video. Wow, where do I start? After reconnecting with old friends, I decided to join The Cougars Conquering Cancers team for the Weekend to End Women's Cancers June 5 & 6, 2010. Being my first walk, I really had no idea what I was getting in to other than I was out of shape and needed to walk 60kms in 2 days! Our team raised over $31,000!!! I am a 1 year Hodgkin's

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-23837230288761326182010-06-04T06:40:00.003-04:002010-06-04T06:42:20.452-04:00

All this week, I have been writing about our Weekend to End Women’s Cancers team, the Winchester Hospital Heelers… but I’ve yet to tell you anything about the actual focus of this event: the 60 km walk through the streets of Ottawa! Of course, there is a certain amount of training required to prepare your muscles and your feet to walk 60 km over two days. To get ready, we organize a number of

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-63968176794888498162010-06-03T07:53:00.001-04:002010-06-03T08:04:18.886-04:00

In my first blog post earlier this week, I mentioned that when I was first asked to join the Winchester Hospital Heelers’ team, I had no intention of walking 60 km in The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers. The Heelers’ enthusiasm was contagious, however, and before long I found myself registering for the event and getting swept up in the team’s fundraising events. What is it about this group of

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-17259617849982912772010-06-02T08:11:00.000-04:002010-06-02T08:11:06.307-04:00

In my previous posts, I mentioned how I became part of the Winchester Hospital Heelers Weekend to End Women’s Cancers team, and how over the past three years, our team raised more than $272,000, 75% of which – or $204,000 – was directed back to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital for cancer care right in our own community. I’m sure you’re wondering what our hospital has been doing with that

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-49564084902009415572010-06-01T07:40:00.003-04:002010-06-01T15:21:10.149-04:00

In my last blog post, I mentioned how I became part of the Winchester Hospital Heelers Weekend to End Women’s Cancers team in 2007… Right from the start, we were a TEAM. We each had to raise $2,000 in donations to participate in the Weekend – a daunting task, or so we thought – so we set about trying to find creative ways to fundraise. With 15 women on the team, we knew that we would each have

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-89379112331570680832010-05-31T08:03:00.001-04:002010-05-31T08:03:42.182-04:00

Breast cancer doesn’t define who I am. However, it does play a big part in what I’m about to tell you... I was diagnosed in early 2004 with a very aggressive form of invasive breast cancer; as a result, I had the ‘full-meal deal’ of breast cancer treatment: surgery, then chemotherapy, followed by many rounds of radiation. Every step of the way, whether at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre or

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-20976128015815037612010-05-28T08:14:00.000-04:002010-05-28T08:14:37.413-04:00

Caregivers can easily develop bad habits when their loved one is sick. For some, its not eating healthy, for others its not getting enough sleep. For me, it was over-researching my mother's illness online. I was guilty of spending hours on the internet sifting through piles of information on lymphoma, chemo and transplants. There are a number of excellent websites that give reliable advice on how

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-3124116517559450232010-05-27T09:03:00.001-04:002010-05-27T09:04:52.488-04:00

Getting up close and personal with cancer had a lasting impact on me. I wanted to reach out and support those living with cancer and help give other families the happy ending that my family got. I had been involved with a few cancer fundraisers during high school, but I began to actively seek out new ways to get involved after my Mom was diagnosed. I had participated in a 12-hour overnight

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-58421028469217779282010-05-26T08:18:00.002-04:002010-05-26T08:18:37.914-04:00

My Mom was diagnosed with non-hodgkin's lymphoma in early winter of 2008. At that time, I was living in residence at Carleton University and finishing up my first semester. After exams, I went home for the holidays. We had a quiet, low-key Christmas that year. After the winter break, my life changed quite dramatically. Before my Mom got sick, I was your average university student, going to class,

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-3143481580005925242010-05-25T09:09:00.000-04:002010-05-25T09:09:05.363-04:00

In July my family will celebrate my mother's 1 year no-cancer-versary. As July quickly approaches, I find myself thinking back to the 9 months during my first year of university that I spent as a caregiver for my mother as she went through diagnosis and treatment for stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a type of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. When you think of a healthy, active person, you think of my mother

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-1041089103433414122010-05-21T07:37:00.000-04:002010-05-21T07:37:25.643-04:00

Link Between Cell Phones and Brain Cancer Inconclusive: Reading Between the Headlines Do cell phones cause brain cancer? According to a CTV news report on May 17th, 2010, (http://bit.ly/cvB6yj), a recently published study in the International Journal of Epidemiology, called Interphone, found that the connection between cell phones and brain cancer remains inconclusive.   Although I do not (yet

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09941870743588250968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623217949639058897.post-47580605076807136772010-05-19T09:18:00.003-04:002010-05-19T11:31:09.371-04:00

Not a day goes by that there is not a news report suggesting that cancer is everywhere. It is in our foods, in our perfumes, in our water, in our cell phones and, according to a CTV news report from April 14th, 2010, it is even in our vitamins (http://bit.ly/aT0kkc).  Often, the way media portrays cancer can make it seem that no matter what we do or how we live our lives cancer is unavoidable –

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