Canadian Cancer Society

Offering Hope in Bunches

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Making the Effort Boosting Cancer Screening in Manitoba

While significant investments in screening programs now offer Manitobans enhanced opportunities to be tested for cancer, the challenge is to continue educating the public about the benefits of cancer screening and to increase screening participation.

Challenges of Breast Cancer Screening –Statistics show that regular screening can reduce breast cancer deaths by 25%. The national guideline for population-based breast screening recommends that 70% of eligible women aged 50 to 69 receive a mammogram every two years. In 2008, the province provided funding to reach the national guideline. However, the current participation rate is only 53%. With sufficient funding in place, there now needs to be increased effort to reach Manitoba women who are not currently being screened.

It’s imperative that we all play a role in informing women about Manitoba’s Breast Screening Program.

Manitoba Breast Screening Program: 788-8000 or toll free 1-800-903-9290 www.cancercare.mb.ca Challenges of Cervical Cancer Screening – It’s been proven that regular Pap tests for women can prevent 80% of cervical cancers. All women who are sexually active, or have ever had sexual contact, should have a Pap test every two years until they are 69 years old. However, just 49% of Manitoba women have had a Pap test in the last two years. As well, 60% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a Pap test in the last five years.

It’s clear that we must find ways to encourage more Manitoba women to visit their doctors, local clinics, nursing stations or health centres to receive Pap tests.

Manitoba Cervical Cancer Screening Program: 788-8626 or toll free 1-866-616-8805 www.cancercare.mb.ca Challenges of Colorectal Cancer Screening –Studies reveal that regular screening with fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) can reduce deaths from colorectal cancer by up to 25%. Because 93% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are over 50 years of age, most men and women in this age group should complete a fecal occult blood test every two years.

The test is vital because colorectal cancer is curable up to 90% of the time when detected early and the FOBT can detect polyps which may become cancerous. Unfortunately, only about 25% of Manitobans aged 50 to 74 were screened with an FOBT in the past two years.

It’s critical that we develop strategies to educate Manitobans about the health-saving benefits of colorectal cancer screening and encourage them to complete this simple and essential test.

Manitoba Colorectal Cancer Screening Program: 788-8635 or toll free 1-866-744-8961 www.cancercare.mb.ca

Images couresy CancerCare Manitoba

A Hopeful Proclamation Each year at the Manitoba Legislature, Cancer Awareness Month is kicked-off by the Premier’s Daffodil Days Proclamation. This year, there is much to honour – hopeful initiatives to increase participation in cancer screening, national partnerships that are committed to harnessing best practices and applying them locally, and a greater understanding of the cancer patient’s personal journey – and we appreciate Premier Gary Doer’s ongoing support of our efforts to eradicate cancer.

Screening is the early detection of cancer by testing or checking for disease in a group of people who don’t show any symptoms. There isn’t one screening test that works for all types of cancer and many cancers don’t have a screening test. The most effective screening tests are those that are helpful both in finding cancers early and in decreasing the chance of dying from these cancers. In addition the tests have to be safe, affordable and acceptable to the public and the benefits of testing must outweigh any risks.

In Manitoba, screening programs for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer are funded by the province and managed by a dedicated team at CancerCare Manitoba, whose leadership and tireless efforts have earned national recognition. Providing screening services in organized programs means that all people who are eligible to be screened can be invited to participate. All activities along the screening pathway can be planned, coordinated, monitored and evaluated so that the impact of the testing can be measured.

Partners In Hope Reducing Cancer Rates & Improving Quality of Lives The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is a network of non-governmental organizations, provincial governments, federal institutions and cancer advocacy groups charged with implementing a national strategy to systematically reduce cancer rates and deaths while striving to improve patients’ lives. Since its inception in 2007, the Partnership has focused on developing and using proven, measurable advances in science and technology, as well as harnessing best practices and applying these principles locally.

Dynamic Leaders A number of key Manitobans involved in the Partnership have been nationally recognized for their skills and leadership: Arlene Wilgosh, Deputy Minister, Manitoba Health and Healthy Living; Member of the Board Dr. Catherine Cook, MD, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority; Member Dr. Brent Schacter, CancerCare Manitoba member, Standards Working Group and the Steering Committee on System Performance Inspiring Initiatives Enhancing Information – To help improve the quality and availability of information for managing the cancer system, Dr. Rick Nason and his team at CancerCare Manitoba are leading the development of templates for head and neck cancer that will be used in a national initiative on standardized electronic checklists for surgeons.

CancerCare Manitoba will also receive funding as part of a national initiative to enhance the provincial cancer registry’s approach to determining the severity ‘stage’ of a person’s cancer. The project will focus on the timeliness and quality of information of all cancers, beginning with the most common: colorectal, breast, prostate and lung.

Developing Screening – Manitoba plays a key role in the Partnership’s efforts to establish colorectal cancer screening programs across Canada. The province’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program was Canada’s first active colorectal screening program and Manitoba works closely with other jurisdictions to establish measures that indicate the quality of colorectal cancer screening.

Understanding the Cancer Journey – Cancer challenges patients and their families in many ways – emotional, social, spiritual and practical. A Manitoba-based project is focusing on the broader ‘cancer journey’ by examining the literature on disability and cancer. The study is led by Dr. Harvey Chochinov, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care at CancerCare Manitoba, with Dr. Deborah Stienstra, Disability Studies, University of Manitoba and Dr. Gary Annable of CancerCare Manitoba.

With funding from the Partnership, Health Canada and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the Canadian Virtual Hospice recently launched an updated and expanded version of its website at www.virtualhospice.ca.

Facilitating a First Nations/Inuit/Métis Cancer Strategy – Recognizing that cancer in Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations is an increasing concern, the Partnership is hosting a two-day forum to be held in Winnipeg in March that will lead to the development of a focused framework for cancer control. About 80 attendees are expected, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations, and provincial cancer agencies, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Dr. Donna Turner, Provincial Director of Population Oncology at CancerCare Manitoba, and her staff have been key participants in the organizing of this event.

Supporting St. Elizabeth Health Care – The Partnership is helping St. Elizabeth Health Care develop a web-based course about cancer for health-care providers working in First Nations communities. The program is currently operating in First Nations communities in Manitoba and two other provinces and work is underway to further enhance outreach to more provinces.

For more information about the Partnership: www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca

History of Hope In the early 1950s, a group of Canadian Cancer Society volunteers in Toronto organized a fundraising tea and decided to decorate the tables with daffodils. These gatherings soon came to be known as Daffodil Teas. The bright, cheerful blooms were first used in a door-to-door campaign in 1956.

Symbol of a Hopeful Future The daffodil was adopted as the new logo of the Canadian Cancer Society in 2000.

The vibrant yellow stylized flower, framed within a brilliant blue box, symbolizes dedication, faith and hope for a cancer-free future.

Four Decades of Daffodils For more than 40 years the Canadian Cancer Society in Manitoba has been selling daffodils to raise money.

The funds go toward cancer research, information and support for people living with cancer.

Canadian Cancer Society

Patient’s Perspective

Eradicating Cancer, Improving Lives

Analyzing Access To Cancer Services

Mission – The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.

Vision – Creating a world where no Canadian fears cancer.

Values – These serve as guidelines for our conduct and behaviour as we work towards our vision.

Caring –We are passionate, considerate, respectful and empathetic toward those individuals and families touched by cancer and our colleagues. We believe that all people should be treated with consideration and dignity. Our encouraging and supportive environment allows volunteers and staff to thrive, and contributes to our ability to advance our cause.

Courage – We value the determination and drive of our volunteers and staff to take bold steps to effect positive change. We recognize that such spirit requires a unique strength of character—an inherent quality found in the hearts and minds of people who champion the cancer cause.

Integrity – We are honest and ethical in all that we do, and engage in responsible decision-making that reflects the highest standards of conduct. This ensures that our credibility, leadership and use of donor dollars is never in question.

Progressive – We value our history of learning as we strive for continuous improvement and development at all levels of the organization. We embrace a creative approach to finding solutions that are appropriate and consistent with the strategy, character and abilities of the organization. We value diversity and work hard to create a collaborative environment where we benefit from the cultural perspectives of others.

To have a deeper understanding of the patient’s perspective of access to cancer services in Manitoba, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the Canadian Cancer Action Network (CCAN) recently partnered in a wide ranging study. The survey – a combination of focus groups and questionnaires held in Winnipeg, The Pas, Dauphin, Brandon, Morden and Opaskwayak Cree Nation – discovered that, while many Manitobans had a positive experience in a difficult time, there was a consensus that some essential points in the cancer experience require improvement.

Points to Improve On • there are significant costs associated with the cancer treatment and rehabilitation journey and the current tax and social safety net is inadequate for low and middle income Manitobans. The financial burden is heaviest on rural and northern citizens • for many cancer patients and their families, the most stressful period in their journey is from suspicion to confirmation and there are often long wait times to access diagnostic services

and get diagnostic results. More systemic efficiencies would certainly lighten the emotional load for these people • it’s important that cancer patients attain advocates and navigators to ensure that information is available at the right times and that the long and complex cancer journey is facilitated effectively • to make individual cancer journeys less problematic, the link between the cancer system, the patient and the family physician or primary care provider needs to be strengthened Both the CCS and CCAN understand the importance of the patient’s voice at decision making tables and the information gained from the study will help these organizations continue to advocate for improvements to the cancer service spectrum in Manitoba.

A copy of the executive summary of the report is available upon request at: info.wpg@mb.cancer.ca. Individuals interested in becoming part of a patient/caregiver network and receiving ongoing reports on the CCAN and CCS’s widespread advocacy work may call 774-7483 or e-mail info.wpg@mb.cancer.ca.

A Daffodil Gives Hope The daffodil – the first flower of spring – is the Canadian Cancer Society’s symbol of hope in the battle against cancer. The blooms are sold every year and mark the beginning of the Society’s annual door-to-door fundraising campaign in April.

Generous Commitment Thanks to the generosity of Canadians who purchase daffodils during Daffodil Days, the Canadian Cancer Society is the world’s largest purchaser of daffodils.

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193 Sherbrook Street | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2B7 | Phone: (204) 774-7483, Toll Free: 1-888-532-6982 | Fax: (204) 774-7500 |www.cancer.ca