28 LIVING WITH CANCER
Bradley Drader shares his personal experiences with cancer and offers advice to others.
30 RESEARCH ROCKSTAR
Dr. Lindsay Rowe researches a cuttingedge imaging technique for prostate cancer patients.
33
MY LEAP
To honour his late friend and business partner, Ryley Richardson creates videos for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
34
TRUE CALLING
Andrea Sandmaier helped direct a strategy to improve cancer care for Métis Albertans.
37 IMPACT
Cancer is hard. Patients, caregivers, health-care workers and researchers across the province feel its weight. But, when the going gets tough, hope shines through. Clinical trials save lives. Innovative fundraising approaches bring in big donations to support important research. And a brand-new, worldclass cancer centre in Calgary is on the brink of opening.
Everywhere we look, it’s possible to see hope in Alberta.
COLUMNS/DEPARTMENTS
6 FRONT LINE
Glimpse into Rammy Khadour’s behind-thescenes work that makes clinical trials possible and learn how the use of colour can help create more peaceful interior spaces.
9
5 WAYS
Discover five ways you can give back to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
10 WORKOUT
As the weather warms, discover the wonder of watery workouts.
12 FOOD FOCUS
Personalized nutrition is all about eating for your own individual physiology, psychology and cultural background.
14 EXPERT ADVICE
Dr. Darren Brenner discusses how big data and screening initiatives are offering colorectal cancer patients hope.
Barrie Stafford on fundraising, giving back and how the Alberta Cancer Foundation impacted his cancer journey.
38
WHY I DONATE
The Manji family’s generous donation is a mark of gratitude and a tribute to a remarkable life.
40
APPLAUSE, PLEASE
A thank you to everyone who makes fellowships and studentships possible.
42
GAME CHANGER
Basecamp Resorts commits $100,000 to support mobile breast cancer screening programs.
TRUSTEES
Dr. Chris Eagle (Board Chair)
Barb Munroe (Board Vice Chair)
Brian Bale
Cathy Allard Roozen
Darren Baumgardner
Max Chan
Kate Chisholm
Rajko Dodic
John Donald
Brenda Hubley
Sandra Lau
William (Billy) Morin
Gelaine Pearman
Shelley Powell
Dr. Dean Ruether
Kiren Singh
Wayne Steinke
Tom Valentine
Hope. It’s one little word that can hold so much power.
It was hope that turned simple sketches of a hug into Calgary’s new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. With this world-class cancer centre opening later this year, hope takes on a tangible form, offering Albertans access to the best cancer treatments and research under one roof. It is a testament to the power of optimism, reminding us that when we come together with a shared purpose, anything is possible. Read more about the Arthur Child on page 20.
But hope is not a one-size-fits-all concept, as you will discover in this issue of Leap. It’s unique to everyone who faces cancer. Hope manifests in the tireless efforts of individuals like Rammy Khadour (pg. 6), whose work behind the scenes at Edmonton’s Cross Cancer Institute creates new pathways of care through clinical trials. It drives others, like the Manji family (pg. 38), to honour their loved one’s legacy by donating to programs that support early testing and quick access to cancer treatments.
This issue, we’re proud to share stories of perseverance, resilience and advocacy. You will meet individuals like Don Goss
(pg. 17), whose journey illustrates the lifealtering impact of clinical trials, funded by Alberta Cancer Foundation donors like you. On page 24, read about how the Alberta Cancer Foundation is reimagining philanthropy. And on page 34, discover how hope finds expression in initiatives like The Alberta Métis Cancer Strategy, a first-of-its-kind endeavour that Andrea Sandmaier helped direct, that seeks to address inequities in cancer care and empower Métis communities in Alberta with the health and cultural resources they need to thrive.
Also, explore the heartfelt reflections of three veteran oncology professionals who share where they find hope and inspiration in their careers (pg. 26) and delve into the groundbreaking research of Dr. Lindsay Rowe (pg. 30).
Here at the Alberta Cancer Foundation, hope fuels us to make life better for the one in two Albertans who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and for their families. Our goal is that as you read through the pages of this issue of Leap, you feel inspired by these stories and see the impact your donations are making to change the course of cancer across our province.
DR.
ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION
WENDY BEAUCHESNE, CEO
ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION
ALBERTA CANCER
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Ashley Tyler and Breanne Kraus
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Meredith Bailey
MANAGING EDITOR
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ART DIRECTOR
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Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Emily Chu, Amanda Debenham, Buffy Goodman, Stephanie Joe, Nathan Kunz, Déjà Leonard, Fabian Mayer, Jaelyn Molyneux, Ryan Parker, Olivia Piché, Tanya Plonka, Carmen Rae Photography, Michaela Ream, Keri Sweetman, John Ulan, Sean P. Young
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Rammy Khadour helps pave the way for new clinical trials in his critical, behind-thescenes role at the Cross Cancer Institute
by MICHAELA REAMlinical trials are an essential step in finding new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. Equally important is the hope they provide for patients and families by discovering new outcomes and new ways to save lives.
The chance to help improve patient lives is what drew Rammy Khadour, a lead project manager at the Cross Cancer Institute (the Cross), to a career supporting researchers and investigators, providing them with the tools and training they need to run clinical trials successfully. (The Cross’s
Clinical Trials Unit is made up of more than 100 people.)
“This role lets me use problemsolving and critical-thinking skills to drive progress on a clinical trial and, on top of that, improve the lives of our patients here and around the world,” says Khadour.
While studying pharmacology as an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, Khadour jumped at the chance to volunteer at a clinic working on clinical trials. Khadour's role was primarily in data entry for patients in a trial for the drug Xolair, used to treat asthma. But seeing the positive impact of a clinical trial further solidified his interest in pursuing a career in the field.
“One good discovery can save millions of lives,” emphasizes Khadour.
After finishing his undergraduate degree and then earning his master’s in biomedical technology in 2016, Khadour started working for Alberta Health Services as a clinical trial coordinator in 2018. He then became an investigator-initiated trials (IIT) project manager at the Cross’s Clinical Trials Unit in 2019, working as part of a team of project managers. He moved into the IIT lead project manager position in 2022, where he works today.
The Cross’s Clinical Trials Unit helps connect hundreds of cancer patients to cutting-edge therapies. The unit truly punches above its weight: currently, it places more than 600 cancer patients on new drug trials each year. In fact, this recruitment is the highest per capita in Canada. Of the clinical trials it runs, there are industry-sponsored trials (ISTs) and IITs. An IST is funded by pharmaceutical companies who design and own the protocol. IITs are clinical trials proposed by an investigator at a hospital or medical centre. As project lead manager, Khadour is involved in helping bring IITs to life and providing the essential support needed to guide local researchers through the process.
“At the Cross Cancer Institute, we’re in a unique environment where we have the expertise, the resources and the team, so we owe it to our patients to
bring it all together and provide them the best we can,” says Khadour.
While he doesn’t see patients on a day-to-day basis, he helps the researchers and clinicians who do. In some cases, the researchers have years of clinical experience and knowledge, but aren’t always sure how to apply their skills to a trial. In those cases, Khadour helps build a road map for running a clinical trial and guides them through the step-by-step process.
His work also entails helping investigators design and run trials. For example, he helps them establish a budget and ensure the trial stays within that budget. He works with federal health regulatory agencies, like Health Canada, to get their approval to run a trial. He helps train the teams involved. Even once a trial is up and running, Khadour stays involved, ensuring the trial runs safely, ethically and within regulatory standards.
“A large part of my work is giving people the confidence to utilize the experience they already have and channel that into a clinical trial,” says Khadour.
Hearing patient success stories makes the work all worthwhile for Khadour. It’s a sentiment that has stayed with him since beginning this work at the Cross. It was Dr. John Mackey, the Clinical Trials Unit director at the time, who told Khadour that the IIT program was the unit’s crown jewel.
“The crown jewel moniker represents the uniqueness of our program and our ability to bring together the various departments and expertise in this building to provide unique clinical trials for our patients with the intention of improving patient care,” says Khadour. “Our in-house trials are the culmination of everybody’s best efforts and dedication to improving cancer treatment.”
Looking forward, Khadour’s main focus is to continue working on his own leadership style by mentoring new staff, improving his project management skills, and helping get more IITs up and running even faster.
“I’m very fortunate and privileged that the progress I’m making here is giving patients new avenues of care and giving them hope,” says Khadour.
open spaces, freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration and sensitivity beginnings, new growth, vibrant health, connection with life, rebirth and renewal
relaxation, calming, encouraging feelings of warmth, comfort and contentment
Three colours that can help create healing and peaceful spaces by OLIVIA
PICHÉ
Have you ever wondered what factors contribute to the tranquility you experience when you walk into a room and feel the stress of the world melt away? Turns out, the colours that make up your surroundings play a large role in your well-being.
Colour theory explores how colours affect our emotions and perceptions, and it is often used in the design industry to evoke certain moods. Cooler tones tend to conjure up soothing and calming feelings, whereas bright, bold colours often awaken senses of alertness and energy. Calgary-based designer Aly Velji explains that colour theory is why children’s hospitals often use bright primary colours that evoke a sense of youthfulness and happiness, and why relaxing spaces are designed with moresoothing tones.
Velji explains greens are often associated with plants and other elements of nature, and this connection to the environment is calming. Whether you buy that new bedspread or paint an accent wall, embracing green in your home can make you feel closer to — and more connected with — nature, reducing feelings of stress.
As the colour of the sea and the sky, blues are often associated with relaxing and joyous feelings. Velji suggests using wallpaper as a beautiful way to bring blue shades and patterns into a space.
If cool colours aren’t your thing, warm shades can help create a calming space, too. Velji suggests taupes and other warm browns as a way to make your home feel sanctuary-like. He says adding texture to your space through various taupe fabrics can help with a warm, homey feel, too. Maybe opt for taupe drapes or a brown linen blanket.
“If you look at any sort of spa, for example, they tend to use softer colours,” Velji says. “People just want to feel enveloped and calm in those spaces, and I think that a softer, moodier palette definitely evokes that.”
Whether you’re trying to get better sleep, relax during a cancer journey or create a Zen environment, here are three colours to add to your space that can help bring you a sense of calm.
Colour is far from the only thing that can influence relaxation. Studies have shown listening to binaural beats — meaning, each ear listens to slightly different frequencies — can potentially reduce stress and anxiety. When you hear different frequencies in each ear, your brain processes them to hear just one tone: the difference between the two frequencies. This stimulates the same brainwave pattern you experience when meditating and can induce similar benefits. So, next time you’re looking for a little stillness, plug in your headphones and turn up the binaural beats.
No matter how you choose to give back to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, your gifts have the power to make life better for the 23,000 Albertans who are diagnosed with cancer each year. With your support, we can continue to innovate and provide patients with better care, close to home.
Your monthly donations provide consistent and reliable funding, allowing the Foundation to respond to patient needs today, rather than having to wait for fundraising campaigns to be completed tomorrow.
Giving back financially isn’t the only way to make a difference. Participate in an event, like the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer, purchase a ticket for the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Lottery (formerly Cash & Cars Lottery), create a fundraising event of your own, or share your story to influence the way cancer is prevented, detected and treated.
Every single donation, whether large or small, is an impactful act of generosity. A one-time donation allows you to make an immediate impact on cancer in Alberta and provides you with flexibility in your philanthropic efforts. You can give in memory of a loved one lost to cancer or in honour of someone currently facing a cancer journey.
When gifting appreciated stocks or mutual funds to the Foundation, you pay no tax on the capital gain and receive a charitable tax receipt for the full donation amount. This is a taxefficient way to give that supports a healthier future for Albertans affected by cancer.
When you include the Alberta Cancer Foundation in your will, you leave a legacy of hope for future generations affected by cancer. Your legacy gift will continue to fund critical research and innovative treatments, bringing us one step closer to a world without cancer.
Your organization can partner with the Foundation for a specific campaign, inspire staff to participate in monthly giving programs or fundraising events, or invest in one of our approved funding priorities.
Discover even more ways to give back by visiting albertacancer.ca/donate/#waystogive
Exercising in or on the water has an abundance of health benefits. Watery workouts can boost mental wellness, build strength, and improve lung and heart health.
Andrew Chau is an aquatic therapist and kinesiologist at Leading Edge Physiotherapy, which has locations in Edmonton and St. Albert; Chau spends time working at all of them. He explains water can be used as a tool to improve one’s health, largely because of its buoyancy. Chau explains water’s buoyancy “allows muscles to move more efficiently” and makes watery exercise low-impact with less risk of injury.
Aquatic workouts can also be quite demanding because of the water resistance, and it provides all the benefits of a good strength workout. It can be just as good as going to the gym and lifting some weights, but with added benefits like less wear and
tear on the joints and muscles. And the resistance is completely up to you: the faster you move, the harder it is, and the deeper the water, the more resistance you feel. Resistance can also be increased with aquatic pool toys like paddles or noodles, says Chau.
Other benefits, he adds, include the fluid pressure of water, which helps with swelling, while warm water temperatures can help improve circulation and blood flow.
“Sometimes, it’s not until we hurt ourselves that we take movement for granted. Why not work out in a place where [movement is] comfortable, less painful and more soothing?” says Chau. “Don’t underestimate water. If water can improve your movements, improve your pain and maybe improve your emotions or mood, I think that’s [the key].”
Experience the wonders of water for yourself with these four water workouts.
Come prepared for your workout with these aquatic accessories.
FORM SMART SWIM
GOGGLES FROM FORM
These goggles feature an augmented reality display so you’ll be able to track your swim pace, stroke rate, distance and more in real time. formswim.com
DELUXE VENTILATOR
MESH BAG FROM SPEEDO
Gone are the days of damp backpacks and moist inside pockets. With mesh compartments to air out your swimsuit, this swim bag will dry out your gear and keep all your belongings safe. ca.speedo.com
SPEEDO SPORTS TOWEL FROM TEAM AQUATIC SUPPLIES
With this lightweight and very absorbent pool towel, you’ll be dry post-swim in no time. team-aquatic.com
Dive right in and get your body moving with the most classic water workout of all: swimming. Get your feet kicking and your arms swinging, and a good exercise session is just a pool visit away.
WHERE TO TRY IT: Take your swimming to the next level and join Calgary’s YMCA Masters Swim Club. The program will keep you disciplined and focused on your fitness goals, strengthen your swimming skills, and allow you to compete in swim meets throughout the season and train in a social, club setting. ymcacalgary.org
Water polo is a team sport that takes a lot of strength and stamina — you’re constantly trying to keep the ball away from the other team and into their net to score a goal. Plus, it’s a hardcore cardio workout thanks to the constant treading water involved.
WHERE TO TRY IT: Making Waves Aquatic Club is an Edmonton-based masters swim club and water polo team for the LGBTQ2S+ community and its allies that welcomes people of all experience levels and backgrounds. makingwavesyeg.ca
This is a great way to move your body at whatever speed makes you feel comfortable while reducing the risks of injury. Aqua fitness exercises involve a significant deal of resistance when you push, pull and propel your body in water, so you’ll be strengthening and toning your muscles. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy some catchy tunes during the workout.
WHERE TO TRY IT: Most cities’ recreation departments offer an aquafit option, including the City of Grande Prairie, where you can drop into one of Eastlink Centre’s many aquatics fitness classes. cityofgp.com
Stand-up paddleboarding demands an engaged core and activated muscles, making it a great full-body workout. Plus, the natural environment you’ll be paddling in offers a unique workout component; while you’re not necessarily in the water, being surrounded by it can offer mental health benefits.
WHERE TO TRY IT: Head to the mountains and paddle on a gorgeous glacial lake. Kananaskis Outfitters offers stand-up paddleboard rentals during its summer season ($30 an hour) for a fun afternoon on Barrier Lake, about one hour west of Calgary. kananaskisoutfitters.com
If we are indeed what we eat, healthy eating should look at least a little bit different for everyone. After all, we each have our own physical, psychological and cultural needs that food and nutrition play into. The idea of doing away with hard-andfast nutritional rules and looking at individual eating plans from a holistic approach is what’s often referred to as “personalized nutrition.”
Generally, we’re told to adhere to Canada’s Food Guide, which suggests Canadians incorporate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, cut down on sugar and saturated fats, eat with others and make water our primary drink of choice. This is all good advice, but it doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to an individual’s nutritional well-being.
Anyone who has been through cancer knows that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Medical teams work diligently to put together a care plan to not only address the unique aspects of a patient’s disease, but also their individual physiology and personal circumstances. Precision oncology has had a tremendous impact on the lives of countless Albertans’ cancer outcomes. So, it makes sense that this personalized approach to care would benefit other aspects of our well-being, including diet and nutrition.
by ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTHFor example, a precision approach to nutrition could include taking a close
look at an individual’s physiology and any health conditions to develop a personalized eating plan, or analyzing DNA, gut microbiomes and other underlying physiological characteristics.
Vincci Tsui, a Calgary-based private registered dietitian, says that, while there is some potential in those deep dives, she prefers to offer an approach that looks at nutrition in the context of a person’s overall being and experiences.
“We need to look beyond just nutrients and really think of the individual, not just in terms of physical health, but also mental health, cultural background and lifestyle,” she says.
This personalized approach can be particularly useful for people looking at their food intake in the context of cancer care or other health issues. Some cancer patients may experience loss of appetite, changes in their ability to taste food, or problems with eating or swallowing, so the focus would be on caloric intake. Other patients may need to heavily reduce salt intake to prevent edema or hypertension. Again, there are not necessarily hard-and-fast rules that will apply to all patients with a particular cancer (or to all patients with diabetes, heart disease or other common conditions often associated with diet), which is where an individualized, precision nutrition plan can be useful.
Tsui advises individuals consult a
dietitian to pinpoint what will work best for their specific needs. While some may opt for a private dietitian, she also recommends options like Alberta Health Services’ Alberta Healthy Living Program. It offers free health and nutrition education, cancer-specific dietitian services offered through the province’s cancer care centres and dietitians through Primary Care Networks. Tsui notes that people are often hesitant to access help — many of us feel that, by adulthood, we should have figured out how to eat — but, as our bodies change with age, and as new health conditions emerge, our eating plans need to evolve.
“Our nutritional needs change as we go through different seasons of life,” she says. “Even if you go in for just one appointment to help affirm what you’re doing is on the right track, I think it’s worth it.”
Tsui says many people gravitate towards a blanket approach to nutrition because prescriptive directions like “eat less sugar and more protein” can provide seemingly easy answers. But as complicated as it may feel to come up with a personalized food plan, she stresses that individualized nutrition doesn’t need to be complicated. It can even offer some freedom by allowing people to eat what naturally works best for them, from both a health and lifestyle perspective.
“Nutrition isn’t one-size-fits-all, but, at the same time, we don’t want to make it so complicated that people feel confused about food,” she says. “If we expand nutrition to mean food and eating, there’s so much more to it, like planning around families and different schedules, tastes and preferences, and cooking styles and ability. There are many pieces to the puzzle.”
In the context of health care, food and nutrition are often looked at as medicine. Dietary needs can be adapted for each individual person and people can be taught the skills to ensure proper nutrition and healthy eating at home. That’s the idea behind the new teaching kitchen at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary. Patients will be able to engage in food-centred programming and teachings will be specific to each patient’s individual needs and their personal nutrition requirements. Programs will include hands-on instruction to help patients learn how to cook nutritious meals to support a healthy lifestyle while undergoing cancer treatment, or as they transition from hospital to home following a surgical procedure or hospital stay.
Dr. Darren Brenner is a cancer epidemiologist with the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. He breaks down how big data and precision screening initiatives are leading to dramatic drops in colorectal cancer diagnoses and deaths.
by SEAN P. YOUNGAs a cancer epidemiologist, Dr. Darren Brenner describes his work as “using data analysis to understand the who, what, when, why and how of cancer risks and trends in screening.” While colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosis in Canada, it’s also had the fastest decline in the rate of new diagnoses in the country. Much of this improvement, Brenner says, can be attributed to targeted, population-based screening; high-risk screening (where a screening test is offered to targeted groups of high-risk individuals); and advancements in testing technology.
Q: Can you discuss the importance of populationbased screening for colorectal cancer?
“I co-chair the Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee and we estimate that, this year, about 24,100 people in Canada will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. But the good news is this is a massive improvement from where we used to be. Since the late ’80s, when the first rudimentary endoscopy-based screening became available, we’ve seen a 25 per cent reduction in the rates of people being diagnosed with colorectal cancer and about a 35 per cent reduction in the rates of people dying from colorectal cancer in Canada. These dramatic reductions are the direct consequence of population-based cancer screening, like we have here in Alberta.”
Q: How does more screening lead to a reduction of diagnoses?
“Screening for colorectal cancer is interesting because you catch the cancers early, offering better treatments and better outcomes. These tests can also detect polyps [small growths which can sometimes become cancerous]. These can be removed at the time of colonoscopy and that removal basically stops that pathway to cancer, as those polyps may have eventually become cancerous.”
Q: How has the screening technology improved to help keep those numbers dropping?
“It used to be that a colonoscopy was the primary screening test. But they’re invasive, they’re costly and they have potential consequences. So, for the average-risk person — meaning you don’t have regular symptoms and you don’t have a family history of colon cancer — you’re able to get a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit sent to you, which makes it easier to get more people screened quickly. It’s a test that looks for blood in your stool that’s so minor you can’t see it. It’s an amazing test because you can do it at home and send it away. If the test identifies blood in your stool, then you’ll have a followup colonoscopy to make sure that blood isn’t caused by cancer.”
Q: You mentioned regular symptoms. What are potential signs of colorectal cancer to look out for?
“Large amounts of rectal bleeding. A
change in your bowel habits that would be continual over time, such as narrow or ribbon-like stools, which could mean that there’s a potential blockage. Also, frequent diarrhoea or constipation, consistent pain in your abdomen and losing weight. If you experience any of those, you should follow up with your health-care professional right away.”
Q: What is your hope for the future of population-based screening?
“The impact of artificial intelligence [AI] and machine learning is being seen across all different areas of research in colorectal cancer screening. It’s using big population-level data sets to understand what increases people’s risk of cancer, who to screen, how best to screen them and who had the best treatment outcomes after treatment. There is also exciting research underway that uses biological markers to improve screening and treatment. These new tests and measures generate enormous amounts of data that would be impossible to process with traditional approaches. The application of AI is making these improvements possible.
“The data suggest that we can get more people across all segments of the population to go for screening. The data also suggest that we can further drop those rates of incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer. Tools and resources like ScreeningForLife.ca can help make getting screened an easy option. Most importantly, you can also actually begin the process of ordering a FIT kit to your house if you don’t have a family physician.”
There’s no point sugarcoating it: cancer is hard. It’s tough for the patients going through treatment and for those who are told their cancer has returned. It’s challenging for the caregivers supporting their loved ones through their cancer journeys. It’s taxing for the health-care professionals giving their all to each and every person who walks into their clinics,
and for the researchers who want to see cancer become a disease of the past.
Yet, there is always hope. Hope motivates individuals to pursue careers in oncology and cancer care and keeps veteran physicians optimistic as their careers span decades. Here in Alberta, hope looks like clinical trials giving patients years beyond what was initially expected. Hope is innovative new
fundraising methods to advance local research, providing more screening and treatment options to patients. And hope is a brand-new cancer centre opening in Calgary, designed specifically with patients in mind, where world-class treatment and research will live under one roof.
When the going gets tough, Albertans know that hope shines through.
Don Goss had just about given up all expectations that he would beat his cancer, until a clinical trial changed everything by JAELYN MOLYNEUX | photography by JOHN ULAN
Five years ago, Don Goss was doing great. He had retired from the Edmonton Police Service and was onto the next phase in his career selling security equipment and services. That job had him travelling all around the world. But Goss had no idea that the next few years would include a cancer diagnosis, intense chemotherapy, choosing a hospice-care facility and, eventually, a life-changing clinical trial.
In July 2019, Goss was tired and feeling a bit off, but he didn’t think much of it. He was on a guys’ trip in Montana and dove into the lake, hoping the cold water would energise him. When Goss emerged from the water, though, he still wasn’t feeling like himself. He tried to sleep it off, but when he woke up, his face was paralyzed. Doctors in Montana diagnosed him with Bell’s Palsy and sent him home to Canada with a steroid treatment.
Those symptoms repeated over the next few weeks until Goss was admitted to the Misericordia Community Hospital in early August 2019. A month later, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (a blood and bone marrow cancer) at the University of Alberta, and his life changed very quickly.
Don enjoying some fresh air with his dog, Ruby, near his home in West Edmonton.
DON
“The graveness of what was going on was very sobering,” says Goss. He immediately started a 24-month chemotherapy regimen that included bone biopsies, lumbar punctures, blood transfusions and more. “In the first month, you are devastated physically by the treatments. I had days where I thought, ‘Should I brush my teeth or my hair today, because I can’t do both.’ You just have to push through this whole thing and hope for the best.”
Goss finished his chemotherapy treatment in spring 2021. He was feeling very weak, but better. Just six weeks later, his cancer returned.
“It came back hard and I deteriorated really fast,” he says.
Goss was not always lucid during that time. What he remembers most was his family. His daughter and wife both took leaves from work to care for him. His son moved from Calgary back home to Edmonton and would sometimes have to carry him to the car to get him to the hospital.
“I thought, I can’t do this anymore — physically, mentally, to myself, but more importantly, to my family,” says Goss. After approximately six weeks into the recurrence, he decided to make hospice arrangements. “I came to the conclusion that I had to go to hospice. It just couldn’t continue.” He talked with his family. They were upset, but supportive. Hospice was arranged.
Later that same day, Goss was offered the ninth spot in Dr. Michael Chu’s 10-person CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial in Edmonton. Immediately, he accepted the spot — and everything changed.
Goss heard about the trial from Chu himself, who he met when he was first diagnosed with cancer. But, at that time, the trial was still in its infancy and not yet accepting patients. (Goss was accepted into the trial shortly after it was ready to accept patients.) Most importantly, he heard the success rate for CAR T-cell therapy was very high. In fact, the response rate for CAR T-cell therapies is 80 per cent.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy removes a patient’s own cells and genetically modifies them in a lab before infusing them back into the patient. The modified cells work to kill the cancer cells.
Goss’ CAR T-cell therapy happened over a matter of weeks, instead of the months of chemotherapy, so the side-effects were much less.
“I was sick, but it was a good sickness knowing that it was killing the cancer cells,” says Goss. The therapy worked for Goss: he began receiving CAR T-cell therapy through the clinical trial in February 2022, and he has no signs of cancer. He receives checkups every three months to make sure his leukemia hasn’t returned. Now, he is focused on building his strength back as he comes to terms with an outcome that took him from hospice to a bright future.
“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am, and others not so much,” says Goss.
CAR T-cell therapy is making a difference for patients like Goss and others with hard-to-treat cancers. The treatment was first developed 30 years ago, but it has only been used regularly in Canada in the past six years. It has been slow to catch on in Edmonton — until recently.
“The difficult part of CAR T cells is that it’s difficult to make them and it’s also very expensive. So, that’s where the idea came from: ‘What if we could make our own CAR T cells [here in Alberta] for a fraction of the cost with the same effectiveness?’” says Chu.
Thanks to Chu’s work, it’s happening — and it’s working. “Nearly two-thirds of our patients are able to stay in longterm remission and what we consider a cure,” says Chu. Eventually, he hopes CAR T-cell therapy can be used to treat other forms of cancer, as well as autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, scleroderma and lupus.
“The future is bright for cancer cures,” adds Goss. “It never comes fast enough for the people who have it, but it is coming. And I’m living proof.”
When it opens its doors later this year, the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre will be packed with innovative and welcoming design elements, cutting-edge technologies and world-class treatment and research spaces
by AMANDA DEBENHAM and BREANNE KRAUS
Looking up at Calgary’s new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (the Arthur Child), it’s easy to see that it was designed to be a beacon of hope for every Albertan who hears the words, “You have cancer.”
When its doors open later this year, the Arthur Child will be home to world-leading cancer researchers and medical teams. With more than 1.3 million square-feet of space for groundbreaking research, care and education, the Arthur Child will change the course of cancer for the better and improve outcomes for the one in two Albertans who will face cancer in their lifetime.
Here are some examples of how the generous support of Albertans transformed the Arthur Child from a dream into a place of healing and hope.
The innovative design of the Arthur Child seamlessly integrates aesthetic appeal with functional efficiency, creating a space that fosters healing and tranquility for staff and visitors. Its architecture reflects a commitment to modern health care and prioritizes the holistic well-being of Albertans who are navigating the cancer system.
From the earliest concepts and sketches, every architectural detail has been carefully curated with patients in mind — its very design symbolizes a welcoming hug to every Albertan who walks through its doors.
“It started with a sketch
Two L-shaped structures embrace an inner courtyard, like a healing embrace.
“The concept expanded What if a building could give a hug? This concept is refined through a rendering showing the building on the site from above.”
—DIALOG
(ONE OF THE ARCHITECTURE FIRMS THAT WORKED ON THE CENTRE)
Another unique element of the building is the Connector, a 400-metre-long elevated pathway that connects the Arthur Child, Foothills Medical Centre and University of Calgary Health Sciences building. This walkway facilitates movement for patients, families, health-care professionals and students, and the transport of materials between sites. The Connector includes respite areas, seating and retail space.
The Arthur Child fosters a warm, inclusive and welcoming experience for patients, family and staff. Thoughtfully designed and laid-out spaces help ensure that every short- or long-term visit feels like a home away from home.
There are 160 private inpatient rooms, each with its own washroom. These spacious and sunlight-filled rooms enable quiet reflection during the day and help patients and families feel more comfortable during overnight visits. Additionally, the Indigenous family room is beautifully decorated with local art that has been specially curated by Indigenous community partners. This collectively designed space provides an inclusive and safe healing environment for Indigenous patients and their loved ones.
CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH WILL TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE ARTHUR CHILD, BRINGING RESEARCHERS AND PATIENTS TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF.
There are also welcoming experiences for the youngest Albertans. Pediatric patients and their families, who come to the Arthur Child from the Alberta Children’s Hospital for radiation therapy appointments, can expect a welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere as they wait for and recover from treatments.
The Arthur Child is poised to become a global leader in innovative cancer research and treatments. With more than 10,000 squarefeet of state-of-the-art research space, the new cancer centre will accelerate the development of precision medicine, diagnostic tools and more made-in-Alberta solutions to cancer.
This will be possible, in part, because of the incredible research spaces and lab shops. Designed to bring cancer care and research together, the Arthur Child’s world-class research spaces include the Knowledge Research Centre; an auditorium and breakout rooms for knowledge sharing; wet and dry research labs; and a research wall to feature the centre’s key research initiatives.
The medical physics and design lab shops will support techniques and equipment used to treat cancer at the Arthur Child. This includes preventive maintenance and repair of radiation treatment machines and the delivery of high-quality medical devices, including custom clinical and research equipment not widely available.
The Arthur Child is equipped with the most advanced technology and infrastructure — both in the public spaces and behind the scenes — to help the centre run as efficiently as possible.
For example, the hazardous medication dumbwaiter system increases safety for the staff and public by transporting chemotherapy and other hazardous medications behind the scenes, rather than through high-traffic areas.
Additionally, the eSIM lab is an advanced educational program that re-creates clinical events for cancer centre personnel, replicating real-world experiences. The simulation training lab provides authentic learning experiences in a supported environment to promote best practices and enhance care quality.
Integrating sustainable practices enhances the centre’s operational efficiency, contributing to cost savings and a healthier environment for patients and staff.
The cancer centre is LEED Gold-certified with high-efficiency electricity, low water waste, energyefficient HVAC systems and an enhanced air-filtration system. Thanks to these sustainable measures, energy consumption will be reduced by more than 26 per cent and the centre will save more than 34 million litres of water each year (that’s equal to 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools).
To learn more about the Arthur Child and its OWN.CANCER campaign, visit owncancer.ca.
How the Alberta Cancer Foundation is rethinking philanthropy by KARIN
OLAFSONTaking research from bench to bedside, where patients can truly benefit, isn’t easy. That’s why Christy Holtby, vice president of philanthropy at the Alberta Cancer Foundation, began looking into new ways to help support incredible made-in-Alberta cancer solutions. And that’s where the novel world of venture philanthropy comes in.
“Venture philanthropy is harnessing the instincts of the private sector to advance research ideas to commercial markets,” explains Holtby. Donors draw on their investor instincts to select what innovations to fund, without expecting a financial reward like an angel investor would. Any support is still a charitable donation.
“It’s tricky for startups in the life sciences space to get funding. They hit something called the ‘valley of death,’” Holtby says, explaining that granting agencies fund early development and other essential funding comes later in the development process, leaving some pre-commercial ideas behind. Once research hits that pre-commercial point, it’s often the end of the road for these innovations. “We believe that we can play a role in bridging that gap.”
Holtby reached out to Cory Janssen, co-founder of the Edmonton-based AI software company AltaML, for his business and venture capital expertise. He got on board immediately as the Breakthrough Fund
Chair.
SickKids Foundation is a leader in venture philanthropy in Canada, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation talked with them about this fundraising approach. SickKids Foundation has a fund for researchers called the Breakthrough Fund that uses venture philanthropy to support breakthrough research in the pre-commercial phase to help bring it to market.
The Breakthrough Fund is a new way of fundraising for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Combining the startup and venture capitalist worlds with the health-care and philanthropy worlds, donors use their entrepreneurial expertise to ask researchers questions about their projects and determine which projects they feel would have the greatest impact. In a pitch competition, fund applicants demonstrate how their research has commercial potential and how it will provide real-world solutions to cancer. Donors then vote on who should be awarded $100,000. The first vote event took place in Edmonton on Dec. 6, 2023, and the first vote event in Calgary is expected to take place this summer.
“SickKids Foundation shared their playbook with us,” says Janssen. “We took what we learned from there as a base for something that works in cancer and for Alberta.” The Alberta Cancer Foundation named its own new venture philanthropy fund the Breakthrough Fund, paying tribute to SickKids Foundation’s model and because that collaboration was what brought it into being.
Entos Pharmaceuticals
wins $100,000 at the Breakthrough Fund pitch event on Dec. 6, 2023.
The Foundation has a Breakthrough Fund for Edmonton and another for Calgary. After raising money for the fund earlier in the year, the inaugural Breakthrough Fund launched in Edmonton, and, on Dec. 6, 2023, donors gathered at the pitch event to hear researchers showcase and pitch their work.
“I was really inspired by the energy in the room,” says Janssen, who now chairs the Breakthrough Fund. He adds, “This fundraising model gives donors agency over where their dollars go and it builds relationships. I think the next cohort of donors is looking at philanthropy and fundraising events differently.”
For cancer patients, this new fundraising model provides hope by preventing incredible local research from falling through the funding cracks. And, for researchers, it provides more resources and opportunities to see their work benefit the public.
Entos Pharmaceuticals
About the funded project: This Edmonton-based company will work with Dr. John Lewis’s lab group at the University of Alberta to develop personalized cancer vaccines. The vaccine will use Entos’s proprietary Fusogenix proteolipid vehicle (PLV) drug delivery system, which supports the delivery of mRNA or DNA into cells. The Breakthrough Fund will support the clinical trials and commercial scaling of these cancer vaccines.
Dr. Frank Wuest, professor and chair of the department of oncology at the University of Alberta
About the funded project: Positron emission tomography, or PET, is a type of functional molecular imaging that uses injectable radioactive substances to help physicians make diagnostic and treatment decisions. Winning this fund will allow Wuest to work with 48Hour Discovery, an Edmonton-based company, on the development of a radiopeptide to improve PET imaging of a specific protein — known as PD-L1 — in cancer patients. Typically, PD-L1 is found on some healthy cells, stopping T cells (part of the immune system) from fighting healthy cells in the body. In a cancer patient, though, high levels of PD-L1 can stop T cells from fighting cancer. If physicians know a cancer patient has high levels of PDL1, immunotherapy could be used to inhibit this protein’s action, allowing the T cells to fight the cancer cells. However, accurate testing is needed to determine if a patient would benefit from immunotherapy. This project will better predict and monitor a patient’s immunotherapy response.
According to Christy Holtby, the new Game Changer Competition is an innovative approach to how dollars are deployed. The Game Changer Competition supports a team-based approach or platform to solving a patient problem through a new, game-changing idea, be it a drug, a bedside innovation or just a fresh way of doing things. A national peer review committee evaluates the submissions — putting Alberta research on a national platform — and selects the winner.
Currently, each winner will be given up to $1.25 million. The first Game Changer Competition took place in Edmonton on Feb. 5 and there are plans to bring it to Calgary soon.
The Game Changer Competition winners were announced on Feb. 5, 2024.
Dr. Vickie Baracos’s Game Changer team: This team will advance the understanding of cachexia (a progressive loss of weight, fat and muscle often experienced by those diagnosed with advanced cancers) and its effects on patients by using novel imaging, data and more to customize treatment.
Dr. Ing Swie Goping’s Game Changer team: This team will establish a multi-dimensional platform to begin to predict how breast cancer patients will respond to treatment.
Dr. Roseline Godbout’s Game Changer team: This team will use the Game Changer Fund to find novel approaches to diagnosing and treating metastatic prostate cancer.
Dr. Kristi Baker’s Game Changer team: This team will bring an innovative imaging platform to the University of Alberta in order to research tumour immune response; better understand why the immune system has difficulty fighting late-stage, genetically unstable cancers; develop novel therapeutic approaches; and discover new biomarkers.
Three veteran oncology professionals share where they found inspiration in their careers and what makes them hopeful for the future of cancer care in Alberta
by NATHAN KUNZProfessor emeritus at the University of Alberta; locum staff radiation oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute and Grande Prairie Cancer Centre
Dr. Robert Pearcey moved to Edmonton from the United Kingdom in 1986. In the 38 years since, he’s acted as a champion of quality cancer care in Alberta and an advocate for patients across the country. Pearcey retired from his professorship at the University of Alberta in 2020, but still treats patients as a maternity leave cover and through locum positions — it’s a transition he credits as his “new lease on life.” Beyond his clinical and academic work, Pearcey also led the Cross Cancer Institute’s radiation oncology department, served as president of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and helped advance close-to-home care for patients in Grande Prairie.
“I was at university doing a chemistry degree specializing in natural sciences when my mother developed ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, she eventually died from it. That inspired me to finish my degree in natural sciences, go on to do a degree in medicine and begin training in radiation oncology in 1979.
“I hoped to help patients, help them through the disease and, hopefully, to cure them. And I also hoped to add a little bit to general knowledge about medical practice and push the frontiers a little bit through academic medicine and research.
“I was head of the Cross’s radiation department for 14 years, and I do think that I left the department stronger than I found it. It was during a time when things were a bit difficult in Alberta, during the cuts of the Ralph Klein years, but we managed to maintain and actually strengthen the department. I achieved that by recruiting some really good people, fostering the residency training program and hiring some of our own residents who have turned out to be outstanding individuals.
“It’s obviously very rewarding to just see other people being successful. Not just the ones that I hired, but especially the ones that I hired.”
Registered nurse specializing in hematology and bone marrow transplant at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Karen Murray describes herself as a lifelong learner. The born-andraised Calgarian has spent her 30plus year nursing career providing bedside care at the Foothills Hospital and Tom Baker Cancer Centre. All the while, Murray has mentored the next generation of nurses, emphasizing the importance of providing the supports patients and families need, within the cancer centre and beyond.
“The expertise that’s all around us carries so much hope. Soon, we will have a brand-new Calgary cancer centre. But, more than the building itself, it will be filled with brilliant doctors and nurses who want to provide the best care to cancer patients in the city and in the province. That big, beautiful building stands as a beacon of hope. It is my hope that it will be filled with staff who are enthusiastic to provide that care.
“I don’t think anybody chooses this as just a job. It’s a choice; you need to give a lot, but I think we also get a lot back — from patients, from families, and from knowing that you’ve given someone the care they needed and deserved.
“It gives me hope that, should I ever need care, I know that I’ll be in the best hands, too.”
Retired medical oncologist; professor emeritus at the University of Calgary; senior medical director of the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network
Three things drove Dr. Doug Stewart to a career in oncology: an inspiring patient population, opportunities for advancement in care and the chance to not just treat, but cure, diseases. Over three decades working in this field, Dr. Stewart has found ways to succeed within all three areas, lending his expertise to clinical care, research and ensuring game-changing advancements reach the wider public through the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network.
“Cancer has been researched extensively. And I don’t just mean in Alberta, I mean globally.
“These advances — the understanding of cancer and improvements in the treatments — that’s what has given me the most hope for the future. There’s all this research activity that’s translated into practice.
“On the hard days, usually, I turned to my colleagues. Knowing everybody’s working together with a common focus and goal always gives you hope that you’re going to be able to achieve that.
“A second place I find hope on hard days is the patients and the families themselves. You commonly see a lot of hope in patients; they’re filled with hope. And so it’s easy to go talk to your patients and feel re-energized.”
IN THIS SERIES, WE CAPTURE THE BRAVERY, STRENGTH, HONESTY, HOPE AND RESILIENCE OF ALBERTANS LIVING WITH CANCER.
As told to FABIAN MAYER
Bradley Drader, a retired secondary school teacher living just outside Drayton Valley, was first diagnosed with a rare form of adrenal cancer as an 18-month-old toddler in 1969. But, even after the tumour was removed, damage from the cancer to his adrenal and glandular systems meant Drader spent much of his childhood in and out of Edmonton hospitals to treat hormonal imbalances.
Then, in 2008, as a married man with two young children, Drader was diagnosed with melanoma; he still has regular checks and mole removals. And, in 2022, Drader was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which required radiation and hormone therapy. He continues to be monitored today.
Having gone through several cancer journeys, the 57-year-old can confidently say he has more personal experience dealing with the disease than most. Despite the many difficult moments, Drader has always focused on the positives and found things to keep him going through it all.
“When I first started my cancer journey, all they could do diagnostically was blood tests, X-rays and physical monitoring. Now, when you look at the advancements in technology and the ability to diagnose and treat cancer, it’s remarkable how much has changed. But what’s held the same all these years, within the hospitals themselves, is the support that’s there. That’s what was just so overwhelmingly positive for me.
“I find it remarkable just how supportive the staff has been throughout my entire life. Growing up and having to spend time in a hospital without my parents being there, it was a very lonely time. But the staff was always there to help me out and get me through — to make me feel better about myself, and provide hope and positive reinforcement.
“I always found things that made me want to get up and tackle whatever challenge it was that came at me. When I had melanoma, I had two small kids and I said to myself, I have to fight for them. And my wife was always incredibly supportive — she’s been my rock.
“Now that I’m going through prostate cancer, I find you just have to take the day as it comes and find the things that make you feel better. I love nature, so I go for walks. I talk to my children and I spend as much time with my wife as I can. My advice to others on a cancer journey is to spend a part of each day doing something that gives you joy or fulfilment, and to find purpose in your day-to-day life.”
DR. LINDSAY ROWE CONDUCTS HER PSMAPET SCAN RESEARCH OUT OF THE CROSS CANCER INSTITUTE.
Dr. Lindsay Rowe researches how a new, cutting-edge imaging technique can lead to improved, more precise prostate cancer treatment
by KERI SWEETMAN | photographs by RYAN PARKERDr. Lindsay Rowe doesn’t have to look far to find the motivation she needs to drive her cancer research forward.
“It sounds cliché because I’m sure every doctor says this, but it’s my patients who motivate me,” says Rowe, a radiation oncologist and clinical researcher at the University of Alberta (U of A) and the Cross Cancer Institute (the Cross). “I can walk into a room with a very academic mentality. And then I sit in front of the
patient and their family, and my heart just melts. [I want to] find a solution.”
Her role as a radiation oncologist is to use high-energy radiation beams to kill cancer cells, which can go places in the body that are not operable. In her clinical practice, Rowe sees patients with genitourinary cancers (prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular) and brain tumours.
Since joining the U of A in 2019,
her research has focused primarily on prostate cancer, the most-diagnosed cancer in Canadian men. The standard diagnostic tool is a simple blood test, which looks for higher levels of prostatespecific antigen (PSA) that could indicate prostate cancer. While this cancer is usually highly treatable, with a five-year survival rate of 95 per cent, the cancer can spread to the lymph nodes (in 15 per cent of high-risk prostate patients) or metastasize to another location in the body (which occurs in another 10 per cent of high-risk patients). Imaging, such as CT scans and MRIs, is used to follow patients’ cancer trajectories, but these technologies
aren’t always successful in finding if and where the cancer has spread.
Rowe’s research interest is a new, cutting-edge imaging technique called PSMA-PET. PSMA, or prostate-specific membrane antigen, is a protein found on prostate cancer cells. PET scans (positron emission tomography) use radioactive tracers injected into the body to allow doctors to look for cancer cells. Once the PSMA-binding tracers are injected into the body through a vein, they look for the receptors on the prostate cancer cells and bind to them, showing up on the PSMA-PET scan as bright lights.
This technology gives physicians a much clearer view than they would get with a CT scan or MRI alone, allowing
doctors to determine the stage of the disease more accurately, as well as the location of cancer cells in the prostate, the nearby lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body. With this information, radiation oncologists can tailor their treatment with appropriate levels of radiation therapy in precise locations.
Rowe hopes her research will lead to a PSMA-PET program in Alberta, with wider availability of the scans. PSMA-PET is currently available in the province only through clinical trials.
“My goal is to give Albertans options in the treatments they receive and to give them access to the most current and state-of-the-art treatments,” she says.
Rowe is an Albertan herself. She grew
up in Calgary, where her father was an engineer in the oil and gas industry and her mom was an occupational therapist. She did her undergraduate studies in life sciences at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., graduating in 2006, then returned to Alberta to pursue her medical training at the U of A, first for her medical degree from 2006–2010 and then for her residency from 2010–2015. When it came time to choose a residency specialty, she was attracted to oncology because of experiences she’d had speaking to patients during her oncology rotation in medical school.
“Sometimes in medicine, we encounter scenarios that speak to us, and, for me, it was hearing the stories of patients going through this long journey. I’ve always been someone who likes to walk beside people in hard situations.”
Additionally, she liked the problemsolving side of being a radiation oncologist, where she has to figure out not only where cancer is and how to treat it, but where it’s going next.
After residency, she went to the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Md. for four years, working first as a fellow, then as a staff clinician. Her fellowship research focused on prostate cancer and primary brain tumours (tumours that start in the brain), including studies on reirradiation (a second course of radiation treatment) and quality-of-life issues for patients. Her work as a staff clinician in the prostate cancer research group involved managing patients and running clinical trials, most of them involving PSMA-PET scans.
Rowe describes her time at NCI as a pivotal turning point: “That’s where my interest in research really took off. Just being around people who are constantly asking questions and having access to the newest technologies, it really gets your mind flowing.”
She came back to Alberta to be closer to family. She chose the Cross Cancer Institute because of her connections to the department; the excellent research structure set up by the Alberta Cancer Foundation at the Cross was
another strong pull factor for Rowe. The Alberta Cancer Foundation funds an investigator-initiated trials (IIT) program there, and the Cross has an excellent clinical trials unit that helps run the trials. “It’s such a strong program, it really makes it easier to do research here,” says Rowe.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation is funding two of Rowe’s trials, one of which will start enrolling patients in 2024. Three hundred Alberta men with high-risk prostate cancer will participate over the next five years.
In this interventional trial, Rowe will use PSMA-PET scans to determine whether a patient’s cancer is in the prostate alone, has spread to the lymph nodes or has metastasized elsewhere. For patients whose cancer is localized in the prostate, the trial will examine whether they have a better outcome if their treatment plan includes radiation in the prostate alone or in a wider pelvic area. Patients whose cancer has spread to the lymph nodes will be treated with higher doses of radiation in the node area and will be followed over time to see which dose controls the cancer.
Her second trial will look at men who have high PSA levels after a prostatectomy (removal of all or part of the prostate). This trial will also use PSMA-PET to target radiation treatments, or to monitor men over time until there is an optimal area on which to focus the radiation.
“Hopefully, we will cure more people,” says Rowe, adding it’s also important to reduce toxicity and avoid the use of high-dose radiation in the wider pelvic area if it’s not needed, because the treatment can cause side effects such as urinary and bowel problems.
Rowe is also part of a trial running out of Montreal, with 700 patients across Canada, that is looking at how to tailor treatment for prostate cancer based on PSMA-PET scan results.
Dr. Nawaid Usmani leads the group of radiation oncologists at the Cross Cancer
Can you describe what you do in 10 words or less?
I treat cancer with radiation, which is high-energy beams.
Where do you get your best ideas?
I’m lucky to be surrounded by colleagues and patients who ask me thoughtful and challenging questions. I learned at NCI that you just can’t ask the next question. You have to be three steps ahead of that.
If you weren’t in your current job, what would you be?
My plan if I didn’t get into medical school was to do a postgraduate degree and be a professor of anatomy.
Institute who treat prostate cancer. He is grateful for the expertise Rowe brings to the group from her time working with PSMA-PET at NCI. “It’s been great for her to use that experience and help springboard our local research program here,” Usmani says.
Usmani, who has been at the Cross for 16 years, says younger researchers like Rowe bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the group, and it’s infectious.
Her clinical trials using PSMAPET are crucial, he says. “A lot of people are assuming that this imaging is going to help improve things, but we need the evidence. The clinical trials that Lindsay is doing are not only helpful for our patients, but they will actually be critical worldwide because they will basically demonstrate whether these treatments help improve patient outcomes.”
Ryley Richardson was inspired to support the Alberta Cancer Foundation after his friend and business partner’s experience with cancer by JAELYN MOLYNEUX RYLEY
“You leave all these ripples while you are here. You don’t know how you might affect an entire group of people just by a smile.”
Jordan Turko shared those reflections in December 2022 in an Alberta Cancer Foundation video about his cancer story. Ryley Richardson, his friend and business partner, was behind the camera.
As it turns out, Turko’s ripples changed Richardson’s life.
The two were high school friends and reunited more than a decade later. Turko, of Métis heritage, had recently launched his business with a particular interest in empowering Indigenous communities through strategy development and visual storytelling. He knew Richardson had a videography company and enlisted him to help. Indigenous individuals and communities across Western Canada hired them to tell their oftenoverlooked stories.
“We went on all these adventures,” says Richardson, who was then
balancing a career in real estate with his passion for videography.
A few years into their partnership, in February 2022, they were in Fort Chipewyan, Alta., for National Language Day. Turko wasn’t feeling well and he couldn’t help with filming. Within weeks, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He was only 30 years old. Targeted drug therapy gave him more time, so the pair could continue meeting with communities and filming, including being asked by Chiefs from across Treaty 6 to film the visit from Pope Francis in July 2022. Also in 2022, Richardson quit real estate and pursued videography full time. With Turko’s cancer experience now woven into his own life, Richardson expanded his filmmaking to include stories for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. He started with the video highlighting Turko’s story and went on to profile doctors and capture stories of research and fundraising. His videos celebrate work that has been done in cancer care and research, and highlight
the potential of work still to be done.
Turko’s cancer came back aggressively in January 2023. That September, Richardson went to the Cross Cancer Institute to hold his friend’s hand and say goodbye.
The next day, Richardson was filming in the next room when Turko died, surrounded by friends and family. For Richardson, filming next door when Turko passed didn’t feel like a coincidence; it felt like a sign that he was doing what he was meant to be doing.
“Jordan started it and we created the path together,” says Richardson. “He opened doors and allowed me to do my thing and walk through those doors.”
Richardson continues to create videos for the Alberta Cancer Foundation, to share stories and inspire others. It’s his way of creating ripples.
“It can be very vulnerable and uncomfortable to sit in front of cameras,” he says. “[But telling your story] can change other people’s lives.”
Andrea Sandmaier recognizes that cancer care isn’t equitable for Métis Albertans and helped direct the Métis Nation of Alberta’s Health Department to create a strategy that will change that
by STEPHANIE JOE | photographs by BUFFY GOODMANndrea Sandmaier, president of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta and previously the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA), listened to her community and knew that cultural safety in cancer care was required for a holistic approach to cancer treatment for Métis Albertans. That is why she, along with former president Audrey Poitras, directed their dedicated MNA Health Department to create The Alberta Métis Cancer Strategy: A Plan for Action
The strategy was published in April 2023, but work on the strategy began in 2018 when the Métis government secured funding through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC). It also partnered with the CANHelp Working Group, Cancer Care Alberta (CCA) and Alberta Health Analytics and Performance Reporting Branch to complete the 44-page strategy.
“There’s a few different reasons why the strategy is needed,” says Sandmaier. “It outlines the need for culturally meaningful and relevant support and services for Métis citizens, recognizes existing barriers in the health-care system, and emphasizes the right to access safe, quality and timely cancer care.”
The strategy identifies four priority areas, including engagement with Métis in this province to strengthen partnerships with Alberta Health Services; culturally safe care by developing cultural safety training
programs to health-care workers; culturally meaningful support by providing Métis-specific peer groups and delivering Métis-specific resources to people facing cancer; and supporting cancer care by developing communitybased programming to provide targeted navigation and advocacy support. The strategy also outlines recommendations for CCA in each priority area.
Grounded in Métis perspectives, the strategy is a result of Métis People who shared their experiences during the 2018 and 2019 Métis Nation of Alberta-led Annual Health Forum as well as regional engagement sessions. Some said their spiritual and cultural practices weren’t respected while in the hospital. “One citizen used traditional medicine alongside cancer treatment, which the doctor said was fine to do, but continually staff were throwing the medicine in the garbage,” says Sandmaier. “We want to make sure that health-care providers know who we are and respect our cultural practices.”
She adds that Métis world views are not always recognized in the healthcare system and that providers need to understand that family connection is vital to the overall health and wellbeing of Métis people.
When Sandmaier’s uncle had cancer and was in palliative care in the mid1990s, she was thankful they were in a hospital in Cold Lake where most of the nurses and doctors knew her family. “We were able to fill a palliative care room with him, and there was
never a time where he was alone,” she says. “We would be sitting there playing cards and joking around and just being who we are as a family, which helped him move on.”
What makes this strategy unique is that it collects and reports on Métisspecific experiences while addressing inequities in cancer care for Métis Albertans. The data included in the strategy outlines what citizens want, including a self-determined decolonial approach to cancer care. "Collecting and reporting on that data helps us show funders what the citizens are going through,” says Sandmaier. “The health-care system and health-care providers need to understand that family connection and cultural safety are essential to overall Métis health.”
The strategy’s priorities and recommendations were shared and validated by engagement participants and the Métis community at the Nation’s 94th Annual General Assembly in August 2022. To achieve some of the strategy objectives, Sandmaier and her team are creating a cancer screening tool kit and accessible and user-friendly navigation platforms. As well, they’re developing Métis cancer-care courses for health-care providers and allied professionals to learn about Métis people and their unique experiences.
“We have low attachment rates to general practitioners, which is linked to a late diagnosis of cancer,” says Reagan Bartel, director of health for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.
“WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS KNOW WHO WE ARE AND RESPECT OUR CULTURAL PRACTICES.” — ANDREA SANDMAIER
Bartel worked as a critical care nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton for 17 years before taking on her current position, which she has held for the last four years. “I’m lucky that I have a lot of health educational background,” she says. “But I’m also doubly lucky because I am Métis.”
Bartel also notes the strategy itself is a concrete example of what Indigenous self-determination looks like. Rather than taking a pan-Indigenous approach to cultural programming, this strategy reflects the diversity of Métis Albertans with relevant programming and resources. “They wanted to be seen within the system, and they wanted to be able to access cancer care without barriers,” she says. “The strategy prioritizes community experiences and combines that with the epidemiological report [informed by data on cancer incidence and mortality among Métis
Albertans from 2013 to 2019]. We’re lucky that our community is pointing us in the right direction.”
While the strategy centres community voices, Bartel knows strategies like this don’t move forward alone. “If there are folks out there in the cancer care area — psychologists, nutritionists, government and healthcare officials — the Métis Nation is always open to collaborating to improve health outcomes,” says Bartel. “I think a healthy Métis population contributes to a healthier province overall.”
In December 2023, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government signed another fouryear funding agreement with CPAC to support the actions listed in the strategy. Sandmaier and Bartel are working on bringing the priorities identified within the strategy to life that will improve the cancer experiences of Métis in Alberta.
“With this knowledge and this
2017
The Alberta Métis Cancer Strategy: A Plan for Action is funded through Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, which is mandated by the government to support cancer care nationally.
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government holds engagement and data-gathering sessions at the Annual Health Forum. It hears from Métis cancer patients and their families who share their personal experiences and stories.
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government builds, refines and drafts the strategy and identifies four key priorities.
April 2023
The Alberta Métis Cancer Strategy: A Plan for Action is published.
December 2023
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government successfully acquires an additional fouryear grant through Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to implement action items identified in the strategy.
strategy moving forward, I think we can really make a difference,” says Sandmaier.
“Our people are very resilient, and I want to acknowledge the Métis Albertans that worked with our team and shared their stories. They’re hopeful for the future, and they recognize the hard work that the health team has put into making sure their voices are heard.”
Barrie Stafford shares
how the Alberta Cancer Foundation impacted his cancer journey and how fundraising, like hockey, is a team effort by MICHAELA REAM
Before Barrie Stafford worked for the Edmonton Oilers organization, he dreamed of becoming an NHL player. He played varsity for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and won three championships. While Stafford wasn’t drafted into the NHL, he did become an NHL trainer with the Oilers in 1982. Stafford was behind the bench for Edmonton’s five Stanley Cup championship teams, which included players like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson.
During the final three years of his 38-year career with the Oilers, Stafford helped establish the Oilers Alumni Relations Department. Before retiring in 2019, he worked alongside alumni involved in philanthropy work, which inspired Stafford to give back, too. However, like an unexpected goal in the third period, life took a turn when he was
diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011 and is currently in a clinical trial. He is also a board member with the Cure Cancer Foundation, where he counsels others with multiple myeloma and offers them hope.
Q: What has your cancer journey been like?
“In the world of cancer, there are no guarantees. And, with multiple myeloma, there is no cure; it’s a relapsing disease. After chemotherapy treatment and a stem cell transplant in December 2011, I went into remission for 11 years, but relapsed in 2022. Coming out of remission hit me hard [emotionally], but I immediately got into one of Dr. Michael Chu’s clinical trials through my oncologist,
Dr. Irwindeep Sandhu. It’s going well, and I’m back to living a ‘new normal.’”
Q: What impact has the Alberta Cancer Foundation had on your cancer journey?
“When I was first diagnosed, my life expectancy at the time was three to five years. But, in the years since, there have been different clinical trials and treatment protocols, thanks to the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s fundraising. When I relapsed, I moved right into one such Foundationfunded clinical trial and am still part of it today, fortunately with very few side-effects.”
“Hockey and fundraising are both team efforts: no one wins alone. We’re so lucky to live in Alberta where we have the Cross Cancer Institute, Alberta Cancer Foundation, the Cure Cancer Foundation and, of course, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation. Some of the brightest minds in cancer research are right here in Alberta, but they can’t do it alone. Fundraising supports these trials and research, and we’re all working together to cure cancer.”
The Manji family’s generous gift is a celebration of Amir’s legacy and a testament to the quality cancer care he received by DÉJÀ LEONARD written in collaboration with the Manji family
Amir Manji cherished walks in the coulees behind his Lethbridge home, finding solace in the fresh air and exercise. During his time at Lethbridge’s Jack Ady Cancer Centre, Amir, eager for moments outside his hospital room, would join his family in the centre’s lobby for a change of scenery.
A particularly special memory was when the family took him to a rooftop space, where he got some much-needed fresh air. Through this experience, the family was inspired to fund an outdoor space that patients could enjoy during their time at the Jack Ady, prompting the idea of a healing garden.
This garden is now open and will be named the Amir and Saker Manji Healing Gardens this spring.
But Amir’s journey with stage 4
metastatic prostate cancer ended on May 11, 2018.
“That experience was very devastating for me. It was very shocking and unexpected, and, as a wife and a mother, it was very hard for me to digest,” says Amir’s wife of 44 years, Saker, of her husband's diagnosis and passing.
Eager to give back to the Jack Ady in Amir’s memory, the Manji family made a generous $500,000 gift in December 2023, which will be disbursed over five years.
Amir Manji’s remarkable journey began in 1971 when he immigrated to Canada from Tanzania. His path led him to Vancouver, where he met and married Saker. In 1979, Amir and Saker ventured to Alberta, where
they laid the foundation for Coaldale Eggs. This venture swiftly evolved into the province’s second-largest egg-grading operation.
In 1992, the Manji family established The Manji Group Ltd. This enterprise included a diverse portfolio of hotels, apartment buildings and commercial real estate in Lethbridge. Amir emerged not only as an esteemed businessman, but also as a respected elder within the Ismaili Muslim community.
Amir, alongside Saker, played a pivotal role in building the first mosque for their religious community in the Lethbridge area. For more than 40 years, Amir led religious services, acting as a mentor to countless individuals. His legacy is woven into the fabric of the community, marked by a dedication to fostering connections, promoting philanthropy, and shaping the growth and vibrancy of Lethbridge.
Beyond his business acumen, Amir’s compassionate leadership
provide the Jack Ady with new equipment, professional development for oncologists and various patient-care programs.
“I think that Lethbridge is a very strong, values-based community … all of this treatment here will be very important, helping everyone get good treatment [in Lethbridge],” says Saker. The family hopes their gift enhances early testing and quick access to treatment, supporting oncologists and others on their cancer journeys.
“The work, compassion and effort that these [health-care] professionals put into their jobs is another reason we chose to give back. We want to support them in their incredible work,” says Nimisha, one of Amir’s daughters. “My mom often expressed
and dedication to giving back left an indelible mark on those he touched. His legacy resonates not only through the businesses he established, but also through the bonds he forged and the cultural and religious institutions he helped build. Amir’s life was a testament to the belief that success is measured not only in financial achievements, but in the positive impact one leaves on the lives of others.
made with hospital staff and the quality of Amir's treatment fuelled the family’s desire to give back. Saker also felt a deep desire to contribute to her city. The family’s $500,000 donation will
just how grateful she was for the amazing oncologists, radiologists and nurses. Compassion and care at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre made a world of difference. It was invaluable and meaningful to us.”
Saker adds, “I want to thank the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the cancer centre here in Lethbridge for all their love and care and how well they looked after us. I never imagined this love and care would come from people I have never met. I am very grateful for that.”
Change in the world of cancer care and treatment doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of hard work and a network of support.
For researchers, one branch of that support network comes in the form of studentships and fellowships, which are grants that support academic education and research at all levels. These positions at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary attract talented leaders, thoughtful changemakers and outside-thebox thinkers whose work provides hope for a brighter future.
All of these research positions would not be possible without the generosity of Alberta families and organizations, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation is grateful to everyone who gives back to support cuttingedge cancer research.
Amisha Verma
Judy Wang
Julia Fox
Dr. Bilal Marwa
Nicole Maseja
RECIPIENT AWARD CATEGORY
Cameron C. Daye Sarcoma Research Clinical Fellowship
Richard R. Singleton Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Dr. Karishma George Radiation Oncology Clinical Fellowship
David C. Stokes Summer Studentship in Brain Tumour Research
Richard R. Singleton Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Linda Singleton Summer Studentship in Psychosocial Oncology
Alec Swallow Antoine Noujaim Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Ali Simchi Ed and Barbara Prodor Summer Studentship
Angela Hamie Lynda Doiron Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Dr. Asmara Waheed Clinical and Research Fellowship in Radiation Oncology
Fatemeh Masheyekhi Dr. Herbert Meltzer Memorial in Clinical Oncology
Hannah Dean Cathy Compton Mc-Nabb Summer Studentship in Leukemia Research
Dr. Kenneth Samala Clinical Research Fellowship
Justin Knechtel William Herbert Young Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Kayleigh Morris Antoine Noujaim Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Khushi Patel Betty K. Brown Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Lauren Smart Antoine Noujaim Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Maria Ren Sartore Multidisciplinary Summer Studentship in Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology
Mona Al-Onazi Dr. Cyril M. Kay Graduate Studentship
Dr. Omene Egiroh Lynne Marshall and Wayne Foo Neuro-Oncology Clinical Fellowship
Seth Peyton Antoine Noujaim Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Yifan Wu Victor-Osten Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Yimiao Zhao Antoine Noujaim Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
After two close friends experienced cancer diagnoses, Sky McLean decided her business would commit a generous gift to Alberta Cancer Foundation by FABIAN MAYER
Supporting health-care causes in Alberta has long been important for Basecamp Resorts. The Canmore-based hospitality brand has a dozen properties spread across Western Canada’s mountain towns including resorts, luxury hotels, lodges and more.
For years, the company channelled much of its fundraising efforts towards supporting the Canmore General Hospital. However, the devastating experience of losing a close friend to breast cancer inspired company founder and CEO Sky McLean to support cancer research and care, specifically. In 2023, Basecamp Resorts committed
to donating $100,000 to the Alberta Cancer Foundation over three years.
“Last year, my best friend from university — I was her maid of honour and we were super close — she died from breast cancer that eventually metastasized,” says McLean. “The experience, obviously, was horrific and that’s what prompted my decision to add the Alberta Cancer Foundation to our charities.”
Basecamp Resorts fundraises for charities including the Foundation through its annual charity golf tournament, which raised $30,000 in 2023. In addition, a portion of the revenue from each stay across its properties in Western Canada is donated to various health-care nonprofits, including the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Since her friend’s passing, a second friend of McLean’s was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
At 39 years old, McLean says she never expected to have her circle of friends so heavily impacted by this disease so soon.
“You always hear about those stories, how there’s always somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. But, when you see that happen to somewone you love, it’s different and you learn about it,” says McLean. “For example, I didn’t know the ins and outs of chemotherapy, and now I do. When you know somebody who is going through all of that, it just changes everything.”
McLean says the hospitality industry was hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but her business has since recovered. McLean feels fortunate that her business and family are healthy, and that now is the right time to prioritize philanthropy and share her success with others.
Basecamp Resorts’ $100,000 donation to the Alberta Cancer Foundation supports mobile breast cancer-screening programs. The money will help replace current mammography equipment, ensuring Albertans living in rural and remote areas of the province can access regular breast cancer screening.
