Baumgardner
Dr. Chris Eagle (Board Chair)
Barbara Munroe (Board Vice-Chair)
Darren Baumgardner
Max Chan
Kathryn (Kate) Chisholm
Rajko Dodic
John Donald
Brenda Hubley
Sandra Lau
William (Billy) Morin
Gelaine Pearman
Shelley Powell
Cathy Roozen
Dr. Dean Ruether
Kiren Singh
Wayne Steinke
Tom Valentine
Trustees list current at time of publication.
Transformation propels us forward, reshaping and redefining us along the way, and delivering hope in the face of uncertainty. In this issue, we delve into the power of transformation and its profound impact on the cancer community — through groundbreaking innovations, the unwavering support of our donors and the inspiring journeys of those facing a cancer diagnosis.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation itself has undergone a transformation. You may notice this issue of Leap looks a little different; we have a new look and feel, one that reflects a renewed focus on bringing the very latest treatments to Albertans and building a passionate community that supports those facing cancer. While our appearance may have changed, our mission remains more certain than ever: to create more moments and more hope for Albertans facing cancer (pg. 26).
Innovation and research are key drivers of transformation, with the power to change lives and redefine what’s possible for those facing cancer. For instance, Dr. Vickie Baracos’ research is not just advancing science; it’s enhancing the quality of life for Albertans with late-stage cancers (pg. 30). Similarly, Dr. May Lynn Quan is transforming care for breast cancer patients by reducing stress, pain and wait times in an already
emotional experience (pg. 34).
We wouldn’t be where we are today without our donors. Donors are critical in transforming outcomes for Albertans facing cancer by funding groundbreaking research and care across our province.
Darren Baumgardner has helped shape a brighter future for those affected by cancer through his leadership and commitment to corporate philanthropy (pg. 38).
A cancer diagnosis itself brings intense transformation — affecting the lives of patients and their families as they navigate the unknown. Through these pages, you will read stories of individuals who share their journeys. Arbaiza Jamaluddin reveals how her life and outlook were forever altered after being diagnosed with breast cancer (pg. 15). You will also read about Jocelyn Laidlaw, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and shares her story to increase awareness and transform conversations (pg. 28).
As you explore this issue, you’ll witness the remarkable transformation in cancer care happening in Alberta, made possible by donors like you. With the unwavering support of our community, we will continue to pursue more: more research, more hope, more discoveries and more moments for Albertans facing cancer. A heartfelt and personal thank you for making this possible!
DR. CHRIS EAGLE, BOARD CHAIR, ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION
WENDY BEAUCHESNE, CEO, ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION
Fall/Winter 2024 | VOL. 14 | NO. 2
ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION EDITORS
Breanne Kraus, Tamara Fiddler, Mariko Macken, Vanessa Ridden
DIRECTOR, STRATEGY & CONTENT
Meredith Bailey
MANAGING EDITORS
Karin Olafson and Colleen Seto
ART DIRECTOR
Veronica Cowan
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jared Sych
CONTRIBUTORS
Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Jason Dziver, Buffy Goodman, Nathan Kunz, Fabian Mayer, Jacquie Moore, Mateusz Napieralski, Ryan Parker, Olivia Piché, Michaela Ream, Keri Sweetman, John Ulan
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PRESIDENT, CO-OWNER
Käthe Lemon
DR. EMILY WALKER LEADS THE PRECISION ANALYTICS TEAM FOR CANCER CARE ALBERTA.
Using advanced analytical tools and data, Dr. Emily Walker and her team help predict future cancer care needs in Alberta by KERI SWEETMAN photographs by RYAN PARKER r. Emily Walker and her team are revolutionizing how health-care data is used to inform the development of a better cancer care system in Alberta, ensuring timely access for new patients and high-quality care for the growing number of people living long term with cancer.
Walker leads the Precision Analytics team for Cancer Care Alberta, the provincial organization (under Alberta Health Services) that provides treatment, support and services to people living with cancer. The team uses advanced analytical techniques to leverage Alberta’s extensive data resources to predict future cancer care needs in the province and help inform new models of care.
“In the past 10 to 20 years, we have seen an enormous shift in the cancer care landscape thanks to cutting-edge research and the proliferation of precision medicine and other advances,” says Walker, who is an epidemiologist, which means she investigates the distribution and determinants of cancer in populations to develop strategies for prevention and control. “There’s a lot more technologies, a lot more options for treating people. And that’s translating into a longer survival time for a lot of people who are diagnosed with cancer.”
Obviously, that’s a good thing, but it presents some challenges for service delivery,
DR.
biological anthropology and health studies (with a minor in piano performance) at McMaster University, before coming west in 2010 for her MSc in epidemiology.
“[Epidemiology] just fits with me as a person,” she says. “I’m a very analytical person and I like solving mysteries, problemsolving, digging into things.”
in 2019. More health sites and programs are moving onto this provincial electronic medical record system through a series of phased launches. Cancer Care Alberta joined Connect Care in November 2022.
says Walker. Cancer care leaders have to plan how to properly manage the growing cohort of follow-up patients who are living with cancer and deliver timely care to the newly diagnosed, whose numbers are growing as Alberta’s population swells.
To plan properly, they need data-based evidence, which is where Walker’s team comes in.
In addition to Walker, the team currently consists of three senior scientists, including two other epidemiologists and a machine-learning engineer. They’ve also partnered with AltaML, a private tech company that brings more machinelearning specialists and programmers to the table to perform advanced analytics. Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence where computers use algorithms to derive accurate insights from large volumes of data.
Walker obtained a PhD in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of Alberta in 2017. She grew up in Toronto and did her undergraduate studies in
Following her PhD studies, which focused on the high incidence of a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori in Canada’s North, Walker worked as a research associate with the Canadian Brain Tumour Registry of Canada. Then the pandemic hit, and she decided she needed a change of direction.
“I just had this urge to be doing more, working for the system and applying my skills to affect change.” She moved to Cancer Care Alberta in 2020, working with the Cancer Research and Analytics group. “The pandemic really highlighted how valuable data can be for the health system and how much we could potentially leverage it in order to make better decisions for the health system.”
Alberta is the best place for Walker to put her love of numbers to work. No other province has such an interconnected health data system. Alberta’s Connect Care is a unified electronic health record system, which started
This unified system has combined with other cancer data sources, creating a comprehensive pipeline of up-to-date data. “This sets the stage for some of the more advanced analytics that we want to do,” says Walker. Machine learning allows the team to capture intricate patterns in the data to create new models of cancer care and develop better predictions for future needs.
“We are looking at how we can generate tools and evidence that will ultimately be used in making decisions about allocating resources around the province, what types of specialists are needed where and what types of resources are needed where. It’s really cool and exciting,” says Walker, who, alongside her busy career, is raising three young boys with her husband. She is honoured to have been nominated for an Alberta Innovates Digital Health Innovation Award this year, and is looking forward to a long career helping improve cancer care for Albertans.
“I feel very passionate about it,” she says. “There’s so much we can do here to affect change in the health system. We have such a wealth of data and we can really revolutionize how we’re using it to improve the system.”
Thanks to donor support, Alberta has made leaps and bounds in its progress towards cancer survival and diagnosis
In 2023, stats from the Canadian Cancer Society showed that Albertans have the second-highest survival rate for cancer in Canada. Although Alberta once had the lowest survival rate, those numbers have steadily increased over the years thanks to improved screening, research and care. The generosity of donors has played a vital role in making that progress a reality and in continuing to see those numbers increase. Donations have fuelled discoveries, advanced research and supported the collective efforts of countless health-care professionals, researchers and the greater community in finding cures and solutions for cancer.
ALBERTA HAS EXPERIENCED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN CANCER SURVIVAL RATES COMPARED TO OTHER PROVINCES.
FROM THE PERIOD OF 19921996 TO 2013-2017, ALBERTA’S SURVIVAL RATES INCREASED BY 8.7 PER CENT .
ALBERTA HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST INCIDENCES AND MORTALITY RATES OF CANCER NATIONWIDE.
39 PER CENT 26 PER CENT 8.79%
THANKS TO THE PROGRESS MADE IN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG, COLORECTAL AND OTHER CANCERS, MORTALITY RATES HAVE DECREASED 39 PER CENT IN MALES AND 26 PER CENT IN FEMALES SINCE THEIR PEAK IN 1988.
AS OF 2023, COLORECTAL CANCER INCIDENCE RATES HAVE DECREASED FASTER THAN ANY OTHER REPORTED CANCER IN CANADA IN RECENT YEARS.
LIKEWISE, MORTALITY RATES RELATED TO LUNG CANCER ARE DECLINING FASTER THAN ANY OTHER REPORTED CANCERS IN CANADA.
64 PER CENT
IN THE EARLY 1990S, THE FIVE-YEAR NET SURVIVAL FOR ALL CANCERS WAS ONLY 55 PER CENT, BUT NEW ESTIMATES HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE TO 64 PER CENT .
SINCE 2011, CANCER DIAGNOSIS RATES HAVE DECLINED ANNUALLY BY 1.2 PER CENT FOR MALES , AND SINCE 2012, 0.4 PER CENT FOR FEMALES .
INCREASED SURVIVAL IN HEMATOLOGIC (BLOOD) CANCERS ARE LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO EARLIER DIAGNOSIS , TREATMENT AND IMPROVED SUPPORTIVE CARE. PRECISION ONCOLOGY HAS ALSO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE IMPROVED OUTCOMES, WHICH FUNDRAISING CONTINUES TO SUPPORT.
As the fundraising partner for every cancer centre in Alberta, the Alberta Cancer Foundation creates more hope and more moments for Albertans facing cancer, no matter where they live or the type of cancer they are facing
We put Albertans first. As the only health foundation in Alberta that supports the entire province, we assist Albertans facing cancer, from prevention and early detection through to survivorship and palliative care. We take a holistic approach as the Alberta Cancer Foundation not only supports research and care, but also the overall well-being of Albertans facing cancer.
Thanks to our generous donors, we’re able to fund vital programs that reduce the financial burden of cancer and ensure Albertans have access to the supports and services they need at every stage of their journey. For example, the Patient Financial Assistance Program and Cancer Patient Navigation Program help alleviate some of the challenges Albertans diagnosed with cancer may face.
Donor support allows us to respond quickly to critical, time-sensitive opportunities, bringing the latest, most advanced treatments to Albertans. For example, we support world-leading research, as well as every cancer clinical trial in Alberta.
Donors help build and sustain a network of Albertans — from researchers and caregivers to physicians — who make a transformative impact on cancer care and treatment.
In 2023 alone, the Alberta Cancer Foundation invested more than $27 million back into Alberta’s cancer system, ensuring better outcomes for the 24,000 Albertans who will face a new cancer diagnosis this year.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation supports every cancer centre in the province:
Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (opening fall 2024) (Calgary)
Cross Cancer Institute (Edmonton)
Barrhead Community Cancer Centre
Bonnyville Community Cancer Centre
Bow Valley Community Cancer Centre (Canmore)
Camrose Community Cancer Centre
Central Alberta Cancer Centre (Red Deer)
Drayton Valley Community Cancer Centre
Drumheller Community Cancer Centre
Fort McMurray Community Cancer Centre
Grande Prairie Cancer Centre
High River Community Cancer Centre
Hinton Community Cancer Centre
Jack Ady Cancer Centre (Lethbridge)
Lloydminster Community Cancer Centre
Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre (Medicine Hat)
Peace River Community Cancer Centre
Don’t stress about running a marathon or sweating it out in CrossFit. Low-impact exercises are just as effective at providing aerobic, strengthening and mental health benefits
by MICHAELA REAM | illustrations by M ATEUSZ NAPIERALSKI
If the idea of taking intensive spin classes or waking up at sunrise to go for a run makes your heart rate spike (not in a good way), don’t worry. High-impact workouts aren’t for everyone, and there are lots of reasons why a lower-impact exercise plan is a better fit for some people, including those recovering from injury or illness, in active treatment or new to exercise. Low impact doesn’t necessarily mean low intensity. Instead, it involves exercises that don’t place excess strain or stress on the body. These workouts still provide plenty of benefits, says Tamara Jarrett, a registered kinesiologist and certified strength and conditioning specialist at Tamara J Training.
Like any exercise, low-impact workouts help build muscle, improve mood and brain health, strengthen bones and help with weight loss. For individuals undergoing or finishing cancer treatment, choosing low-impact workouts can also boost energy, reduce anxiety and help with treatment-related side effects such as fatigue or impaired balance.
When starting a new low-impact exercise routine, Jarrett recommends beginning with something simple like a walk.
“Even if you’re just going for a coffee, getting out and moving in some way is the best start,” says Jarrett.
Walking provides muscular activation throughout the body as you use the muscles in your legs, core and even glutes to propel yourself forward. Walking on grass can also offer a softer surface to prevent joint pain or soreness. Playing around with speed, such as power walking or speed walking, can add a little extra challenge to the workout in a controlled way.
Swimming and biking are two other effective ways to ease into low-impact workouts. Swimming laps at your local pool or taking water aerobics classes helps improve heart health, reduce stress and improve strength, all while enjoying the natural buoyancy of the water. Biking can be enjoyed indoors or outside when the weather is nice, and e-bikes are available to provide all the benefits of biking, without the strain.
Before starting any exercise program, Jarrett recommends meeting with a health-care provider or trainer for an assessment. “A personal coach can show you how to move correctly,” explains Jarrett. “If you have some pain while moving, it could be your body compensating for wrong movement.”
No matter what you choose, some activity is better than none. Here are a few different lowimpact options to try.
Think of qigong as a simpler form of tai chi. While tai chi involves a series of flowing movements and specific postures, qigong involves simpler movements that are repeated and is more adaptive to different physical abilities. Qigong’s movements are physically easier to practice, and sometimes the exercise is focused solely on breathing, making it an approachable exercise for all ages and abilities.
Wellspring Alberta: In Calgary Carma House or Randy O’Dell House; Edmonton House
Both the City of Calgary and the City of Edmonton also offer qigong classes.
Getting outside and feeling the sun on your face is just as beneficial to your mental health as your physical health. That’s why rowing is a great way to pair exercise with the outdoors. Don’t be fooled into thinking that sitting in a boat and cruising along the river makes this any less of an effective workout option. Rowing uses smooth, rhythmical actions that don’t jar your joints the way running-based activities do. The repetition of pushing and pulling can help with mind-to-muscle action and increased muscle control. It also gets your heart pumping, helping with cardiovascular health, muscle strength and endurance — all out in the fresh air.
Calgary Rowing Club and Edmonton Rowing Club
Weekday and we ekend sessions throughout the summer teach rowing techniques, boat handling and hands-on practice. Both clubs also offer yearround, off-water training.
Don’t let the winter months stop you from staying active and healthy to keep the winter blues away. Cross-country skiing uses skis and poles on prepared ski trails, typically on flat terrain. The smooth gliding motion and easy movement reduce pressure on your joints while still getting your blood pumping, which increases your heart health and endurance. It also engages muscles all over your body and activates your core and legs for a full-body workout.
North and South Glenmore Parks in Calgary, Canmore Nordic Centre, Goldbar and Capilano Parks in Edmonton, and more. Check AlbertaParks.ca for a list of cross-country skiing trails across Alberta. These trails are all groomed, maintained and ready to enjoy during winter.
Make sure you are getting the most out of your low-impact workout with these tech tools.
This handy smartwatch measures how you move and provides health insights, total steps taken, daily activity and workouts completed. It’s a great way to stay accountable to yourself. apple.com/ca/shop
Automatically tracking your daily activity, this fitness and activity tracker logs your daily steps taken, heart rate, sleep schedule and more. It can also provide a “daily readiness score,” which optimizes your routine with personalized workout intensity and recovery recommendations based on your body. The simple design keeps the focus on tracking your workouts without causing distraction. fitbit.com
This health and fitness app offers a range of efficient workouts, customized meal plans, self-care guides and handy online articles. The app includes a handy tracker, so, if a fitness watch isn’t your style, you can download the app on your phone and track your activity. 8fit offers long-term tips to keep you on track throughout your workout journey. 8fit.com
Balance your budget and your diet to ensure proper nutrition during cancer treatment
by OLIVIA PICHÉ
Especially for individuals facing cancer, a healthy, balanced diet brings a wealth of benefits. However, food prices are at an all-time high, and whole foods tend to cost more than pre-packaged processed foods. It’s not always easy, or even possible, to eat nutrient-dense meals without breaking the bank. And, for those undergoing treatment, side-effects can make it even harder with changes in palate and appetite.
Registered dietician Celine Magalona, who provides support to palliative cancer patients, says meeting nutritional needs can be overwhelming for those facing cancer because of the abundance of information and suggestions available. But, following the basics of nutrition, like making sure you’re consuming enough macronutrients, is a great starting point, and it can be as simple as that.
Protein, carbs and fats are important for everyone, especially those living with cancer. A cancer diagnosis increases the need for nutrients because of the increased risk of muscle-mass breakdown.
Cancer causes extra stress on the body, so muscle mass, made up of protein, breaks down at an increased rate because protein cells are being used up to increase immunity functions, explains Magalona.
This is one of the reasons why dieticians prioritize protein intake for cancer patients, another being the energy it provides. “Following a rule to include a source of protein at each meal can be life-altering for a lot of patients,” says Magalona. “It gives them that energy and strength to make it through their treatments.”
Proteins are also needed for cell regeneration and creation of new cells, while carbs are important for providing the body with more of the energy cells need. And fats play a role in regulating body temperature and protecting your organs, so those needing surgery must have enough fat as a protective measure.
Understanding which food sources you can get your macronutrients from provides flexibility when shopping. This knowledge helps you to shop for products that are less expensive and pick foods you know you will like and are more likely to eat. Look for ingredients that are on sale or shop at lower-cost grocery chains to save money, but still eat well. “Items that
are on sale are perfectly good to use if they’re used by the expiration date,” says Magalona.
Another way to cut down costs is by choosing generic and store brands over well-marketed, pricier brands, and you don’t have to buy organic, either. “There’s this thought that organic is more healthy, but that’s not necessarily the case. You can eat really healthily without needing to follow an organic diet, which can cut costs for a lot of people,” affirms Magalona. “Rather than focusing on things that are advertised as these healthy, organic or super-rich antioxidant foods, you can actually get that with a lot of basic things in the grocery store.”
Cancer patients whose fibre intake is not limited, can replace meat with protein-rich beans and legumes at a fraction of the cost, and they shouldn’t ignore canned sources of protein. “Things like canned meats, fish, tuna and sardines are available in different varieties and flavours, and they can be a lower-cost protein food,” adds Magalona.
Cancer treatments can often affect patients’ taste, ability to eat and appetite, so Magalona says the most important thing is to ensure that, above all, they’re eating. Staying hydrated helps with being able to better taste food. Schedule meals and stick to those meal times. Don’t rely on hunger cues when undergoing cancer treatment, as several hours may pass before you feel hungry and you may wind up only eating once a day, which isn’t enough. Magalona says that patients should be entering the store asking themselves, “What am I going to stock in my pantry and fridge that I’ll look forward to eating and encourage me to have three meals a day?”
Buying generic ingredients, products on sale and foods you know you will eat can help you hit your nutrition goals — within your budget.
Among the leastexpensive fruits, bananas are a great source of carbohydrates with potassium, fibre and other nutrients. Plus, they have an approachable texture for those having difficulty chewing or swallowing.
Eggs are a lower-cost protein option that can be cooked in different ways for a quick and easy source of protein.
When comparing the cost of berries, choose frozen over fresh. They’re a great smoothie staple and provide the same nutrients as fresh berries.
Oats are a cost-effective source of carbs and protein and a great way to start your day.
No matter the type of bean, they’re almost always a less-expensive protein alternative to meat.
( including sweet potatoes)
Potatoes are a low-cost food staple that can be manipulated for preferred texture, and they provide healthy carbohydrates, among other nutrients.
No matter how we experience it, cancer transforms us.
That transformation can be physical, as patients experience the rigours of the disease and its treatment. For both patients and caregivers, cancer can change us mentally and emotionally, alter perspectives and outlooks on life, and transform relationships. Research and donor dollars transform outcomes for Albertans diagnosed with cancer while simultaneously changing the lives of those making innovative discoveries and providing critical cancer care. Here, we meet individuals facing cancer along with healthcare providers and organizations finding purpose and direction through transformation.
When it comes to cancer, transformation can be challenging. But it can also be empowering.
When it comes to the “big C,” the “C” could just as easily stand for change by ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTH
While no two cancer experiences will ever be the same, individuals and families who have gone through a cancer journey are almost universally changed by the disease. We know how cancer can change a patient physically, but it can also trigger mental, emotional and spiritual transformations. Priorities might shift, family relationships may evolve and plans for the future are often rewritten. Some changes may be unwelcome, while others can help build a sense of purpose. These are stories of how cancer can transform us.
When Arbaiza Jamaluddin was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in December 2022, she was shocked. A routine mammogram the previous year had come back clear, but, after returning to her home in Calgary from a trip to see family in Malaysia, she noticed a swelling under her arm. As the proud mother of two adult children, the infectiously energetic Jamaluddin has always been proactive about her health and quality of life. She could barely fathom that cancer spread into her lymph nodes so shortly after a healthy scan.
“I was in shock,” she says. “I had to ask my doctor if she was sure she was talking about me.”
Despite the aggressiveness of Jamaluddin’s disease, she successfully underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, and was declared cancer-free within a year of her initial diagnosis. Even though her course of treatment was relatively short, it brought major changes to her life. Not only was her treatment painful and emotionally taxing, but it also made her long black hair fall out just days after her first chemotherapy session, altering her appearance significantly. Thankfully, she was strong enough to attend her son’s wedding in Montreal, but she needed the help of a wheelchair to get there.
Still, Jamaluddin remains an extremely positive and extroverted person. She’s been able to use the support from her family, health-care providers and mental health services to stay optimistic and rebuild her life in survivorship. While cancer didn’t necessarily
change the core of her nature, it ultimately amplified her positivity and optimism as she used those aspects of her personality to propel herself towards a healthy survivorship.
“Cancer happens. I had to accept that and figure out how to overcome it,” she says. “I love people and their energy helped me to heal.”
Jamaluddin channelled that energy into creating a post-cancer community with other survivors to heal both her body and her soul. She participates in several cancer-related initiatives, dedicating herself to post-cancer yoga programs and various charity events while engaging in philanthropy campaigns with the Alberta Cancer Foundation. She’s still busy with her family and career in the field of information privacy, but honouring other Albertans on their own cancer journeys has given her a new sense of purpose.
“I don’t want to take what happened to me as a victim,” she says. “I want to wear a cape and be a hero. I want to inspire people.”
Like many people in his generation, Phil Croteau worked hard to save for his retirement. After losing his father and triplet sister to cancer and watching his triplet brother survive prostate cancer, this Calgarian, now in his mid-60s, never took life for granted and worked hard to modify his diet and exercise regime to get in good health to enjoy his golden years.
So, when Croteau himself was unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal gastrointestinal cancer in 2023, he not only had to face his mortality, but also apply perspective to what would happen to his life savings, with which he was expecting to fuel a long and enjoyable retirement.
“I worked for 40 years, hoping to maybe have a 20- or 25-year retirement to enjoy. Then, just a few years into retirement, I was told I had cancer,” he says. “So, I’ve now got to evaluate what to do with the assets I had saved for retirement.”
Croteau is currently undergoing immunotherapy treatment, which will not provide a cure, but is successfully extending his quality of life and life expectancy. While his cancer treatment has been physically
taxing, he still enjoys walking in the park near his house, chatting with neighbours and spending time with his dog, Oreo, who he affectionately refers to as his “health advocate.”
While he has joy and purpose in his retired life, he’s had to shift his retirement from his original plans, including travel and developing long-term hobbies.
Though Croteau doesn’t have children, he wants to take care of his family, leaving as much as possible to his surviving siblings, while also providing care for Oreo. Since his savings were organized to pay out over the long term, Croteau reorganized his estate planning to maximize his tax benefits, leading him to philanthropy.
After attending an Alberta Cancer Foundation Tax Saving Seminar, Croteau made the decision to donate a portion of his securities to the OWN.CANCER campaign to generate tax credits to help manage his tax obligations, and, additionally to direct funds from his will. It’s a win-win situation, allowing his legacy to benefit both his loved ones and others who are facing the disease that has so deeply affected his family.
“When I went to the Alberta Cancer Foundation presentation, I learned that one in two people would be touched by cancer one way or the other,” he says. “If I make a donation of a philanthropic nature, I can’t think of a better result than trying to impact something that touches so many people.”
Croteau extends his thanks for all the “amazing care provided at the Calgary South Health Campus, as well as all the wonderful staff” at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
Cancer has a profound impact on those who experience it first-hand, but it also alters the lives of those closest to patients. This is especially true for children with a parent, sibling or other close relative experiencing cancer. Childhood is a time of intense emotional and psychological development. When the added stress and fear that comes from cancer is thrown into the mix, the aftermath can last a lifetime, even if the family member in question comes out of the process cancer-free.
“This will transform a family permanently,” says Dr. Fiona Schulte, an associate professor in the department of oncology at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, who also works as a psychologist supporting families grappling with a cancer diagnosis at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “There is no going back to the way things were before cancer.”
Schulte, who lost her own mother to cancer when she was in her 20s, says that the disruption of schedules and unpredictability of treatment and test results can be difficult for kids and teens to deal with, especially while also facing the fear of potentially losing a family member. From that perspective, cancer can affect every aspect of family life, but Schulte says there are ways to mitigate longterm negative effects. The most critical thing, she says, is to
be absolutely honest with children and not shy away from using the word “cancer” when describing a family member’s illness.
While discussions need to be age-appropriate — younger children require less information and details than teenagers — bringing a child into the fold builds trust and a feeling of safety. Schulte says that some of the kids she works with may like to observe chemotherapy treatment to diffuse the mystery of where Mom or Dad is going every week. From there, maintain as predictable a schedule as possible and ensure children always feel like they’re a priority. Doing so, combined with giving space for kids to process feelings, can help build healthy psychological habits that will follow them into adulthood.
“Transformation in the context of cancer sounds negative and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” Schulte says. “It can bring a family together and teach positive coping skills in the face of something that is traumatic and scary. Honesty and transparency are really important.”
As cancer care evolves, so, too, do the careers of Alberta’s dedicated health-care professionals by
NATHAN KUNZ
Nothing stays static in cancer care.
For most oncology professionals, each day looks a little different than the last. But, every once in a while, a transformation happens with life-altering effects, both for those providing care and those receiving it.
By investing in sector-leading facilities, supporting cuttingedge research and recruiting first-rate talent, Alberta is earning a reputation as the place to evolve cancer care careers. Here are four professionals in the midst of their own transformations in Calgary and Edmonton as they explore the next chapters of their careers.
DR. ANDREA MCNIVEN
TRANSFORMING TEAMWORK
Director of Medical Physics,
Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre; Division Head of Medical Physics, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary
In 2023, Dr. Andrea McNiven made the move from Toronto to Calgary after being recruited as director of medical physics at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, and now, at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Arthur Child). Medical physicists often use x-rays, ultrasound, radioisotopes, magnetic and electric fields in diagnosis and therapy, as well as radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer.
An accomplished medical physicist, McNiven has worked with radiation oncologists and therapists to deliver tailored and precise treatment for countless patients, while also pushing the field forward through research and education. The cross-country move, she explains, offered an unprecedented chance to help transform how cancers are treated alongside a multifaceted team of learners and experts, all working under one roof.
“Like many people, cancer has touched my life. I’ve had grandparents, aunts and uncles lost to cancer. So, the concept of cancer research emerged pretty
early on as a direction I might want to take. And, when I learned about the role of the medical physicist, it was just such a great way to take physics and apply it, in a real tangible way, to medicine.
“My move to Calgary was motivated by several things. It’s an incredibly unique opportunity to get in on the ground floor at the Arthur Child, and the many opportunities that come with it — new technology, new workflows, a new space in one building with all of the radiation oncology medicine team working together. It’s all really exciting.
“There’s also the fact that this is a large academic centre with training programs. We have graduate students associated with our medical physics department, and a large residency program. To be able to build the education and training along with this new technology, and to support innovative research from the medical physics team — there’s not many centres in Canada where those opportunities exist.
“To have every element of care in the same place will just enable that collaboration in ways we haven’t had before. That proximity, face-to-face collaboration and idea-generation are real things and will help us to better translate care from bench to bedside.
“Ultimately, I hope that we can really build a medical physics team that helps to contribute and maintain the highest quality of radiation therapy care for our patients.”
Surgical Oncologist, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre; Professor in Surgical Oncology at the University of Calgary
It’s not so much about a one-to-one benefit — if we’re successful in creating good products that help patients, it will help a larger number of people.
From surgeries to research to his lab’s worldrenowned tumour bank, Dr. Oliver Bathe has found ways to make a difference on several levels over his 27year cancer care career. Three years ago, Bathe stepped away from his surgical oncology practice to dedicate full attention to research work and teaching at the University of Calgary, as well as developing precision oncology tools through his company, Qualisure Diagnostics. While his day-to-day work has changed drastically, Bathe’s ability to spark innovation has only grown. In 2023, he was awarded the first Wayne Foo Professorship in Surgical Oncology. This designation financially supports research conducted in Bathe’s lab for five years, all thanks to a generous gift from the Wayne Foo Foundation facilitated by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
“To be honest, it really took me a while to wrap my head around this transformation stage because I really enjoy taking care of patients. I just can’t explain the personal impact it has to take care of people who are sick. But, with this new chapter [of research and teaching], I feel like I can actually impact more people.
“Cancer care, when I started out, was very nonspecific. You gave a treatment because that’s what the guidelines told you to do, and sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. So, my ultimate goal is to be a part of making precision oncology a real thing. I want to create tools that help make clinical decisions more precise and that deliver the right treatment to the right patient.
“The Wayne Foo Professorship has been extremely beneficial in supporting not just me, but all the people in my lab, which includes PhD and master’s students as well as postdocs. One challenge with research is that you’re always looking for funding. These kinds of gifts free up researchers to put more effort into the actual research and ideation, rather than looking for money.
“I’ll continue to support the education of my students, of course. One of my most exciting current projects is working on a blood test for colorectal cancer, which is potentially a very powerful technology. The Wayne Foo Professorship is going to enable me to complete the work required to bring it back to the clinic.”
DAVID SINN TRANSFORMING PERSPECTIVE
Medical Physicist, Cross Cancer Institute
David Sinn had his sights set on becoming a physician as a high schooler until the introduction of Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity led to a new fascination with physics and an unexpected pivot. After discovering medical physics as a path to meaningfully apply his passion, Sinn never looked back. A born-and-raised Edmontonian, Sinn served Albertans between 2014 to 2022, mostly at the Cross Cancer Institute, before moving to Hawaii, where he worked at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Now, he’s returned home to Edmonton to further his work in cancer care and apply his newfound perspective.
“The move to Hawaii was motivated by wanting to give our kids the adventure of a lifetime. My wife and I thought, ’Let’s just give these kids the most amazing childhood ever and see how this goes.’
“There was a really big difference in the scope and breadth of my work when comparing Hawaii to Canada. In Hawaii, there were two linear accelerators and three physicists, as opposed to Edmonton, where there are 16 radiation therapy physicists and nine treatment units. When you have such a small group, as I did in Hawaii, you
really had to be a jack of all trades.
“Hawaii was always meant to be temporary. And, after two years of being away from friends and family, we felt like the experience had happened. It just felt right to return.
“To be honest, I practically feel like I’m a different person since coming back to the Cross Cancer Institute. Before I left, I was kind of rigid and stubborn in my way of thinking — I thought there was always a certain way to do things and that’s exactly how it should be done. Working in Hawaii has shown me that I’m adaptable as a person, and I can conquer new challenges that I maybe didn’t have confidence to before. It’s made me a lot more open to trying new things.
“More than anything, I feel fortunate that I am being welcomed back, and I’m very thankful for the opportunity that’s been given to me to be able to return and help serve Albertans.”
Section Chief of Radiation Oncology, Calgary Zone, Cancer Care
Alberta; Division Head of Radiation Oncology, University of Calgary
Six years ago, Dr. Lisa Barbera was looking for her next challenge. The radiation oncologist had spent her career treating patients, leading research and teaching at the University of Toronto. And, while the work was fulfilling, Barbera was eager to step into a larger leadership role. An opportunity in Calgary offered just that, and, in 2018, drawn by a strong team and a new cancer centre on the horizon, Barbera made the move west. Ahead of the opening of the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Arthur Child), Barbera shared what’s most exciting to her about another transformation — this time, for Calgary cancer care as a whole.
“The Arthur Child site was a big hole when I moved here. So, it’s been fascinating to watch it go up and hear the stories of the construction. It’s been an epic journey to get that building to where it is now. I just can’t wait to move in.
“Specifically, for my department, there is new infrastructure that will immediately change how we’re able to deliver care for patients. We have access to all sorts of new technology that would be the envy of almost any radiotherapy department. And, from an imaging perspective, we’re beautifully poised to take advantage of future innovations to develop and grow within this space.
“Another exciting change is the intentional effort to co-locate research with the clinic. It’s fascinating to me how architecture can affect relationships. For
example, we work really closely with our medical physics colleagues. At the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, they were located in the basement, but, in the new building, they’re located on the same floor as all the radiation oncologists. So we’ll be able to have a lot more informal interactions with them. Those relationships, when done properly, can be extraordinarily rich.
“And, to be honest, the beauty of this space is amazing and exciting. There are windows everywhere — even in the radiotherapy department, which is uncommon. We’re always sort of shuttered away. Now we have this beautiful floor with all sorts of huge windows and murals of wonderful landscapes. If you have to be there, it’s just an incredibly lovely place to be.”
by JACQUIE MOORE
People may wonder: is cancer research making a difference? In a resounding, all-caps word, YES.
Understandably, it can sometimes be difficult to perceive a difference in the conversation around cancer because statistics, treatments and diagnostic methods are constantly evolving. We might, for instance, read about a new cancer-related breakthrough only to realize that it’s at the discovery stage or awaiting approval for phase I or II of a clinical trial and not yet a viable treatment.
Still, as technology evolves and researchers, scientists and clinicians build momentum from the tremendous, global depth of knowledge and experience, profound advancements are making the transition from research lab to clinical practice faster and more successfully than ever.
These three Alberta researchers prove that exploration, discovery and a collective, laserfocused aim to save lives are at the heart of transformative change in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
While the successful removal of skin cancer is always a coup, a patient’s relief can be diminished by the difficult reconstructive surgery that may follow. Indeed, with rates of non-melanoma skin cancer on the rise in Canada, surgery to repair areas of the face and neck, or rebuild the nose, for instance, are also growing.
Dr. Adetola Adesida is a bioengineer working to transform experiences and outcomes for skin-cancer patients by reducing post-surgical complications and improving both health and aesthetics.
Adesida explains that rebuilding a nose following surgery for non-melanoma is an intensely complex business. Traditionally, surgeons have had to borrow cartilage for the nose from either the patient’s ear, which can cause scarring and deformity, or from their rib. The latter is particularly undesirable: it’s major surgery that exposes the vital organs to harvest a bit of cartilage, which may or may not be too brittle for use.
“This is where I come in,” says Adesida, who oversees a cartilage bioengineering and regenerative medicine lab at the University of Alberta’s department of surgery. “What we can do is take a small biopsy from the nose septum and digest that tissue using enzymes to release the cells — those become the building blocks for cartilage that a surgeon can now use,” he says. Not all the cells, however, are efficient at making quality cartilage; Adesida’s work allows for selection of the best cells for making cartilage after discovering a marker that defines them.
Those cells can be multiplied in the lab using growth factors until there are enough for Adesida and his team to put into a 3D printer to take the shape of a patient’s nose. “We then take that printed structure and put it into an incubator at body temperature where the cells build tissue and cartilage.” Six to nine weeks later — after the cartilage has been rigorously tested to ensure the cells are expressing the correct genes for the patient — it’s given a green light for the surgeon to use.
It’s a major discovery that, Adesida believes, “will give patients the best quality cartilage for them, based on the markers in their own cells.”
For decades, “cancer treatment” called to mind two pillars of care: chemotherapy and radiation. The relatively novel field of immunotherapy, however, is now part of cancer care that’s making profound strides in positive outcomes for patients with B-cell (nonHodgkin) lymphomas and leukemia. By stimulating the immune system to target certain biomarkers, immunotherapy can take the disease from terminal to long-term remission. A new, early stage clinical trial set to open at seven sites across Canada will test a newly developed, Canadian-made product that could improve and expand the success of immunotherapy.
Dr. Kevin Hay is the biomanufacturing medical director at the Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy at the Arnie
Charbonneau Cancer Institute. An expert in early phase clinical trials, Hay will lead the multi-centre trial.
“The immune system is nicely designed to help us fight infections,” says Hay. “It can also help us fight off cancers before they become cancer.” Early stage trials in novel cell and immune therapies for cancer are an important part of the mission at the Riddell Centre; the most advanced of these so far is the CAR T-cell therapy, which is moving toward rapid clinical translation.
“CAR T-cell therapy is what we call a ’living drug’ in that what we do is take the T-cell from a patient and engineer it in the lab,” says Hay, whose team hopes to accrue patients in pediatric and adult cohorts over the next 18 months. “We put the new gene-modified cells, grown in the lab for a period of a week, back into the body to reinvigorate their response against the targeted tumour cells.” The hope is that the immune system would then recognize those cells as cancerous and fight them.
“Part of our overall vision of this program is to make these cells in Canada so that it’s affordable, and we can not only help fight cancer, but support Canadian science and jobs, as well as improve our health-care system.” It’s a tall order — entirely on par with the tremendous ambition and success of cancer research in Calgary.
Dr. Wee Yong refers to the focus of his current phase I-II clinical trial as “the battle for the brain.” Yong is a professor at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary and holds the Canada Research Chair in Neuroimmunology; his extraordinary research has been translated into clinical trials in multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and glioblastoma. The latter is the subject of potentially transformative research right now, as Yong and his team aim to rejuvenate the immune system to target deadly brain cancer.
“In our lab work, we discovered that vitamin B3, also known as niacin, could mobilize immune cells to win the fight over brain tumours,” says Yong. By screening more than 1,000 compounds in laboratory models, he and his colleagues, including Drs. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti, Paula de Robles and Candice Poon, found that niacin was one of two drugs that may have the potential to extend the lifespan of people with glioblastoma. As Yong explains, the cancer-compromised immune system can’t fight the brain tumour cells, and so, “the cancer cells win the battle.” This trial, he says, demonstrates the value of collaborative
research and gives the brain a fighting chance.
“As a lab scientist, I know that many discoveries get stuck in the lab,” says Yong. “But we’ve been successful in getting funding to bring in clinical colleagues who then design and conduct the clinical trials in patients.” By doing so, his hope is that, within the next couple of years, the niacin trial will illuminate a probable new addition to standard of care to extend the lives of people diagnosed with glioblastoma.
Alberta Cancer Foundation CEO, WENDY BEAUCHESNE , reflects on the evolution of the organization by LEAP STAFF
Wendy Beauchesne, CEO, Alberta Cancer Foundation
This fall, the Alberta Cancer Foundation launched an exciting new look that better reflects the organization’s sense of purpose and its mission to create more moments for Albertans facing cancer. We sat down with Wendy Beauchesne, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, to discuss the new brand and its significance for the Foundation’s future.
What is different about the Alberta Cancer Foundation today?
Over the past decade, the Alberta Cancer Foundation has undergone a significant transformation, evolving our mandate to better meet the needs of Alberta’s ever-changing cancer care system and its patients. Most of the scientific community agrees that we’re at a generational tipping point in how we detect and treat cancer — so while our mission has always been to provide hope and support to Albertans facing cancer, today we’re more audacious and ambitious in our goals. This scientific sea-change over the last decade required us to shift how we talk about our collective impact and where we aspire to go — a bold, compassionate organization that shares a relentless passion with donors for investing in the absolute latest cancer care and research.
The evolution of our logo parallels the incredible advances being made in the cancer world, the growth and strength of our community, and our unique ability to surround patients, families and caregivers with love, support and hope. At the same time, it better reflects the difficult “swirl” that comes with a cancer diagnosis and acknowledging that not every day will be positive, nor a straight line.
What makes the Alberta Cancer Foundation different from other cancer organizations?
One of our goals is to put Albertans first in everything we do. We invest in the very latest cancer care and research, much of it happening right here in Alberta, to ensure that Albertans facing cancer don’t necessarily have to wait for those breakthroughs to come from elsewhere. Alberta can take a leadership role in the transformation that’s taking place, and our donors can be a catalyst for change in their own backyard. That’s what makes us different — and it’s an exciting place to be, knowing we have thousands of passionate Albertans working right alongside us.
How does this new look align with the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s other initiatives?
Cash and Cars Lottery and the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer are two of our signature initiatives. While these initiatives are loyally supported by thousands of Albertans each year, many people weren’t connecting their support with the broader impact of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. We’re doing incredible things together! Our goal was to create visual consistency between these programs and the Foundation, but also to ensure that Albertans understand the massive impact they are making — no matter how they choose to support us.
So — we’ll be changing the name of Cash and Cars Lottery to the Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery and launching the More Hope Movement — our way of inviting Albertans to join this incredibly powerful
community and our collective mission. By donating to the More Hope Movement, you’re supporting access to the latest treatments and providing support to Albertans when they need it most. This includes reducing financial burdens, funding critical programs and equipment, and having more Albertans participate in life-saving clinical trials.
What are you most excited about for the future of the Alberta Cancer Foundation?
Last year, we invested more than $27 million into Alberta’s cancer care system, benefiting the 24,000 Albertans who face a new cancer diagnosis each year. Our goal for the coming year is to raise this investment to $40 million, allowing us to make an even greater difference in the lives of those affected by cancer across the province. Advancements in cancer prevention, detection and treatment — fuelled by donor support — are showing remarkable results, with more Albertans surviving and living longer with cancer than ever before. It’s an incredible thing to be a part of, and we’re so excited to invite donors to take this next step into the future with us.
IN THIS SERIES, WE CAPTURE THE BRAVERY, STRENGTH, HONESTY, HOPE AND RESILIENCE OF ALBERTANS LIVING WITH CANCER.
As told to COLLEEN SETO | photograph by JARED SYCH
In spring of 2022, longtime CTV Calgary news anchor Jocelyn Laidlaw discovered an enlarged lymph node in her groin area. After months of monitoring, ultrasounds and testing, there was still no diagnosis, so she advocated to have the lymph node removed. Three days after her surgery in September 2022, pathology confirmed the lymph node was cancerous. Within a week, Laidlaw was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. She underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and 30 consecutive radiation treatments, and currently has no evidence of disease (NED). Laidlaw shares her cancer journey to raise awareness and transform how colorectal cancer is talked about.
“I never for one second suspected that I had cancer. I had GI [gastrointestinal] symptoms for at least a year, maybe two years, prior to finding the lymph node. I had shooting pains up my spine coming from the lower region. But I didn’t tell anybody. I’m telling my story now because I know there are other people out there who would behave in a similar way. And it could cost them their lives.
“I never connected those brief intermittent shooting pains to the discovery of that lymph node or my changes in bowel movements. I dismissed those symptoms. I never mentioned them to my doctor. I didn’t know they were related. But it’s important to note also that I don’t feel I was properly screened for what might have been causing those symptoms. And so, part of my goal in speaking out is to get Albertans to be very clear and honest about their symptoms, even if they don’t think it’s anything. Likely, it’s nothing, but it may be something very serious and you want to catch that as early as possible. Early detection means a better chance at survival and a full recovery.
“I’m NED now, which means that on my scans, they can see no cancer. But I’m mindful of the fact that there are limits to what imaging can see. I’m cautiously optimistic. I live my life in that ’in-between’ place. I never declare myself cancer-free, which is not a negative approach to my cancer. It is simply practical. I celebrate where I’m at, and I understand and accept it with a massive amount of gratitude every single day. But I still live with cancer as my reality.
“Every single aspect of my life is different. And this is going to sound very strange, but many parts of it are much better. The way I approach life is different. I take nothing for granted. I embrace the ridiculously mundane things of life because that’s where the sweet stuff exists — in the everyday things.
“After my treatment was over, I couldn’t figure out why I was despondent and sometimes hysterical. Your mind starts to ask: ’What just happened?’ The mental and emotional challenges often set in later after you’re out of fight-or-flight mode. I encourage everybody to take advantage of oncology psychology supports, which are available to every cancer patient in Alberta. Not everybody will feel they need it, but I promise, you will benefit from it.
“I would urge all Albertans to take their routine screenings seriously. Do the FIT [fecal immunochemical test] at home. It’s easy. And life is too precious to be worried about a bit of embarrassment. Nobody wants to talk about pooping or pain down there. But the truth is, not talking about those things nearly killed me.
“Self-advocacy is a fundamental part of the cancer journey. Now, I read all my reports and ask questions. You’ve got to help lead your care because no one will care more about your survival than you.”
Dr. Vickie Baracos is one of the world’s leading experts on cancer cachexia, a common wasting syndrome, and her groundbreaking research has led to improved diagnosis guidelines and treatments by KERI SWEETMAN |
Dr. Vickie Baracos isn’t a physician or an oncologist or a cancer surgeon. And her education focused primarily on animals, not humans.
But during more than 40 years as a researcher, her work has helped alleviate the suffering of people with advancedstage cancers and improve their quality of life.
Baracos, a professor in the University of Alberta’s oncology department, is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on cancer cachexia, a common wasting syndrome involving weight loss, muscle atrophy, weakness and fatigue. She was named to the Order of Canada in June 2024 in recognition of her groundbreaking research.
According to Baracos, each year, about 90,000 Canadians suffer from cancer cachexia and at least half of them experience severe weight loss. The disorder mainly affects those with advanced cancers, particularly those of the pancreas and other digestive organs, as well as lung cancer. Cachexia reduces quality of life significantly and is a cause of stress for both patients and their families.
Moreover, it can result in the
termination of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, because the patient can no longer tolerate the therapy. Studies done by Baracos and her collaborators have shown that people with cachexia are more likely to develop severe toxicity or side effects like vomiting and fatigue when undergoing chemotherapy, which means treatment often stops.
“Simply put, this wasting destroys a person’s body so that there is nothing left but skin and bones,” says Baracos. “It’s one of a myriad forms of suffering experienced by people with advanced stages of cancer.”
Her research has focused on the fundamental biology of this complex condition, leading to a better understanding among patients and physicians, and better guidelines for diagnosing and assessing cachexia. She and her team also developed a grading system that is now used worldwide, and her research laid the groundwork for identifying possible treatments.
And though she’s been at the University of Alberta for 40 years, she shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, Baracos recently received a four-year, $1.25-million Game Changer award
from the Alberta Cancer Foundation to continue her work alongside a team of medical oncologists, epidemiologists and experts in cancer imaging.
It’s a long way from when she began her academic studies in 1973. Baracos grew up in Winnipeg, the daughter of a physicist mother and a civil engineer father. Her parents had met at the University of Alberta, and that’s where Baracos decided to take her undergraduate courses.
“I’m probably the only professor in an oncology department anywhere whose undergraduate degree was in animal science,” she chuckles. She studied the nutrition and metabolism of animals and was particularly interested in how their muscles grew or wasted away.
Baracos continued pursuing that interest during her PhD in applied biochemistry and nutrition at the University of Nottingham in England. She followed that with a four-year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, where she worked with cell biologist Alfred Lewis Goldberg, who was studying muscle growth and breakdown in humans.
Her first publication, jointly with
DR. VICKIE BARACOS IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH CANCER CACHEXIA.
Goldberg, appeared in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine in 1983. It was the first study to describe the role of the cytokine molecule, interleukin-1, in signalling muscles to break down, and the first to make the link between inflammation and loss of muscle mass and function.
Baracos continued her research when she joined the University of Alberta in 1984, working as an experimental scientist and academic in what is now the department of agricultural, food and nutritional science. But a chance meeting with Dr. Anthony Fields, founding Chair of the University of Alberta’s department of oncology, changed the trajectory of her career. When he learned of her research,
he insisted that she needed to widen her studies to include cancer and cachexia.
Fields taught Baracos how to work on experimental models of cancer. This research knowledge helped her to access funding to support her work.
Her lab-based cancer research continued for the 19 years she spent in the agriculture department. But Baracos was eager to move into clinical cancer research. “I would not be satisfied if my lifetime contribution was all experimental and I didn’t help anyone with cancer anytime soon,” she says. She landed a position in the department of oncology in 2003 and has been there ever since.
That included 20 years as the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Chair in Palliative
Care (the longest of any Foundation Chairholder), a position she held until 2023. “We made tremendous progress in the fundamental understanding of muscle wasting and cachexia during my tenure as Chair, reinforcing my desire to see these findings move from the bench to the bedside to benefit cancer patients,” Baracos wrote in a summary of her time as Chair.
Dr. Sharon Watanabe, director of the division of palliative care medicine in the University of Alberta’s department of oncology, has known Baracos for 20 years. She describes her as a brilliant scientific mind, and it’s her collaborative skills that make her an exceptional researcher. “It’s her willingness to
understand the real-world experience of patients and the health-care providers who are trying to support these patients, forging those relationships and providing opportunities for collaboration.”
Baracos’ research has been absolutely critical to understanding cancer cachexia and moving the field forward, asserts Watanabe.
Cachexia “has a major impact on
quality of life when people can no longer enjoy eating. And, when they’re losing weight and losing strength, it affects their ability to function and participate in the activities that are meaningful to them,” says Watanabe, who also directs palliative care at the Cross Cancer Institute. “It can also cause tension because well-meaning family members want their loved ones to eat, but they
Where do you get your best ideas?
Reading about what’s going on in science and medicine, and interacting with people.
What was the hardest lesson you’ve learned?
If you get bucked off your horse, get back on again. (Baracos enjoys horse riding as her main interest outside of work.)
Why does your research matter?
Cancer causes suffering in myriad ways. If we can’t always cure it, we must make the life that remains for people with cancer bearable.
can’t because of this syndrome.”
There are now nutritional treatments along with exercise and drug therapies available for people with cancer cachexia, with more in development. But there’s still a lot of work ahead.
The Game Changer funding will allow Baracos’ team to review the weight loss of every patient who faced advanced cancer in Alberta, as the first comprehensive study to determine through imaging data how many have cachexia, muscle loss and how severely they have it. Medical oncologists aim to reveal why people with cachexia experience higher levels of toxicity from chemotherapy drugs. By doing so, they hope to develop more personalized and optimal cancer treatments with better outcomes.
The results of the team’s work will be part of Baracos’ legacy in the field.
“You may do things that you feel are successful in your career, but if you want that to live on, you really have to invest in people who are younger than you, bringing their unique strengths to bear on the problem.
“So, for me, one of the great things is that these younger medical oncologists, specialists in nuclear medicine, cancer imaging, epidemiology and nutrition care will gain new evidence to keep this whole field moving forward.”
DR. MAY LYNN QUAN ACTIVELY IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH BREAST CANCER.
DR. MAY LYNN QUAN takes action to improve the quality and timing of care for individuals with breast cancer in Alberta
by ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTH | photographs by JARED SYCH
hen Dr. May Lynn Quan sees a problem, her natural impulse is to do whatever it takes to solve it.
A shining light in the field of breast cancer care, Quan’s titles include professor in the departments of surgery, oncology and community health sciences at the University of Calgary, the Calgary Breast Health Program’s medical director and the scientific director of the Strategies for Precision Health in Breast Cancer (SPHERE). It’s a full plate she balances while also performing breast cancer surgery and caring for patients. As demanding as her schedule can be, Quan performs all these roles with an infectious sense of enthusiasm and good humour, finding satisfaction in not only treating individual patients, but also transforming the way care is delivered to those with breast cancer across Alberta.
Case in point: after years of seeing patients’ tumours being marked with cumbersome and uncomfortable wires protruding from their breasts, then having to travel to another medical centre to see a surgeon who would use the wire placement to find and remove the tumour, Quan took it upon herself to find a better and less painful solution. She brought a system known as Sentimag to Calgary to replace traditional “hook wires” with magnetic seed (Magseed) markers that can be placed at the site of tumours too small to feel, allowing surgeons to easily find the lesions with magnetic tools.
“Hook wires have been the standard in Calgary for decades, but the wires are problematic for a number of reasons,” Quan says. “Everyone across the province has recognized that the wires are obsolete.”
Not only is the Magseed marker more comfortable and less invasive for patients, it’s more precise because it can’t get dislodged like a hook wire can. It also allows for easier scheduling of surgery since it can be placed in the breast anytime before surgery, versus the same day for hook wires. And, Magseed contains no radioactive material. Through her tireless advocacy and the securing of funding from Calgary Health Foundation and the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Quan was able to launch Sentimag in Calgary. The three-year pilot program will replace hook wires with Magseeds for all Calgary patients, with the goal of extending the program to the rest of Alberta. She saw a problem and found both medical and funding solutions — because that’s what Quan does.
Quan’s determination to solve this seemingly obvious problem is emblematic of the kind of health-care provider she’s become, though, surprisingly enough, she didn’t always dream of becoming a doctor. Her undergrad degree is in kinesiology. But medicine seemed a natural next step with her interest in human physiology and, specifically, in helping people.
“Was I one of those eight-year-olds running around with a stethoscope? No, not at all,” she says. “I tried to follow my interests, which were in people and the human body. I thought maybe I would apply for med school. If I could get in, that’d be great. I could be a doctor.”
From there, the transformation to medical changemaker started to take hold. Thinking she’d end up as a pediatrician, Quan wasn’t particularly interested in her surgical
rotation. But when a supervising surgeon trusted her to make an incision on a patient, she was immediately hooked. She shifted to general surgery, then chose to specialize in breast cancer surgery. But, as much as she enjoys performing surgery, Quan’s curiosity and problem-solving nature couldn’t be confined to the operating room.
Quan’s passion for research was sparked during a breast oncology surgery fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York in the early 2000s. Research projects required to complete her program piqued her interest so much that she followed her fellowship with a Master of Science degree in epidemiology from the University of Calgary. Her next move was to a position as a surgeon-investigator at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, where she got involved in research work designed to improve the health-care system, and became deeply involved in how to improve breast cancer care, particularly for younger women with breast cancer. Personal circumstances brought her back to Calgary in 2009, and she was determined to explore similar work at the University of Calgary and the Foothills Medical Centre.
“When I was at Sunnybrook, I met a young woman who was a lawyer. She was the same age as me or maybe a little bit younger and she was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Quan recalls. “I realized the data about women that young with breast cancer was really poor. It was a turning point in my career.”
Quan’s research work eventually resulted in the creation of her SPHERE research team at the University of Calgary, a group
formed to improve treatment and outcomes for individuals with breast cancer in Alberta through precision medicine, patientreported outcomes, big data and machine learning. Focusing on the unique challenges of younger women with breast cancer remains central to her work: her ongoing Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer in Young Women (RUBY) study collects data from more than 1,500 breast cancer patients aged 40 and under across Canada. SPHERE is also overseeing the development of an app called Sapphire to help younger women with breast cancer manage unmet psychosocial needs that can come with a cancer diagnosis.
Quan’s propensity for research and trying to answer questions that arise in her surgical practice naturally led her to take on leadership roles to help make the healthcare system run better and more efficiently. This is where projects like Sentimag come in — as the Calgary Breast Health Program’s medical director, she’s able to seek solutions for what she sees as avoidable problems impeding her patients’ well-being.
Graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton with a medical degree
2003
Completed fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City
2004 - 2009
Worked as a surgeoninvestigator at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto
Sept 2009
Moved to Calgary to become a general surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre
In addition to the hook wire issue, Quan has made it her mission to address the patient pathway from screening to surgery to eliminate unnecessary, often time-
2013
Appointed Calgary Breast Health Program medical director
2016
Founded Strategies for Precision Health in Breast Cancer (SPHERE) at the University of Calgary
2017 - 2020
Assumed role as co-lead at the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network, Provincial Breast Health Initiative
2024
Initiated Sentimag project for breast cancer patients in Calgary
consuming, steps.
Through SPHERE’s work with the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network’s Provincial Breast Health Initiative, she helped to shorten the route Alberta patients take from a mass in the breast being identified as “highly suspicious” in diagnostic imaging to biopsy by referring patients directly from screening to a surgeon. Previously, a report was sent to their family doctor who would then refer them for surgery. Similarly, under Quan’s leadership, the time patients spend in hospital after breast surgery has shortened considerably, with the vast majority of breast cancer patients in Alberta now going home the same day as their operation, which is beneficial to recovery and the health-care system.
While all of these initiatives — pathway efficiencies, phasing out hook wires, recognizing that younger women with breast cancer have a unique set of needs — have a tremendous impact on cancer care, Quan doesn’t see herself as a hero. She’s just doing what makes sense in a field that happens to save people’s lives.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to find something I love,” she says. “It doesn’t seem like work. It just seems like this is what we should be doing.”
How St. Albert high school students bike around the clock to raise hundreds of thousands to support cancer initiatives
by FABIAN MAYER
For most of the year, Bellerose Composite High School is much like any other, but wander into the St. Albert school’s atrium in early March, and the scene will be anything but ordinary. You’ll be greeted by the whirring of pedals, colourful costumes and a party atmosphere that is the Bellerose Bikeathon. A 20-year-strong tradition started by a former teacher who was inspired by cancer ride fundraisers, the Bikeathon is the school’s signature event and a highlight for many students.
“It’s marked on the calendar right from the get-go,” says Michael Hutchings, a teacher at Bellerose and co-organizer of the event. “They’re so excited for it, you can feel the energy in the building.”
The Bikeathon sees teams of eight to 10 students challenge each other to ride for two days straight. Each team has one stationary bike and the goal is to keep the pedals spinning for 48 consecutive hours. Students work in shifts to cycle day and night, trading off to eat, sleep and attend classes. Roughly 550 of the school’s
1,000 or so students participated in the 2024 edition.
Even though the bikes stay in one place, each spin of the pedals moves students towards their goal of fundraising as much money as possible for charity. In the weeks and months leading up to the event, teams pound the pavement to fundraise for the Alberta Cancer Foundation and Kids with Cancer Society, raising more than $208,000 in 2024.
“Every year, it kind of blows my mind that they’ve managed the amount of money that they’ve raised,” says Hutchings. “It’s a big celebration for the hard work they do.”
Since 2004, when the event began, the school has raised more than $3.6 million through the Bikeathon. And, while there are no awards for biking the fastest or farthest, Hutchings estimates that over the years, the school has cumulatively cycled enough kilometres to get to the moon and back.
The event took on extra meaning for Hutchings when his father was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and has since passed
STUDENTS AT BELLEROSE COMPOSITE HIGH SCHOOL GATHER FOR THEIR ANNUAL BIKEATHON, RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER.
away. So Hutchings makes sure to find a quiet place during each Bikeathon to reflect on his father’s memory and the importance of what the school is doing. He encourages his students to do the same.
“It’s a great party, it’s fun, but take some time to think about why you’re here, what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for,” says Hutchings. “When it’s all said and done, there are tears of joy and tears of sadness.”
DARREN BAUMGARDNER knows first-hand how philanthropic giving can come with both personal and professional benefits
by OLIVIA PICHÉ | photographs by RYAN PARKER
n 2014, a year after joining the Cross Cancer Institute Golf Classic committee, Darren Baumgardner received a call from the Alberta Cancer Foundation asking if he would be interested in co-chairing the annual golf tournament, which was set to raise funds for colon cancer that year.
Coincidentally, Baumgardner took that call while at the hospital with an IV in his arm, because he was waiting for test results to see if he had colon cancer. Luckily, he didn’t, but Baumgardner describes the experience as the start of a very active journey with the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
“I really started to evaluate what I was doing with my life and what I was contributing back to my community. That was a very large push for me,” he says.
In 2023, Baumgardner retired from his position as Co-Chair for the tournament, after nearly 10 years, to make time to be an Alberta Cancer Foundation board member. He remains involved with the golf classic in other capacities, and he’s also helped support patient care and cancer research through events like Toast of the Town and Jammin’ for a Cure. Through this involvement, he’s witnessed the impact philanthropic giving can have: research
advances and better care.
For Baumgardner, this kind of impact is personal. His father was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago and a clinical trial saved his life. While the success his father experienced motivates Baumgardner’s efforts to support cancer research, the passing of his father-in-law to cancer is an equally important driver.
“We have a tremendous way to go. And, someday, we’ll find a cure for cancers,” he affirms. “We must keep trying to fund research — research is the way to the longterm goal.”
While improving cancer outcomes is at the forefront of his charitable giving, Baumgardner explains that practicing corporate philanthropy has additional benefits.
As the managing partner of Westbrand Group of Companies, his charitable contributions are interconnected with his professional work. “In our group of companies, we have three partners, and we are all very committed to raising money for cancer and other health charities,” he says. “We make it part of our business plan because we really do believe that we have to support the communities that we serve.”
Baumgardner explains that corporate philanthropy helps companies gain a
deeper sense of purpose and, in turn, strengthens the business. As corporate donors, Baumgardner and his partners represent their employees, stakeholders, distributors and an entire team who make
it possible for them to give back. It’s truly a team effort, and that collective sense of giving supports the purpose behind what they do. Westbrand sells bolts and gaskets to distributors across the country, which Baumgardner acknowledges isn’t the most glamorous business. That’s why he goes “beyond the bolt,” as he says, by giving back to give more purpose to his business.
Corporate philanthropy also indicates integrity and trustworthiness, which attracts customers, he says. Through his journey, Baumgardner has made and strengthened many friendships, which often turn into business relationships, too.
It’s about the cause, first and foremost, and relationships and good business will follow. “Save a life, make some friends and do business,” says Baumgardner on what he believes make up the three legs to the stool of fundraising.
“My hope is to encourage other entrepreneurs, and, more importantly, the younger generation of entrepreneurs, to recognize that building your community should be in lockstep with building your company,” he says.
For young researchers beginning their careers, research opportunities in the form of studentships at post-secondary institutions like the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary can be an integral stepping stone to future work that will improve the lives of individuals living with cancer.
Congratulations to all the 2024 award recipients! The Alberta Cancer Foundation is grateful to everyone who generously gives back to make these awards possible and support young Albertans’ careers and important research.
Saron Gebremariam Betty K. Brown Studentship
Hannah Dean Cathy Compton McNabb Studentship
Arya Khosravany David C. Stokes Summer Studentship in Brain Tumour Research
Jessica Zhang Ed and Barbara Prodor Studentship
Camri Imlach Linda Singleton Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Mandy Yip Lynda Doiron Studentship
Jill Allmendinger Richard Singleton Summer Studentship in Cancer Research
Rahim Valji Sartore Multidisciplinary Summer Studentship
Dev Patel Victor-Osten Studentship
Kayleigh Morris
Seth Peyton
Alec Swallow
Lauren Smart
Yimiao Zhao Antoine Noujaim Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Mona Al-Onazi Dr. Cyril Kay Graduate Studentship
Justin Knechtel William Herbert Young Cancer Research Graduate Studentship
Angie Chen
Fatima Muzaffar
Dan Fan Dr. Herbert Meltzer Memorial Award in Oncology
University of Alberta
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
University of Alberta
University of Alberta
University of Alberta
University of Alberta
University of Alberta
University of Alberta GRADUATE
Dr. Anna Taylor has spent her entire career researching pain and how to manage it by KARIN OLAFSON
In January 2024, Dr. Anna Taylor was appointed as the Alberta Cancer Foundation Chair in Palliative Care. Her extensive experience and research background makes her uniquely well-suited for the position.
Taylor has been researching pain since 2004, when she was still an undergraduate life sciences student at Queen’s University.
“I think that pain is one of the most distinctive conscious experiences that we have as a species, and understanding how our brain processes that information is just a really interesting angle in which to explore consciousness,” says Taylor, an associate professor in the department of pharmacology at the University of Alberta.
“This position provides a unique opportunity for me to build momentum at the institution well beyond the walls of my own lab. That is such a powerful opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful to the donors.”
Taylor has spent her entire career researching pain, the challenges of treating chronic pain and the improvements that could be made in managing chronic pain clinically. After completing her PhD at McGill University and doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles, Taylor accepted a faculty position at the University of Alberta in 2017. Here, Taylor found herself interacting with clinicians working in palliative care and discovered the types of problems they encountered in their palliative-care clinic were exactly the types of questions she was trying to answer in her lab.
“Pain is the number one symptom that affects people at end of life,” says Taylor. “I study how our brain processes the experience of pain and how pain impacts our sensory, emotional and cognitive experiences.” One area of her research examines how opioids are used to manage chronic pain at end of life; opioids are commonly given during palliative care to manage pain and provide comfort. But, the longer someone is given opioids, the less effective they are. When taken over time, they actually generate pain (this is called hyperalgesia), and, with cancer patients and patients with other life-limiting diseases living longer than before due to advanced treatment options, this method of pain management is less effective.
“In palliative care, there is a moral obligation to provide pain relief. My lab is trying to develop strategies where we can maintain the positive effects of the opioids, while trying to avoid the negative side effects like opioid-induced hyperalgesia. We’re also asking, can we develop even better, non-opioid, pain-relieving drugs?”
Colleagues encouraged Taylor to apply to the Alberta Cancer Foundation Chair in Palliative Care position in 2023. While the fiveyear term includes an endowment to support Taylor’s research, her role will mostly involve deciding how to distribute that endowment to others to increase the momentum of palliative-care research, encourage networking between palliative care researchers and develop a training program.
Taylor is also inspired by the previous Chair, Dr. Vickie Baracos: “What I found really inspiring about her is that, in her tenure as Chair, she was really effective at networking and collaborating with clinicians and clinical researchers to perform transformative and translational research. This is something that I strive to do as Chair too, to avoid silos in the research world.”
This position — and the work it results in — is only possible because of Alberta Cancer Foundation donors.
“This position provides a unique opportunity for me to build momentum at the institution well beyond the walls of my own lab. That is such a powerful opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful to the donors.”
$1-million donation from the Mid-Southern Alberta Toyota Dealers to the Alberta Cancer Foundation in support of CAR T-cell therapy research.
The donors gathered at the Alberta Cancer Foundation office to present the cheque. “It was quite satisfying,” affirms Panda. “I felt we were able to make some difference in supporting cancer patients and their families.”
Additionally, in 2023, Panda helped raise more than $60,000 for the Foothills Medical Centre’s neonatal unit, and, in 2019, he sponsored cancer screening in his native village in rural southern India, supporting 450 people.
Former MLA Prasad Panda puts his best foot — and facial hair — forward to raise money for people facing cancer
by FABIAN MAYER
It all started with a moustache. During the COVID-19 lockdown, former Alberta Member of the Legislative Assembly Prasad Panda was trying to think of a way he could do some good from his Calgary home. He landed on the idea of growing a selfproclaimed ugly moustache to raise funds and eventually shave it off. Over the next few months, Panda raised $83,000 for Albertans facing cancer.
Witnessing his own mother and older sister’s battles with cancer is what motivated Panda to give back. Both were diagnosed with cancer in the late 1980s in India and passed away before Panda immigrated to Canada in 2004.
“I thought maybe I should help other cancer patients because of my own personal story,” says Panda. “Albertans are generous; at the same time, it’s not easy to raise money. You have to use your persuasion skills, and you have to leverage your contacts.”
And leverage he did. Panda turned to his contacts to amplify his impact. He challenged his friend Tim Beach, general manager at Charlesglen Toyota, to do something big. The eventual result was a
An engineer by training, Panda was a member of the provincial legislature from 2015 to 2023. His time as an MLA also included a stint as Minister of Infrastructure. At the time, the largest project in his portfolio was the construction of the new Calgary Cancer Centre, since named the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Even though his involvement with cancer initiatives is a little less hands-on these days, Panda hopes to keep fundraising and doing more charity work going forward. “Sometimes we are successful in raising big amounts, sometimes smaller amounts, but every penny is worth putting up for a good cause.”
Donate your publicly traded securities by December 15.
Support the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s More Hope Movement in the most tax-efficient way by donating publicly traded stocks or mutual funds.
When appreciated securities are gifted directly to charity in Canada, the capital gains on the appreciation is eliminated in most cases.
Your charitable tax receipt, which generates tax credits, will be for the full market value of the donation received.
You ensure Albertans have access to the support they need and the treatment they deserve.
Visit albertacancer.ca/securities
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The Alberta Cancer Foundation would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Cure Cancer Foundation for their generous support in helping Albertans living with cancer. Through their dedicated partnership we have been able to provide world-leading research and life-saving therapies to Albertans. Creating more moments for them and their families.
