Foods that fight cancer - The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation presentsChallengeFall/Winter 2008Foods that fight cancerAsk CatherineGrowing hopeOttawaRegionalCancerFoundationFondationdu Cancerde la régiond’Ottawa

Shannon GormanLetter from the EditorMissing from this issue’s EditorialBoard lineup is Shannon Gorman, theFoundation’s former VP of Operationsand Communications, who hasleft the Foundation to become SeniorManager, Community Affairs, atTelus.Shannon joined the Cancer Foundationteam nine years ago, following14 years of employment with the CancerCentre.One of the great things about Shannonwas her enthusiastic appreciationof the work of others, such as her“this looks fantastic!” when she sawthe proofs of this magazine.As Ted Johnston of the ProstateCancer Association of Ottawa said inpresenting her with a Walnut Awardfor her 10-year support of the AlternaDo It For Dad Run: “It was always agreat thrill to have her smile and say,‘You guys are doing such a great job!’– whatever the job may have been.”To echo Ted, you’ve done a greatjob, Shannon, and we will miss you.Louise Rachlis,Editor,ChallengeA message from theOttawa Regional Cancer FoundationAs you read this, 15 people in ourregion will walk into their doctor’soffice and hear: “You have cancer.”When someone we care about hearsthose three words, like you, we wantquick access to the best possible treatmentsclose to home.The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationis leading the fight for cancersurvivorship, thanks in large part toyour generosity. We’re leading bybeing the most significant philanthropiccontributor to cancer care andresearch in our region, and by raisingthe most dollars in our communityand allocating the most funds locallyto fight cancer. Thank you!Our Cancer Foundation works as apartner to improve the odds of survivorshipby supporting the workbeing done at all the hospitals acrossthe region that provide cancer care.We also support local cancer scientistsin three critical ways. First, weprovide early-stage funding to encouragethe exploration of new therapies.We do this because they have told usthat it is next to impossible to garnerthe support of others in this regard.Secondly, we help leverage resourcesfrom government and nationalgranting agencies by providingmatching funds.Finally, we support clinical trials tohelp ensure these promising treatmentsare available to people in ourcommunity as quickly as possible.This past year, we funded 23 researchprojects for a total of over$905,000. We continued to fund theMolecular Lab with Dr. Ian Lorimer,Clinical Trials with Dr. Glen Gossand Dr. Derek Jonker and their team,and Dr. John Bell’s oncolytic virustherapy project.We also funded 19 patient-care relatedprojects for a total of just under$500,000 and several other importantregional cancer care projects including:$190,000 towards a Tomotherapymachine, $220,000 for radiation machinebunker refurbishment (whichwe have done annually for severalyears now) and $185,000 for aProstate Ultrasound Machine to helpcut wait times.The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationreached out to partner hospitalsthroughout the region this year and approved11 projects for a total of$345,000, such as: Montfort HospitalSatellite Endoscopy Clinic, Nurse InsertedPICC Program at Renfrew VictoriaHospital, partial support for acolonoscope at Cornwall CommunityHospital, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsyunits for breast cancer at Hawkesburyand District General Hospital, PembrokeRegional Hospital and MontfortHospital, and a special e-learning moduleto assist Bruyère Continuing Careto expand their regional program tobetter manage pain in cancer patients.Our contributions are directed inareas that are recognized as prioritiesby the Canadian Partnership AgainstCancer, Cancer Care Ontario, theChamplain District Regional CancerProgram and especially local cancercare leaders. We pay particular attentionto programs that are of the greatestconcern to cancer patients andtheir families and loved ones.Your generosity helps to increasecancer survivorship in Eastern Ontario.

The Ottawa Regional CancerFoundation presentsChallengeLife with CancerPUBLISHERThe Ottawa Regional Cancer FoundationEDITORIAL BOARDDr. Douglas Gray, Co-ChairJamie Milner, Co-ChairLinda EagenTed JohnstonDiane ManiiAllison NeillJoAnn NicolTom SparlingLianne WandEDITORLouise RachlisART DIRECTORChris MacknieChallenge...Life with Canceris produced in co-operation with theORCF website:www.ottawacancer.caFor more information orto advertise in this magazine, call:The Ottawa RegionalCancer FoundationTelephone: (613) 247-3527Fax: (613) 247-3526E-mail: lwand@ottawacancer.caCPC Publication Agreement #40017370Revenue Canada Charitable RegistrationNo. 898311170 RR0001 • GST #89831117ORTThe Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation704 - 265 Carling AvenueOttawa, ON K1S 2E1(613) 247-3527Challenge...Life with Cancer is published by theOttawa Regional Cancer Foundation.Editorial in this publication is not intendedas medical advice, and publisher disclaims any liabilityfor use of medical information or any damages thatmay arise from reliance on such information.Material from this magazine may be reprinted with writtenpermission of the Editorial Board of theOttawa Regional Cancer Foundation.OttawaRegionalCancerFoundationFondationdu Cancerde la régiond’OttawaVolume 12, Issue 2Fall/Winter 2008• • • • • • •FEATURESAfter cancer 6Camille Boivin Tyo transforms body, mind and spiritSurvival ... and then some 10An excerpt from “Death Can Wait,”and see story about the book on page 18Fundraising 14The excellent efforts of Robert Bateman SchoolGrowing hope 20The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors ParkPartnership with Queensway Carleton 22Prostate cancer survivor Tony Cote writesSurviving Hodgkins lymphoma 24Kitty Langill tells her husband’s storyEACH ISSUECOVER STORYFOODS THATFIGHT CANCERPopular bookis changing lives4Ask Catherine 12Taking back controlThe Foundation Pages 16What’s newSupport groups and information services 29Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 3

Book shows how foodchemistry can fight cancerCurrent researchis showing convincinglythat elementsin particular foodsmay significantly reducethe risk of cancerin healthy individualsand slow its progressin those already sufferingfrom the diseaseBy Louise Rachlis“You changed my life.”That’s the sentence that biochemistRichard Béliveau has heard the mostover the past three years, and it makeshim very happy.In the book Foods That FightCancer, Dr. Béliveau teamed up withco-author Denis Gingras to describethe science of food and which propertiesof particular foods are the activecancer-fighting elements.The book explains how differentfoods work to protect the body againstdifferent cancers and show whichfoods will be most effective. By understandingthe science behind thesetherapeutic benefits, we come to realizenot only why it is so critical to addthese foods to our diet, but how easilyit can be done.Dr. Béliveau holds the Chair in thePrevention and Treatment of Cancer atthe Université du Québec à Montréal,where he is a professor in the Chemistryand Biochemistry Department.He is also director of the MolecularMedicine Laboratory of UQAM-Hôpital Sainte-Justine (Centre de cancérologieCharles-Bruneau).Denis Gingras is a researcher in theMolecular Medicine Laboratory ofUQAM-Hôpital Sainte-Justine (Centrede cancérologie Charles-Bruneau)and the Université du Québec à Montréal.In the book Foods That Fight Cancer, Richard Béliveau teamed up withco-author Denis Gingras to describe the science of food and whichproperties of particular foods are the active cancer-fighting elements.Dr. Béliveau says the enthusiasticresponse to the book pleases him as acancer researcher, seeing that preventioncan have an impact on people ofall ages. “People are taking care ofthemselves. The essence of what we’repromoting is ‘stop thinking the systemwill take care of you.’ You must takecare of your health. It gives you responsibility.The feedback I get showslots of people are ready to take action.”Even before the English edition waspublished, the French-language versionwas already a bestseller in Quebec,with over 138,000 French-languagecopies sold.The book has changed the lives of alot of people, but not his own, he says.“I was giving a lot of presentationsalready.”He says that at each presentation hegave about cancer, many of the questionsfrom the audience were aboutprevention. “We decided we would digestthe literature and relate it tolifestyle. The basic message of our twobooks is that cancer is a chronic diseaseand you can do a lot to prevent it.”Now, almost every day, people stophim on the street and e-mail that theyhave added flax seed to their diet,started drinking green tea or followingother aspects of his advice. “Two yearsago I was just back from my Christmasholidays, and there was a messagewaiting from a retired city worker, alongtime smoker, who said he hadheard an interview I gave and decidedto quit smoking. That’s very good. Iwanted to bring the message of preventionto ordinary people.”4 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

The two authors are writing theirthird book to show that the message isthe same for all chronic diseases. Hesays it all comes down to the samefive basic recommendations:• Quit smoking.• Exercise 30 minutes daily.• Increase your daily intake of plantfood• Maintain a healthy body weight,a body mass index of 21 to 23• Keep away from junk food andsoft drinks“I like sports a lot, and you feelgood when you do sports, and youfeel terrible when you eat junk food,”says Dr. Béliveau. “You lose contactwith yourself when you eat badly. Wehave to be more aware. You have onlyone body. There is no reset button.There is no demon food, it’s thechronicity of our bad food. The averageperson eats four helpings offrench fries a week. A single can ofsoft drink, if not burned off withphysical activity, is 10 pounds a year.Forget all the stupid diets floatingaround. If you increase weight, you’reconsuming more calories than you’reburning.”“We are uneven in the face ofcaloric intake,” he says. “People’sgenes are different, but some peoplereally get fat because they are exposedto more calorie-dense foods. Obesityis on the verge of displacing smokingas the leading cause of cancer. Welook at obesity as an esthetic issue,but it’s not esthetic at all.”There are two aspects to food andcancer – the obesity, where we consumetoo many calories and caloriedensefoods, and secondly, the factthat when you do that, you eat fewerplant foods, he says. “Eating well isabout not only reducing obesity, it’sabout giving yourself a phytochemicalregime of plant molecules shownto have anti-cancer properties. Whenyou eat lots of plant products, youslow down the progression of microtumours. This is explained in thebooks; it was very important for peopleto understand.”When he began this project, somenaysayers told him the public wouldn’tlisten. “We tend to underestimate people’scapacity to change,” he says. “Isaid, ‘if we explain the implications tothem, they will change,’ and that’sIt all comes down to thesame five basic recommendations:• Quit smoking• Exercise 30 minutes daily• Increase your daily intake of plant food• Maintain a healthy body weight,a body mass index of 21 to 23• Keep away from junk food and soft drinkswhat is now happening. We live in asociety where publicity for junk foodis very pervasive. We wanted to give areference to people where the informationfor healthy eating is validated.”Now translated in 26 languages in29 countries, the book has become aworld reference for lay people forcancer prevention. “We have to switchour mentality. You cure cancer withsurgery and chemotherapy. You preventcancer with lifestyle, redefiningyour way of living.”There are close to 50,000 phytochemicalsin the plant world, he says.“What we use to treat cancer areplant-derived products. We are sayingto people you can do in the chronicphase the same as we do in the acutephase.”He is glad that the word on preventionis getting out. “The report of theWorld Cancer Research Fund is onthe web, where the 10th recommendationis ‘if you are a cancer survivor,follow the same nine recommendationsfor primary prevention.’ It’s thefirst time a huge cancer fighting institutionis talking about secondary andtertiary prevention. The way we controlrecurrence is by changing ourlifestyle the same way. Studies haveshown, for instance, that in colorectalcancer, 75 per cent of the cause is relatedto diet. Colorectal patients werefollowed for eight years, and doctorsdivided them into five groups accordingto the quality of food they wereeating. Survival in the healthy eatinggroup compared to the junk food eatinggroup was 60 per cent higher.”Reducing your body mass indexand body fat is vital, he says.He says a small bit of meat is fine.“Meat gives flavour to the broth incouscous, for instance. When you puta little meat in a dish, you put a lot offlavour into it. A little bit of lamb,chicken, beef gives a lot flavour tovegetables in Indian, Chinese andVietnamese dishes. Vegetables areeaten world-wide with specific herbsand spices, to enhance the flavour.Don’t eat to prevent cancer. Eat toenjoy it. We should rediscover thebasic principle of cooking for pleasure.We eat to enjoy life. This is whatI’ve always said,” he says, pointingout that “it’s been estimated that theaverage North American knows anaverage of three recipes.“Don’t be arrogant to think you willinvent a better recipe than people whohave cooked soy or chickpeas for3,000 years. Find out the best way touse a given product. We just don’t listenin North America; we forget that alot of healthy eating patterns in thisplanet are found in traditional cultureslike Thai, Mediterranean and Japanesefood. We eat too much protein. Weovereat but we’re missing a lot. It’s asocial message. We should pay moreattention to people who have shownthey are living a healthy life.”The message is getting out. “One ofthe things that struck me is that men ofall ages stop me to tell me they havelost weight, introduced turmeric, starteddrinking green tea. Blue collar constructionworkers show me their lunchbox. It’s not limited to one class of people.It is changing. When you start feelingthis feedback from your body, youknow when something is wrong. Youwill see a doctor sooner. Preventionshould be seen in a global context.”Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 5

After cancer,greater abundance of life-forceTransforming body, mind and spiritto a new reality of limitless possibilities.By Camille Boivin TyoI’m a 46-year-old, energetic, advertisingexecutive cancerclient squeezing “even morejuice” out of every day.When I was embarking on a treatmentfor invasive Stage 2 breast cancera year and a half ago, I felt that myworld had stopped on a dime.Like so many of us in the cancerjourney, I felt like I had somehow lostcontrol of my life. I wanted everythingback to the way it was.In the blink of an eye, realitychanges when we get the shockingnews about a cancer diagnosis. Evenwhen we perceive ourselves ashealthy beings, sometimes we are notas healthy as we think we are.We take care of ourselves by eatingthe right foods, thinking positivethoughts and feeding our souls withdribbles of sweet love. While so manyof us love to exercise control at alllevels of our being, cancer taught meto let go of the fear, emotions, feelingsof being “lesser than,” “not prettyenough,” and “not as smart as.”As my identity as a healthy mom,sister, girlfriend, artist, meditationteacher, energy practitioner, communitybuilder and successful businessperson was shattered, my whole lifebecame a path of continued newlearning.Every breath fuels an even morecurious mind. We all know how wecan go into an information overloadwhile we are on the cancer adventure.I wanted to get to the root of my cancer,as I was determined to never experiencecancer again. Too often, wetreat the symptoms and not the causeof the disease.In my opinion, it was time to givesome TLC to myself and to dissolveKeeping Spirits Uplesser things around me; to place prioritiesin family and friends and sayno to stresses in my life, be they people,places or things.The last year and a half, I knew thatit was time to stop and really payattention to everything around me thatcould help me regain my “whole person”wellness: body, mind and spirit.Until recently, my analytical mindwas driving my emotional bus morethan I had ever thought. A great numberof us “think too much abouteverything.” Since my cancer, I havedived deeper into the limitless pool ofintuition. We all have the same possibilitiesto dive into. We do not all haveto face a life-threatening disease toget feet a little wet.Early on in my childhood years, Ilearned a great sense of independencegrowing up in a French Canadianmiddle class family of seven in Ottawa.Like many of us of children ofalcoholics (my father was a highly educatedand intelligent man, but choseto live a life of turbulence), we oftenexperience low self-esteem as childrenand carry this limiting belief intoadulthood.Some of us like to carry the personaof a highly independent person, onlyto hide to shadow side of us that doesnot want to lean on anyone for help.Crazy but true.The “I don’t need anyone and I cando it better by myself ” belief is filledwith fear and other emotions. My“single supermom” syndrome was away of battling the shadow side of methat had a hard time accepting loveand help in whatever form it took.Wow, it took cancer to open me upto receive the Light, as well as givelove.It is truly all about what you do,about how resourceful you get whenyour back is up against the wall. AsDickens wrote, “It was the best oftimes, it was the worst of times.” Thiscertainly also applies to the ups anddowns, yin and yang moments in thecancer adventure. I say adventure becauseit was more about an outcomeof an adventure (the ultimate purposefor which something is created) ratherthan a journey (the act of travellingfrom one place to another.)The challenge to better health wasall about getting resourceful fast ...“Show time” as many of us would say.During the cancer process, I wouldhave cringed when some peoplewould say that cancer was a “gift.”Today, I can state that I am happierthan I ever have been. This amazingshift of “happy” emotion sparked newincredible insights and teachingsabout myself.Now, I can offer to anyone askingabout this experience, that there is aneasier path to abundant life. You don’thave to take the cancer route like Idid! It was on my 14 months “holiday”that I took a real good look atwhat was working for me, and whatwasn’t.It was time to clear the body oftoxins, re-wire my brain with morepositive thoughts and open my heartthe limitless possibilities of UniversalEnergy.Now people look at me and say thatI have never looked this great.I grin a little and chuckle as I knowthat the changes in my life are muchdeeper that skin deep. The changesare to the core of the belief systems Ihave about myself. I know that whatpeople are seeing is the radiance that Ifeel inside for the very first time inmy life.6 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

A total “whole-person”plan approach:I was lucky. My medical oncologistDr. Shale Verma gave me the greenlight to seek holistic complementarytreatment. Well over 80 per cent ofcancer patients seek holistic help, butmost do not tell their oncologists.It was extremely important for meto feel supported by the allopathicmedical field. I believe in both conventionaland new medicines. The optimalsystemic “whole-person” healingcan only created by obtaining professionalexpertise from both the allopathicfields working together and notagainst each other.Today, my oncologist tells me thathe believes that I will be cancer-freefor the rest of my life. We have shareda very open forum of healing and Dr.Verma has stated how fabulous I lookto him (Yes, we all need to hear thisfrom time to time from a really goodlooking man.)Dr. Verma shared with me a deepmoment of truth: “It’s all in the beliefsthat we have to overcome cancer andlive fully,” he says. “If you come inthe cancer journey with a positivemindset, it will make such differencein your cancer-free life.”Dr. Verma knows that I have followeda personalized diet, supplements,meditation, Neuro-LinguisticProgramming, acupuncture, energywork, reflexology, massage and othertherapies – all administered by practitionersskilled in cancer care.The result: A plan designed to supportmy body, mind and spirit while Iunderwent conventional treatments ofsurgery, chemotherapy, radiation,brachytherapy, immune therapy , oopherectomy(remove ovaries to reduceestrogen level), and finally hormonaltherapy.Here are three additional paths ofhealing that treated the “whole-person.”Everyone is unique and there isno one magic formula that can workfor all of us. Let your common senseand intuition guide you.1. Naturopathic medicineto strengthen the body andincrease immune functionEat the right foods and supplements.Camille’s artwork expresses her feelings about“letting the sun’s rays create new awesome realities.”Good nutrition improves your abilityto handle the treatments. It surelyhelps you build up stamina and,strength and most importantly, in mymind, strengthens the immune system.Creating a balance is the key.Cancer treatments increase risk forinfection. Our immune system has tobe powerful enough to fight infectionsand keep our white blood countcells and neuts (no lower than 1.0) inpassable range for chemotherapytreatments. For instance, levels of infection-fighting“T-cells” often fall asa result of chemo. Exercise has beenlinked to regaining the T-cells levelsback into gear as chemo often depletesour T-cell reserve for years.Creating a balanced approach toholistic healing requires us to seekprofessional help from a naturopathicdoctor.Complying with my oncologist’sprotocol also included letting himknow what I wanted to integrate anaturopath, Dr. Cheryl Cooper, intomy team of experts.Like pharmaceutical drugs , naturopathictherapies can have side effectsand risks. Some antioxidants can reducethe effectiveness of radiationand chemotherapy. In my case, myoncologist fully trusted my naturopathicdoctor’s advice as she hadstudied more than seven years in postsecondarystudies.Continued on page 8Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 7

Continued on page 8A customized program was createdfor me and we modified it severaltimes to complement where I was atin the protocol of treatments.I followed several steps to the program:pre-surgery, post-surgery, prechemotherapy,post-chemotherapy,pre-radiation, pre-immune therapy,pre-hormonal and post-hormonalstrategies.It may sound like a lot of work, butit wasn’t. It was really about makingsmall adjustments and the overalloutcome truly is amazing to me andothers. I was fortunate enough to havemost of my consultations paid by myemployer’s insurance company.Naturopathic products can be expensivebut my angelic friends at theOttawa Citizen fundraised a couple ofthousand dollars (for me and others inmy office with cancer) and coveredmy naturopathic expenses, even myparking expenses at the hospital!What a gift to receive to help youheal.The pre-chemotherapy protocolwas the most comprehensive naturopathicregime. Once I formed thehabit, it became second nature to me.Since I introduced a salad-a-day plusmore greens/fruits, my body cravesthe nutrients. I now achieve a morebalanced diet every day and it’s easy!Here was my recipe to a successfulpre-chemotherapy daily intake:• two scoops of Ultra Clear Plus –to detoxify the body• two capsules twice a day of micoflorato clean up the intestinaltrack. (80 per cent of our immunesystem is built in the intestinaltrack)• Fractionated Pectin Powder to minimizethe chances of the cancermetasticied in our bodies• DIM – two capsules per day toblock the estrogen production• Mycoimmunune – two droppers perday to build up immune stamina• High quality of foods, 10 glassesof lemon water per day, cruciferousvegetables, fruit, greens (eighttimes per day)• I enjoyed nutritious superfoodGreens Plus so as not to growrabbit’s ears2. Food for thoughtThoughts become reality.Reality is that we can create a positivestate and reclaim our “wholeness”by re-programming your unconsciousmind through NLP.An integrative approach of healingincluded getting to the core of whatI believe is the core of my breastHER-2 positive cancer. Thirty percent of breast cancer clients areHER-2 positive with cancer cellsgrowing more aggressively.With the “more aggressive” diagnosis,I really had to get to the core ofthe matter. No one knows for surehow cancer manifest in our body but Ihave personally gathered plenty of informationabout the science of Epigeneticsand the link between mind andmatter. Many of us have read the bookor watched the DVD ‘The Secret.’There are stunning new scientificdiscoveries about the biochemicaleffects of the brain’s functioningshowing that all our cells in our bodiesare affected by thoughts.Dr. Bruce Lipton, a cell biologisthas written a powerful book “The Biologyof Belief,” on how science controlslife. Another catalyst of changeis the documentary “ What the Bleepdo We Know!?” that posits a spiritualconnection between quantum physicsand consciousness. The film suggestthat individual and group consciousnesscan influence the material world.Beliefs about who one is and whatis real forming one’s own realities arenow being challenged by unleashingthe power we all possess in our consciousminds.But there is a more powerful mindthat drives our bus everywhere. It isthe subconscious mind as it, at anygiven time, processes four billion bitsof information. It holds all ourexperiences our emotions as a giantinformation processor of our humanexperience. In any given moment, ourconscious mind can process only2000 bits of information. That is whytoo often we bury past experiences inthe depth of the subconscious mind.That is where I think my cancer wascreated from.“My cancer healinghas unleashed in mea deeper connectionwith everythingaround me andchanneled lightto my ‘cave’of ‘emotions.’ ”Camille TyoMy sudden loss of the love of mylife five years ago created, for the firsttime in my life, a depression and abroken heart.In any traumatic experience likedeath of a spouse, (or divorce, loss ofemployment, death of a child etc.),negative thoughts can drive our emotionsto the ground and deplete ourimmune system.There is enough research availableto us today to confirm the fact thatstress, depression and negativethoughts are linked to the body’s inabilityto fight cancer.That is why is it was crucial to go astep further. It was great to generatedaily positive intentions but my subconsciousmind was sabotaging everything.It is like promising to go tothe gym once a week but somehowyou never manage to get to the gym atall. Your subconscious mind overridesall the conscious willpower you have.I met a very generous soul, JohnSweetnam of NLP. Partners in Ottawaand he helped me flatten all my emotionstied to the trauma I had experienced.Neuro-linguistic programming isall about replicating excellencearound us. It was an opportunity forme to break away from old behaviouralpatterns and beliefs that Iheld about myself. The trauma of thedeath of my loved one resonated withold energy-limiting beliefs that I held.There was much more behind theemotion of grief.NLP opens ourselves to the abundanceof life-force we have availableto us. To be fully alive in the momentto limitless opportunities is now whatI am experiencing in life. In time of8 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

acute stress, NLP has taught me howto create states of resourcefulness ...anywhere, anytime!3. Feed the spiritwith more connections:daily intentions willhelp you get thereDr. Masaru Emoto has publishedseveral volumes of work titled “Messagesfrom Water” which containphotographs of water crystal that eitherwords or thoughts of intent werepositive or negative. These intentionswere directed to the water droplets beforethey were frozen. Images of theresulting water crystal were beautifullyor ugly depending whether the intentionswere positive or negative.What if this applies to us as children,teens and adults. As adultwomen, 50 to 60 per cent of our bodiesare composed of water. Men havea higher ratio of water, 60 to 65 percent of their bodies. The human brainis about 85 per cent ... the area of ourbodies were all our consciousthoughts are created from!Daily positive intentions deliverpositive outcomes.My cancer healing has unleashed inme a deeper connection with everythingaround me and channeled lightto my “cave’’ of “emotions.’’ I nowshine more brightly than before. Gettingresourceful, paying attention andletting the sun’s rays create new awesomerealities.We all possess innate powers toheal the magnificence of our imperfection.What if, it is really that easyto squeeze more magic moments outof today or perhaps tomorrow? Whatwould you feel, hear, see, knowingthat new limitless possibilities havebeen created in YOUR body, mindand souls?The adventure has just begun ...fully alive and trusting!Camille can be reachedat 613-296-7293Email: Camille@bmsAWE.com– Eric MayhewCamille Tyo feels radiant after the insights of her cancer journey.OttawaRegionalCancerFoundationWe need you!Areyou acancerpatient orsurvivor whowants to shareyour story with others?Would you like tovolunteer to be part of anorganization that supportsthose who provide top-qualitycancer-care to your family,friends and neighbours? Contactthe Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation today!Call 613-247-3527or visit www.ottawacancer.ca.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 9

Thanksgiving with the Freeman family.Survival … and then someBy Nancy FreemanMy story is one of survival,not so muchfrom cancer itself, asfrom some of thepossible side effectsof effective cancer treatment … anddiscovering quality of life in unlikelyplaces.My cancer was a mystery even tothe medical team. Diagnosis was difficult.Here was a patient with nofamily history of cancer who presentedsymptoms at first not able to be defined.Having lost 30 pounds after ayear of decided discomfort, tests ofall sorts, six months of morphine tohelp ease the pain, the diagnosis wasfinally made: a malignant tumour ofunknown origin had blocked oneureter and strangled one kidney.Surgery was decided upon to clarifythe diagnosis and initiate possibletreatment. The kidney was dead andwas left in place. The tumour, however,the only sign of cancer in my body,defied the surgery. It was too well attachedto vital organs to be removedsurgically. A decision was made that,as soon as I was well enough to proceed,I would undergo an aggressivetreatment of radiation. Once diagnosed,I cannot say enough that ispositive about the care I received. Thecare taken to reach a correct diagnosiswas invaluable.The radiation treatments proceededwell. Twenty-five sessions did thetrick. My cancer has not reappearedin over five years.However … two years after the cureI experienced an onset of internalbleeding due to the aggressive natureof the radiation treatments. My radiationoncologist sent me to a gastroenterologistwho confirmed extensiveradiation damage, inoperable becauseburned tissue does not stitch well, andfurther complicated by that fact that Ihad internal adhesions due to severalprevious, non-cancerous, abdominalsurgeries.The problems: uncontrolled bleeding;recurrent blockages requiringhospitalization; one questionable kidney.The treatments: possible bloodtransfusions; possible colostomysurgery. The surviving kidney wasstruggling as well. The nephrologistteam member even mentioned theword dialysis. Not happy prospects,particularly when I was feeling decidedlyunwell much of the time. Guid-10 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

“Many of my companionswere in direstraits, yet most ofthem remainedremarkably cheerfuland uncomplaining.We watched movies,breathed concentratedoxygen through ourheadgear, and sharedmany specialmoments that willremain with me aspart of the richtapestry of my life.”Nancy Freemanance provided by my medical teamwas outstanding. The doctors andnurses made it clear to me that it wasmy job to be part of that team. A patient’scondition will only improve ifthat patient does what he or she cando for him/her self. Had I not donemy best for myself, I would not bewriting this article today.The bleeding: my oncologist recommendeda series of HyperbaricOxygen treatments that are known tobe effective for some burn patients.Another member of the team caringfor me, my Hyperbaric Oxygen doctor,did an assessment to determinemy suitability for ‘immersion’ in theHyperbaric Oxygen Chamber.Deemed suitable, I was booked forforty treatments to be administeredfive days a week for eight weeks, twoand a half hours of immersion pertreatment. The principle at work hereis that when body tissues receive highconcentrations of oxygen under significantpositive pressure conditions,new capillaries will grow, thus enablingscabbing, in effect bringingburned tissue back to a state of possibleservice to the host … the hostbeing me! Forty sessions made a remarkabledifference. Not immediately,but slowly, the bleeding decreased.I felt some resurgence of energy, anelement that was decidedly lacking inmy life at that time with the loss ofblood I was experiencing. Six monthsBasketball, just for fun.“To be wise is tochoose to do what’sbest for one’s self.Selfish this is not.If we do not carefor ourselves, whatgood will we beto anyone else?”Nancy Freemanlater I had an additional twenty treatments.Now I have almost no bleeding.Some foods and certain physicalactivities have the capability to precipitatebleeding, but that I can certainlyhandle!During those many hours in theChamber I had the privilege of gettingto know several truly courageous,highly challenged, individuals.Squeaky clean, clad in antisepticgarb, not a spot of lotion allowed anywhere,hair on our heads covered,anything that might cause a spark inthe highly concentrated oxygen conditionsremoved, two at a time wewere lowered into the depths. Manyof my companions were in dire straits,yet most of them remained remarkablycheerful and uncomplaining. Wewatched movies, breathed concentratedoxygen through our headgear, andshared many special moments thatwill remain with me as part of the richtapestry of my life.Blockages and a questionable kidney:I truly am my own prime caregiver.You, too, must do your best to takecare of yourself. At seventy-five yearsof age I am quite capable of selectingfoods that agree with my particularsystem. Daily doses of doctor recommendedsupplements keep me functioningwell. Regular blood work keepskidney function monitored. To be foolishis to risk bouts of pain, a liquidsonlyregimen, or more drastic treatment.To be wise is to choose to dowhat’s best for one’s self. Selfish this isnot. If we do not care for ourselves,what good will we be to anyone else?As for my cancer: regular bloodwork and annual abdominal CT scansinform my radiation oncologist as tomy current health. I know, and amtruly thankful, that he and his teamare at the ready to act on my behalfshould a need arise. We have outstandingcare available throughout theOttawa Hospital system. Every day Ithank God for that!I also thank God for my very specialhusband, family and friends whosupported me without restraintthroughout a difficult period in mylife. They were all there for me in amajor way, which provided muchneededstrength for me to cope withthe situation. Six years later I am ableto enjoy those friends and family tothe full, as well as do my part in ourcommunity to the best of my ability.What more could a 75-year-old possiblyhope for than that?The article is an excerpt from thebook Death Can Wait: Stories fromCancer Survivors launched August23rd in Ottawa. All profits from thesales of this book will be donated,through the Ottawa Regional CancerFoundation, to support cancer researchand the facilities which providetreatment for cancer patients.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 11

Take back controland improve yourquality of lifeQI’m going to my treatments and medicalappointments, following my doctor’s ordersand taking my medication. Is thereanything else I can do to help myself?Answer:The short answer is yes!There are many things youcan do for yourself andmany resources availableto help you restore yourquality of life. The side effects of theillness and treatment are far reaching.Cancer disturbs your physical, spiritual,social and psychological wellbeing.You have the power to takeback some control and improve yourquality of life instead of worryingabout what might happen. Your oncologist’sjob is to treat the disease. Yoursis to identify and use the health careresources available so you can preserveyour quality of life during andafter treatment.Physical well-beingPhysical well-being is all aboutstrength, mobility and comfort. Useyour medical professional team tohelp with your problems. Your oncologistcan prescribe medication forside effects such as nausea, and yourfamily doctor can refer you to a physiotherapistto help mobility problems.Good nutrition is always important,but especially during and after treatment.It helps you recover, it strengthensyour immune system, and itrebuilds damaged tissue. It’s not easyto maintain a healthy diet duringtreatment. If you think you’ll havedifficulty putting together meals, gethelp from others or make arrangementswith a meal service. Dieticiansand nutritionists at cancer centres can?AskCatherinehelp you with your nutritional needsduring treatment.Regular exercise and activity willmake you feel better. Be physicallyactive: walk, dance, do yoga, take thestairs instead of the elevator. Ask yourdoctor about any restrictions on yourphysical activity. If it’s right for you,enroll in a fitness program. The specialistsin exercise rehabilitation programsin cancer centres can give youan appropriate, customized exerciseprogram that you can do at home or atthe fitness centre.Spiritual well-beingSpirituality is our connection to others,the universe or a higher force. Itstrengthens us in times of distress andhelps us cope with uncertainty. It canbe structured or extremely personal.Pray. Increase the practice of yourfaith. Try ritual exercise like yoga.Take a walk in the park and listen tothe birds. Light a scented candle andsit in silence. Sing songs with friends.Participate in the healing rituals ofyour faith. Do whatever works for you.Deal with unresolved issues andconflicts to get peace of soul. Don’tnurse a grudge; it will never get better.Get rid of anger and resentment tofeel lighter and better in spirit. Forgivenessand sincere apology arepowerful tools for healing. Laugh andfind humour even in little things.Keep a scrapbook of cartoons thatmake you laugh.Talking with community clergy oran interfaith chaplain at a hospital cangive you some perspective on doubtsand fears and the heavy questions,“what’s it all about?” and “why me?”.Social well-beingWhether or not they want to go, youtake family and friends along on yourcancer journey. If your social wellbeingis in distress, theirs is, too. It’sup to you to minimize the impact onyour loved ones.You have an obligation to deal withadministrative and care matters. Noone wants to do it, but just do it. Getthe unpleasant things out of the way.Ensure your wishes will guide criticaldecisions by preparing four importantdocuments: Power of Attorney forProperty; Power of Attorney for PersonalCare; “Living Will”; and a will.Talk to your family then consult alawyer to prepare and finalize them.Take control of logistical and financialissues. Know how you’re gettingto and from treatment and appointments.Investigate and apply for incomesupports including employmentleave and benefit entitlements andgovernment entitlements. Reviewyour drug coverage and apply for governmentdrug benefit programs if youdon’t have, or have minimum, supplementaryhealth coverage. Talk to yourbank manager about how to trim yourexpenses or get help with budgeting.Reduce your credit card debt. Socialworkers can help you obtain homesupport and other services, identifyfinancial assistance programs, arrangelogistics, and resolve insurancematters.12 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

Now more than ever, be kind to yourself. Do things to lift your spirits.You must protect your circle offamily and friends. Identify, and theninform, your caregivers about what’shappening. During the treatment, thefocus will be on you and the illness.This can lead to topic burnout. Thetrick is to protect your loved oneswithout shutting them out. Talk with acounselor about changes in roles andrelationships or family issues. Take acourse with your partner on how tocommunicate during tough times.Counselors and social workers canhelp you work through relationship,communication and employer matters.They can also provide supportfor your caregiver. You can speak tosocial workers and counselors atmany cancer centres and in the communityat community health centres,family service agencies, faith organizations,and sometimes through youremployer such as anonymous EmployeeAssistance Programs (EAPs).Psychological well-beingNone of us are happy about gettingcancer and its treatment. We’ve lostcontrol and lost our health. It’s notsurprising that we can suffer fromanxiety and other psychological prob-lems. The good news is that you canhelp yourself and you can get helpfrom others.Now more than ever, be kind toyourself. Don’t let the illness ruleyour life. Set a goal or focus on somethingthat you enjoy to distract yourself.Learn a new skill. Have fun asyour energy and budget permit. Motivateyourself with milestones. Dothings to lift your spirits, stimulateyour mind and kindle your creativity.Keep a journal. Take a bubble bath.Get a foot massage. Attend workshopsabout improving your appearanceduring chemotherapy.There are many techniques that canhelp you feel more in control and lessanxious. They might even have positivephysical effects. If you can relieveyour anxiety with meditation,you can avoid the potential side effectsof medication! These techniquesinclude deep breathing, meditation,Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction,visualization, and affirmations. Usethe techniques that work for you andthat you can practice regularly. Programsin the community and at cancercentres teach these techniques.Talking and venting can help, butdon’t overuse family and friends.There are resources just for this need.Cancer organizations offer servicesthat let you talk with a trained volunteer.Support groups are good venuesfor discussing issues and concernswith others who have faced a similarchallenge. Sometimes, these supportsaren’t enough. For persistent or severedistress, speaking with a counselor,psychologist, or psychiatrist for moretargeted assistance can help. Don’t beintimidated about asking for help.Speak up and be clear about whyyou’re distressed. An anxiety pillmight make you less anxious, but itwon’t pay your bills!Catherine Caule, a lymphomasurvivor, lives in Ottawa with herhusband Adrian. She encouragespeople to take an active role in improvingtheir health and quality oflife. Catherine is a member of theLymphoma Support Group of Ottawa,the Champlain Regional CancerProgram Community AdvisoryCommittee, and the board of acommunity health centre in Ottawa.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 13

Patrick’s grade 12 grad friends returned for the fundraising walk, joining hundreds of othersat Robert Bateman Public School.May will mark 10th yearof cancer fundraisingfor Robert Bateman SchoolBy Louise RachlisIn 1998, Robert Bateman PublicSchool student Adam Kirkwoodlost a classmate, PatrickKennedy, to cancer.To honour his friend’s memory andto support his father, a cancer survivor,Adam organized a walk to raisemoney for cancer.“It all started with that grade 4 projectin 2000, getting involved in thecommunity,” says Gary Fackelmann,grade 4 teacher at Robert BatemanSchool for the past 12 years.“The first year one class went onthe walk, the next year grades 4, 5 and6, and the last two years grades 1 to 6have participated,” says Mr. Fackel-mann. “In total, we’ve raised over$110,000 in our 10 years. “That’spretty good for a bunch of little kids.”When he was just 12 years old,artist Robert Bateman did a paintingof an elk for his mother for Christmas.In 2002, thatpainting was thecover of the“Robert Bateman& Kids 2002 Calendar” in support ofthe Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.“People often ask me how long I’vebeen interested in art and nature,” saidthe artist at the time from his home inSalt Spring Island, B.C. “Paintinguses a different part of thebrain.“I reply that most14 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

“In total, we’ve raisedover $110,000 in our10 years. That’s prettygood for a bunch oflittle kids.”– Gary Fackelmann, Teacher,Robert Bateman Schoollittle kids are very interested in art andnature, but most normal human beingsgrow up at 12 or 13 and go on to moremature things. I guess I haven’treached that stage yet.”He feels that age 12 is pivotal inpursuing art for life, because that’s theage when he had his first bird list andthat’s when he came home fromschool and began doing nature artevery day. “If you can keep the interestgoing through those early teenyears, they’ll stay interested forever.”“I know of no family that has notbeen touched by this dread disease,”says Mr. Bateman in the calendar. “Itis one thing to lose a parent, but it isfar more tragic to lose a child. This iswhy keeping the memory of PatrickKennedy is so important. He has becomea flagship for our consciousnessand our efforts to help prevent similartragedies in the future.”Mr. Bateman keeps in touch withthe school bearing his name, anddrops in whenever he’s in the Ottawaarea. He gets an update from theschool every year. “I’m very proud ofthe school and what it has done,” hesays, “both for the environment andfor cancer awareness.”Although Mr. Bateman was a highschool teacher for 20 years, he neverconsidered art and nature as just hobbies,but as an integral part of hiswhole quality of life.By the 1970s his art had attractedsuch an enormous following that hebegan pursuing it full time. His honoursand awards include Officer of theOrder of Canada, the Order of BritishColumbia, the Rachel Carson Awardas well as nine honourary doctoratesfrom Canadian and American universities.The Kennedy family at the end of the walk in honour of Patrick Kennedy.This year’s walk will culminate in abarbeque and party in the park nearby.The walkers still wear t-shirtsRobert Bateman designed for them thefirst year.People who want to support thestudents can call the school at613-737-3169.Makea donationINHONOUR of acancer survivor,physician, nurse,radiation therapist ordedicated staff member.The Ottawa Regional CancerFoundation will send a card onyour behalf to acknowledge yourgenerous gift. All funds remain local toallow the Ottawa Regional CancerFoundation to support cutting-edgeresearch and top-quality cancerOttawaRegionalCancerFoundationIn Honour Donationscare right here in our community– where you and your familyneed it most. Call613-247-3527 orvisit www.ottawacancer.caChallenge • Fall/Winter 2008 15

The Ottawa RegionaJohn Ouellette namedOutstanding Fundraising ExecutiveThe Ottawa Regional CancerFoundation is bothproud and thrilled that itsvery own John Ouellettehas been named 2008’sOutstanding Fundraising Executiveby a panel of his peers at the Associationof Fundraising Professionals(AFP Ottawa).The Phil Awards, presentedNovember 12th, recognize the importantcontributions to the voluntarysector made by individuals, corporations,foundations, and youth.As a seasoned fundraising professional,John Ouellette has assistedlocal organizations in raising morethan $185M to advance their missions.His fundraising career began at theUnited Way/Centraide Ottawa in1991, where he credits the organizationfor helping him develop his senseof community and passion for assistingcharities in surpassing their goals.A graduate of the University of Ottawa,John returned to his alma materin 1994 as the Major Gifts Officerand held progressively senior positionswith Canada’s University includingthe Campaign Director of the$200M Campaign.John joined the Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation as the Vice-Presidentof Philanthropy in 2005 as his fatherwas battling lung cancer. John’sHartley Stern Oncology Fundenhances local physicians’ cancer knowledgeUnder the leadership ofDr. Hartley S. Stern, theChamplain RegionalCancer Program becameone of the country’sleading cancer programs.In recognition of Dr. Stern’s visionand initiative, the Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation, with the help offriends, colleagues and family, haveestablished the Hartley Stern OncologyFund.John Ouellettepassion and belief for raising fundsfor the betterment of cancer care,treatment and research is evidencedby the results he achieves. John successfullyrecruited numerous visionaryleaders and philanthropists to theCourage Cabinet.John’s development of the OttawaRegional Cancer Foundation’s majorgift program has shifted their focusfrom special events and sponsorshipdriven shop to a premier major gift anddonor focused organization, effectivelyincreasing the amount of moneyfunneled back into Eastern Ontario –ultimately increasing services availableto those battling cancer.Prior to his careers as a surgeon,health care administrator and leaderof The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre,Dr. Stern began his medicalpractice as a small-town family doctor.The Hartley Stern Oncology Fundis designed to assist physicians fromacross the region who wish to betterserve their local patients by developingtheir knowledge of oncology andtreatment of cancer.The key building block, which Johnhas maintained as the foundation ofhis fundraising philosophy, is recruitingand managing strong, visionaryvolunteers. John builds relationshipson mutual trust and respect, with bothvolunteers and donors.The highest level of efficacy is alwaystop of mind with John, who ensuresthat donor’s wishes and volunteerroles are always tailored to meetthe individual.In a volunteer capacity, John was aBig Brother and served on the boardand the executive committee of BigBrothers Ottawa: Rob was only 10 yearsold when they were matched. Althoughthis match must officially end when the“Little” turns 18, six years later Roband John still see each other regularlyand have become good friends.Along with his siblings, John alsocreated a permanent scholarship fundat the University of Ottawa, for studentswith financial need from NorthernOntario. Last year’s recipient wasa nursing student who returned to herhometown, Smooth Rock Falls, towork at the community hospital there.He also contributes through regulardonations to the Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation and other local organizations.The funds generated annually fromthis initiative will allow family physiciansfrom across the Champlainregion in Eastern Ontario to receivefinancial support to attend seminars,conferences and specialized trainingin oncology.Physicians are encouraged to contactThe Ottawa Regional CancerFoundation at 613-247-3527 or emailinfo@ottawacancer.ca for more information.16 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

l Cancer FoundationThanks to supportersof NAC Foundation and OttawaRegional Cancer Foundation 2008 GalaIn 2005 The National Arts CentreFoundation and the OttawaRegional Cancer Foundationstruck up a unique partnershipand created a now annual Galaexperience to entertain and raisefunds and awareness for arts and cancercare programs in our community.Since its inception, this Gala haswelcome an array of performers includingHolly Cole, Colin James,Jesse Cook and, at 2008’s CelticKitchen Party, Natalie McMaster &Donnell Leahy. Each unique eveningbegins under the NAC rooftop terracewith cocktails and a sumptuous dinnerprepared by NAC Executive Chef,Kurt Wadele, followed by an intimateperformance for 120 guests.Guests include friends, colleaguesand clients of Peter Charbonneau, theNAC, the Cancer Foundation andErnst & Young’s high tech practice.Sincere thanks is extended to theguests, supporters and friends of ourGala:John Abbenda, Pam Aung Thin,Blake Cassells & Graydon LLP, GerryStobo, Susan Hansen, Burnbrae Farms,Ann Carmichael, Cesar & Bernice Cesaratto,Peter & Joan Charbonneau,Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ashe, Cushman,Wakefield LePage Ltd., GeorgeCwynar & Karen Anderssen, Michelde Champlain, Robert Fallenbuchl, JoeGermano, Robert & Lynn Gould,Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Mr.& Mrs. David Greenberg, GregorySanders Professional Corporation,Brian M. Smith, Peter Strom, MichaelPeter Charbonneau, Sandra and Joe Germano enjoying the 2008 Gala.P. Martin, Terrence Matthews, Ian andAndrea Mclaren, MDS Nordion, Herb& Isabel Metcalfe, Meriel Mills, PeterNadeau, Barb Craig, Mike Pascoe,Laurent Perron, Claude Pryor, EricPryor, Dan Coholan, Rogers CommunicationsInc., Peter Rowan-Legg, Bill& Joyce Sinclair, Skypoint Capital, Mr.& Mrs. Donald Smith, Mr &Mrs. PeterSommerer, Steve & Donna Spooner,Dr. and Mrs. Hartley & Dorothy Stern,TELUS Communications, Greg VanClief, Elizabeth Walker, Kirk & HeleneMandy, Deanna Monaghan, MartinFlood, Wayne R. MacKinnon, YvanMorin, Clauding Lanoix, CarolePresseault, Peter Presseault, Marie-France Dagenais, Carolyn Racine,Sandra Hanson, Andrea Pavia, David& Janice Wallace, Len & MaryPotechin, Colleen Desarmia, Don &Kathy McIntyre, Scott & Bev Milligan,Bruce & Caroline Rodgers, Cyril &Pat McKelvie, Bill & Paula Tholl, Harvey& Louise Glatt, Richard Clayton,Don & Lynn Brazeau, Dr. and Mrs.John and Sheila Bell, Joe & Dana Princiotta,Deb O’Brien, Jim Orban, Jack& Sue Prior, Peter Nicholson, Brian &Nancy McIntomny.While every effort is made to ensurea complete list, we apologize forany omissions or errors.To advertise in the next edition ofChallenge ... Life with Cancercontact:The Ottawa Regional Cancer FoundationTelephone: (613) 247-3527Fax: (613) 247-3526Don’t forget:Cancer FoundationTelethonJanuary 11, 2009, 1-5 pmATV (channel 6)Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 17

– Bruno Schlumberger, Ottawa CitizenStory contributors and cancer survivors Roslyn Franken, Frank Hegyi and Jacquelin Holzman.Ottawa authors publish‘Death Can Wait: Storiesfrom Cancer Survivors’Proceeds from the booksupport Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation initiativesOttawa cancer survivorsFrank Hegyi, RoslynFranken, Max Keepingand Jacquelin Holzmantell their stories in DeathCan Wait: Stories from Cancer Survivors.As cancer survivors themselves, theteam of authors believes that whileliving with and through cancer ischallenging, it can beaten.Early diagnosis, positive outlookand support, diet and healthy lifestyleare all important elements for survivingcancer.“Cancer is a journey, and we are soinspired by these four authors and thesurvivors featured in this great book,”says Linda Eagen, Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation President andCEO. “They have all been so generouswith their personal stories of survivorshipand we are honoured to beinvolved with this great project.”This book was written to givenewly diagnosed cancer patients andtheir families hope and moral support,by sharing stories of survival.Death Can Wait: Stories from CancerSurvivors also features an easy referenceguide.All proceeds from the sale of thisbook will be donated to the Ottawa18 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

Regional Cancer Centre to supportcutting edge research as well as thesoon to be built Wellspring cancerwellness centre which will focus onpsycho-social support throughout thecancer journey.A scientist, entrepreneur and author,Frank Hegyi has spent over 38years in community service. He ispast District Governor of Kiwanis International.At age 66 he was diagnosedwith prostate cancer.During radiation treatment, hewrote a book entitled Dare to Take theNext Step (www.frankhegyi.com)which contains inspirational storiesabout his colourful international adventures.Frank dedicated his storiesof life experiences to his family whogave him strong support during thecancer treatment. He is a proud cancersurvivor.Diagnosed with cancer at age 29,Roslyn Franken fought back to becomea long-term survivor. As she approached40, Roslyn’s personal struggleswith food, weight and lifestyle issuesled to the creation of the techniquesthat changed her life which shenow shares in her book, The A List: 9Guiding Principles for Healthy Eatingand Principles (www.roslynfranken.com).By putting the principles into practice,she reached and maintains hercurrent, healthy weight and lifestyleand remains cancer-free. Roslyn nowprovides motivational speaking andpersonal counseling services to individualsand groups wishing to changetheir lives one bite at a time throughhealthy weight and lifestyle management.Jacquelin Holzman is a formermayor of Ottawa (1991-1997), withmore than 15 years experience in politicsand over 50 years of communityservice. She served as chair of the OttawaCongress Centre from 1998 to2003, has been involved in fundraisingfor a number of major local organizations,and has served as governorof Algonquin College , the CommunityFoundation of Ottawa and as theHonorary Lieutenant Colonel of theCameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Afew months after leaving the mayor’soffice, she was diagnosed with breastcancer and was treated successfullyand became an advocate for breastcancer related causes. Jackie and herdaughter have raised over $200,000for cancer care and research in Ottawaduring the past 10 years.Max Keeping is vice-president ofnews at CTV Ottawa, and has been anchorof its flagship 6 pm newscast for36 years. His community involvementis inspirational and has helped raisemore than $100 million charitabledollars. He’s received the Order ofCanada, Order of Ontario, a GeminiHumanitarian Award, and an honourarydegree from the University ofOttawa. A wing of the Children’s Hospital(CHEO) is named in his honour.He is a prostate cancer survivor.The book sells for $20 includingGST and is available for sale online atwww.deathcanwait.com.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 19

Bittersweet moments enhanced by impressive sculptures.The park where hope growsA ‘dramatic and bold’ parkdedicated to cancer survivorsis designed to attract attentionand offer inspirationBy Maria CookAbouquet of giant steelflowers, six or seven metrestall, has sprung up atone of Ottawa’s busiest intersections,punctuatingthe streetscape with cheerful flashes offuchsia, mauve, purple, blue and red.The Richard and Annette BlochCancer Survivors Park at the cornerof Riverside Drive, Industrial Avenueand Alta Vista Drive, is an unusualproject.A combination of a generousdonor, city land, volunteer effort andcreative landscape design has transformedan unpromising site into abeautiful place intended to offer inspirationto cancer survivors.Located across the street from theCanada Post mail processing plant,with roads on three sides, it is passedby 35,000 vehicles a day.“Usually, when you’re designing apark, you look for an out-of-the way,quiet place,’ says Ottawa landscapearchitect Steve Sunderland, who designedthe park. “Here, it’s the opposite.We’re trying to create a landmarkthat people recognize. It’s not a subtleplace.“It’s quite dramatic and bold.”The journey from vacant to verdantbegan in 2002 after Ottawa lawyerCharles Merovitz came across a similarpark in Palm Springs, California.“What struck me was the juxtapositionof the words ‘cancer’ and ‘survivor,’” recalls Mr. Merovitz, whosemother died of cancer. “I never thoughtof those two words going together.”The park he saw was sponsored bythe late Richard Bloch, founder of thetax-preparation company H&R Block.Diagnosed with terminal lung cancerin 1978 and given three months tolive, he underwent aggressive therapyand went on to live until 2004 – when20 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

he died of heart failure at age 78. Butwhen he was diagnosed, Mr. Blochpromised that if he survived, he wouldhelp others fight cancer.Among various services, his familyfoundation has helped fund 22 survivorparks across North America, includingCanada’s first, which openedin Mississauga in 2006.Mr. Merovitz and a team of volunteerssubmitted a proposal to thefoundation and, in 2006, received apledge of $1.1 million in cash, art andplaques. To date, they have raised anadditional $400,000 toward the total$2-million cost. This includes gifts oflabour and materials from contractors,many of whom are involved forpersonal reasons.“It’s going to be a really nice placefor people to reflect, get some hope,”says Linda Eagen, head of the OttawaRegional Cancer Foundation, whichwill manage the park. “It’s going to bea landmark.”The Bloch family stipulated thatthe park be located in a highly visiblearea. “The park becomes a mediumfor the message,” says Mr. Sunderland,whose own mother died of cancerlast December.It was a January when he first visitedthe site. “It wasn’t a pleasant placeto be. It was cold and windswept. I”mthinking, ‘How do you bring warmthto a place like that in the middle ofwinter?’”He envisioned seven towering flowersthat would be illuminated at night.“Hopefully, they bring a sense of joyto people.”The flowers, the shape of whichVisitcancersurvivorspark.cato find out howyou can becomea Friend of the Park– Pat McGrath, The Ottawa Citizen“We’re trying to create a landmark that people recognize,” said Ottawalandscape architect Steve Sunderland, left, about The Richard andAnnette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park. The park was the brain child ofOttawa lawyer Charles Merovitz, right, whose mother died of cancer.was inspired by origami, are all a bitdifferent. They are not daffodils, assome have wondered, because the yellowflowers are a proprietary symbolof the Canadian Cancer Society.“We used a computer program similarto what the auto industry uses todesign auto parts,” explains Mr. Sunderland.“Every part was generatedby computer. The pieces all fit togetherlike a jigsaw puzzle.”The park contains three fundamentalelements required by the foundation:The Positive Mental AttitudeWalk has 14 plaques with messageson fighting cancer, while the Road toRecovery has seven plaques on cancerknowledge and education.These paths encircle a central terraceof grass and paving, and are surroundedby gardens, clusters ofconifers and ornamental grasses.“It looks amazing,” says Mr.Merovitz. “I love it.”The organization is also providing abronze sculpture called Cancer ...there’s hope, by Mexican sculptor VictorSalmones. It depicts eight life-sizefigures passing through a maze representingcancer treatment and success.It is at the main entrance at RiversideDrive and Industrial Avenue.Another sculpture, called Shine, byBritish Columbia artists Michael Vandermeerand Cheryl Hamilton, standsat the corner of Alta Vista Drive and IndustrialAvenue. It features five stainless-steeltapered columns about sevenmetres tall connected by a steel ribbon.A stone wall extending to RiversideDrive announces the name of thepark, while an oak tree in the middlesymbolizes strength and longevity.Two curved stone walls covered witha trellis of steel ivy will be etchedwith the names of donors.The city provided a 1.4-hectare parcelof land, which was used as a path tothe Hurdman transit station, and is nearhospitals. Pedestrians can now usewalkways lined with trees and lighting.Area Councillor Peter Hume saysthe project is an interesting newmodel for creating public space andthat the city would be eager to co-operatewith other private donors.“We’re creating a tremendousamount of community value withouthaving to put much money in.”The park officially opened onSeptember 24th.Ms. Eagen can see the locationbeing used for fundraisers and othergatherings.“My dad just finished his prostatecancer treatment,” she says. “Whenhe reaches the one-year mark, that’sthe place where we’re going to have afamily picnic and celebrate.”This article originally appeared inthe Ottawa Citizen in July.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 21

Prostate cancer survivorgrateful for ‘first rate’Queensway Carleton HospitalBy Tony CôtéAlittle more than a year ago Iwas diagnosed with prostatecancer.I can’t say it was dreaded because,quite frankly, I had never even thoughtof it, except when I underwent my annualphysical with the digital saluteand requisite PSA blood test.So, the likelihood that the diseasewas to be part of life came out of theblue. I had had no symptoms or discomfort.Even though the digitalexam went smoothly my PSA was elevatedand family doctor Barb Morrissaid that the test result needed to beexplored a little deeper, so to speak.Urologist Andrew Girvan gave mea passing grade on the finger test butsuggested more blood work and subsequentlya biopsy. The QueenswayCarleton Hospital was about to becomecentral to my life.The biopsy, quite literally a shockingprocedure, confirmed cancer and itwas followed by a series of scans,x-rays and more blood letting. And getthis, not once during the numerousvisits to the QCH was there any sort ofmajor delay or wait worth talkingabout. While I won’t say the procedureswere all pleasant, the people performingthem were. (Collapsed veinsmade it necessary for multiple pokeson more than one occasion, a disconcertingtime for someone who getslight headed at the sight of a needle.)Within three months of getting theword, I was poked, probed, opened upand parts of me discarded. In the yearsince the surgery, I have been pokedand probed and am regularly requiredto offer the gods a bit of my blood.The actual date to remove the diseasedprostate was September 25 andwithin a few days I was recuperatingat home, catheter and all. Perhaps surprisingly,the experience has left mewith some good memories. I am tryingto forget the not so good ones.Tony CôtéCertainly, the hug from Mary priorto heading into surgery was one ofthose special moments. She is thehospital’s surgical coordinator andeven though she says it is part of herjob to put patients at ease, I can’timagine that hugging can be found inher job description.Then, there was the mirth exhibitedby the nurses as they tried to outfit mein form-fitting elastic stockings. Mymodesty took a bashing at that point,although I loved the attention and thefact that the exercise took my mindoff the impending surgery.Being awakened in the middle ofnight in a wet bed courtesy of aslipped catheter wasn’t fun but I suredo recall the feeling. That wetnesssensation joined me again and againover the next few months and, to bequiet frank, still crops up from time totime because as a result of thesurgery, bladder control isn’t what itonce was.Seven weeks or so later I was backto jogging and today my PSA level isnon-detectable so, I guess, I am basicallycancer free although there are acouple of unpleasant side affects ofthe surgery still hanging around.So, if one can be happy after a cancerdiagnosis I guess I am that. I am happythat my cancer was caught early. I amparticularly happy that the medicalteam that caught it, treated it and continuesto look after me is the best onecan ask for. I have developed an appreciationfor the hospital and the peoplein it and all of that brings me to now.Like anyone who has become ill, Ihave become acutely aware of thevalue of our medical system and theneed for facilities that can offer healthcare at the top of the curve not justsomewhere on it. The QCH is right atthe top of that curve and when a $217million expansion is completed in acouple of years the Ottawa and areawill have a cancer facility second tonone. (You don’t have to take myword for the high esteem the hospitalholds. A mean 95 per cent satisfactionrating during recent patient surveys isproof enough.)While the expansion means a generalimprovement in a number of areas,three new operating rooms are now inservice; its focus will be on cancercare. In a partnership with the OttawaHospital Regional Cancer Program,the Irving Greenberg Family CancerCentre at the QC will take over thecare and treatment for nearly all thebreast, prostate and colorectal cancercases in eastern Ontario. Other formsof cancer will continue to be treated atthe Ottawa Hospital’s cancer centre.To add a little perspective, the CanadianCancer Society estimates that inthe past 12 months more than 22,400Canadian women have been diagnosedwith breast cancer and that 5,300women have died from the disease. Orput another way, every week 430women learn they have the disease andevery week about 100 die from it.The numbers are just as bad for colorectaland prostate cancer. It is estimatedthat 21,500 men and womenhave been diagnosed with colorectalcancer in the past 12 months andnearly 9,000 have died from it.22 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

In a partnership with the Regional Cancer Program and with support from the Ottawa RegionalCancer Foundation and the Greenberg family, the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centrewill soon open at the Queensway Carleton Hospital.Makea donationto theCourageCampaign andhelp the OttawaRegional Cancer Foundationsupport programs,like the Irving GreenbergFamily Cancer Centre, that willmake top-quality cancer careOttawaRegionalCancerFoundationProstate cancer has pulled in24,700 men in that same period and4,300 men died from it.So, we can see the need for thegrowth in medical facilities.In addition to the recently-openedoperating rooms, the hospital will begetting a new MRI machine, CT scanner,nuclear medicine cameras, ultrasoundsand digital mammographyunits. All will be used in the fightagainst cancer.Add three new radiation machineswith space for two more in the futureand 32 chemotherapy stations and it iseasy to see what difference the expansionwill mean to the citizens of hisarea. It is estimated that the new facilitywill be able to handle 50,000 patientvisits annually and during itsfirst year of operation about 3,500newly diagnosed men and womenwill be treated there.While most of the new load will bethere for the more traditional approachesto cancer treatment and therapy –surgery, radiation and chemotherapy –the hospital will embrace a holistic approachto cancer care for both patientsand their families.All of that will relieve a lot of pressureon existing facilities, allowingthe main cancer facility at the OttawaHospital’s General campus site tofocus on more complicated cancers.Nothing comes without financialcost, though. Of the more than$200 million earmarked for the expansionabout $35 million will haveto come through donations from withinthe community. In other words, afundraising campaign to offset the$3.8 million price tag on an MRI machine,the $500,000 cost of a digitalmammography unit or the $1.5 millioncharged for the latest CT scannerto name just a few items on the shoppinglist.Fundraising is done by people, andthis program is being headed by DanGreenberg, who is an infectious packagefilled to the brim with energy,spirit and a genuine interest and desireto serve our community to the utmost.Throw in generosity, his familydonated a cool $11 million to thecampaign, and you can see that thehospital, community and the campaignare being well served.As I said, I am a fan of the hospitaland its people. The QC is the littleguy with the big guy’s attitude andwhen it comes to patient care thatattitude translates into first rate.Courageavailable to more people,closer to home. Call613-247-3527 or visitwww.ottawacancer.ca.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 23

A grandchild’s giftof innocence and love helps keepHodgkins lymphoma patient goingBy Kitty LangillAt 4 a.m. August 21st,2004, I awoke to thesounds of my husbandWilly vomiting and inexcruciating pain.Just hours earlier, we’d been enjoyingan evening at the Greek Festivalwith friends.As Willy clutched his side, werushed to the Queensway CarletonHospital, embarrassed that perhapstoo much merriment only a few shorthours ago was causing this payback.Unfortunately, such was not thecase. Blood tests and x-rays indicatedkidney stones and something evenmore gut wrenching – an enlargedlymph node that looked suspiciouslylike a cancerous tumour.After a visit from the attendingphysician, it was suggested that wemeet with a general surgeon whowould be the first to do what turnedout to be seemingly endless poking,prodding, blood work, tests, treatments,and an eventual stem celltransplant. This would be our family’slife for the next two years, and this isour story.A Customer Solutions Manager atthe Royal Canadian Mint, Willy hadonly just announced his intention toretire after 31 years. Just 54, he waslooking forward to the next chapter inhis life; becoming more active, traveling,and enjoying his special interests.It’s amazing, that how, in the blinkof an eye, your world can be turnedupside down.Driving home from the hospitalthat bright August morning, we cried,pulled over and hung onto one anotherwith the strong belief that whateverwas coming our way was going to bedefeated. As weak and as vulnerableas we felt at that moment, we bothknew that our faith, strength andundying love for one another wouldsee us through this ordeal.Willy and Kitty Langill enjoy a happy moment in the City of Love.Keeping Spirits UpTo address the immediate issue of akidney stone, Willy has a stent insertedto relieve the pressure until suchtime as an appointment could bemade to have the stone blasted.Drifting in and out of reality, Willymanaged to cope with work, family,discomfort, sadness and an increasingamount of emotional instability.Adding to this, a grief had gripped ourfamily with the loss earlier that year oftwo beloved mothers; Betty Langill,Willy’s mom, who passed away inFebruary, and my mother, Joan White,in May. Not being able to receive theirsupport would prove to be harder onus than either of us suspected.One shining star, Emma KaitlynKealey was born June 9th, 2004 at theQueensway Carleton Hospital. Thevery next day Willy was back at thatsame hospital, not only visiting andcelebrating the birth of his firstgrandchild, but was there to have apreviously scheduled prostate biopsy(results negative).24 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

Emma was to be one of Willy’s reasonsfor living – a gift of innocence,acceptance and never-ending love.In September, 2004 we met withthe general surgeon who was the firstto tell us that the enlarged lymph nodewas a cancerous tumour (lymphoma).He recommended a CT scan and needlebiopsy to confirm this diagnosis.A month later, waiting alone in ahospital hallway for his needle biopsyand CT scan, Willy pondered whatmany other people who are ill do. Arethese other patients asking the samequestions? Why me? What’s next?Am I going to die?You see, back in July 2001, Willy’sdad, Archie, succumbed to Lymphoma.Willy watched helplesslywhile, in his father’s last few daysalive, the doctors told the family thatArchie had Lymphoma, was notstrong enough to receive chemo andwas to be kept comfortable, albeit unconsciousuntil his passing.The first two weeks of October turnout to be a three-ring circus of hospitalvisits. First, to the Riverside Hospitalout-patient clinic to undergolithotripsy, a technique for treatingstones without surgery using insteadhigh energy shock waves that arepassed through the body and used tobreak stones into pieces as small asgrains of sand; and secondly to theQCH to have his stent removed whichalleviates most of the discomfortcaused by the kidney stone.On October 14, 2004, Willy continuedto suffer stomach pains that wokehim in the night, and he worried aboutthe cancer spreading. It was now morethan two months since the initial discoveryof the enlarged lymph node,the possibility of cancer and yet stillno official diagnosis or treatment.On many occasions, Willy felt asensation of complete body tinglingor burning skin lasting moments. Hisfeet, mainly his right foot, knee joints,wrists and hand were very sore,aching like a toothache.Finally on October 26, we met withthe surgeon and it was confirmed:Willy has Hodgkins Lymphoma.Willy’s file would be forwarded to theOttawa Regional Cancer Centre at TheOttawa Hospital, General Campus.As anyone who has sat in the waitingroom of the ORCC knows, thatGrandaughter Emma and Amarog provide inspiration.first meeting with your specialist isunsettling. You don’t know what theyare about to tell you; you can onlyimagine. And a look at the waitingroom tells you that cancer does notdiscriminate. Young, old, black, white,rich, poor, all can be a victim.It’s November 26, and we have metwith Willy’s physician, Dr. IsabelleBence-Bruckler, Hematologist andmember of the Blood and MarrowTransplant Program (BMT).She made us feel completely at ease,was thorough and patient with ourquestions as she explained Willy’s conditionand subsequent treatment whichshould start in two weeks. With the resultsof the needle biopsy inconclusive,it was however determined that Willyhas Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the samecancer that afflicted Mario Lemieuxand Saku Koivu. Merry Christmas!We begin in earnest a crash course,eager to learn more about this diseaseand its treatment. Dr. Marc Roy, ourfamily physician, provided Willy withhis first lymphoma reading material.The Lymphoma Foundation of Canadahas a very informative site. Thereis also the Ninon Bourque Patient ResourceLibrary dedicated to providingup-to-date, reliable cancer informationto patients and their families.With the knowledge of upcomingsurgery and successive rounds ofchemo, Willy buys himself a honkinggreat wide screen TV to help him recoupand recover in style.Christmas 2004 comes and goes, almostnormally with the exception ofWilly’s recovery from the surgicalbiopsy and visits from the home carenurse. Our entire family is very sup-portive and Willy knows he is not alonein his worries. He can see the stress inmy face and that of his children.Results are in: Hodgkin’s LymphomaClassic Lymphocyte Rich.Treatment: ABVD cocktail (A adriamycin(doxorubicin), B bleomycin(blenoxane), V vinblastine (velbe),and D dacarbazine (DTIC).Willy and his doctors decide that itis best for him to be at home while recoveringfrom surgery and his eventualrounds of chemo. The Mint is veryunderstanding and grants Willy leaveand other support. This proves to be anecessity as his mind is often times ina chemo fog and managing his officewould prove to be too challenging.It is now January, four months afterthat shocking day in August and Willyis ready to start his first chemo session.Our daughter Valerie is along formoral support. The chemo journeyhas begun. Drink plenty of water priorto treatment - this should make it easierfor the nurses to find a vein for intravenous;take anti-nausea pills anhour prior to treatment; eat smallmeals during the day and don’t fast.It’s better to have something on yourstomach. Tidbits of advice.Willy set some short and longrangegoals for himself. Like gettingmore active (when he isn’t in front ofthe TV), working more closely on hisretirement budget, fun projectsaround the house, storage shelving,coins, stamps, photo albums, scrapbooks, etc. All to keep his mind busyon other things and try not to dwell onthe cancer.Continued on page 26Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 25

Continued from page 25Hair starts to fall out. Give up a lotof hair now to gain some time for thefuture. Sounds like a fair deal to Willy.Renée, our second daughter, comesto stay with her father during his nexttreatment. She feels encouraged bythe efficient, compassionate nurseswho administer these horrible cocktailsto their unsuspecting patients.Renée is there when Willy is toldhis white blood count is not reboundingquickly enough from one treatmentto the next. He must start takingneupogen, a blood boost that he mustadminister by injection himself.A visiting day nurse comes by forthe next three days to show Willy,practicing on an orange, the correctway to administer the drug.On the third day, Willy goes for thegusto and finds a sweet spot on hisbelly, zeros in and takes the plunge. Hecontinues this regime of neupogen beginningfive days after chemo for fivedays. This ultimately builds up hiswhite blood counts. Because of thistreatment, Willy never again missed atreatment due to low blood counts. Theneupogen drug is expensive, close to$3,000 per five-day round.Willy’s last treatment was June 24,2005. During the previous six monthshe had endured nausea, aches, pains,sleepless nights, fatigue, bouts ofemotional upset, and he could hardlywait for the last treatment to come.At home, Valerie and baby Emmawith her warm hugs and smiling eyes,were frequent visitors ... Renée andboyfriend Ryan announce their engagementand set a wedding date inOctober of 2005. Oh Happy Days!Our youngest child, son Anthony,lives at home and continues in hisquiet way to be there for us when thechips are down and we are in need ofmoral support. We are truly blessed.Anthony’s dog Amarog (Inuit forWolf), a five-year-old Husky, wasWilly’s training partner and constantcompanion. Little does she knowwhat an important role she plays inWilly’s fight against cancer.Willy is feeling stronger every dayand his mind is preoccupied. He startsan exercise program of stretching,weights and walking. Amarog andWilly walk twice a day at Bruce Pit,increasing the duration of each walk.Family moments: There is life after cancer, and cancer can be defeated.We vacation at a cottage and ourminds empty, our days full of freshair, swimming, canoeing, eating andplenty of rest.But back in July, we get test resultsthat indicate the tumour did not shrink.Dr. Bence-Bruckler wants Willy to goto Montreal for a P.E.T. scan that willshow if there is any cell activity. WhyMontreal? There were only two or threesuch machines in Ottawa that were notavailable for regular patient use. Therehad been no government approval forusage by hospitals in Ontario.I’m scheduled for surgery the Fridayafter Renée and Ryan’s wedding.It is day surgery, an ablation therapy,to stop that excessive and incessantmenstrual bleeding that commonlycomes with menopause. I havebooked holidays for a few days priorto the wedding and the week after toencompass the surgery.Not knowing what hit me, the Mondayafter my surgery and a week afterthe wedding, I am at work and allseems well, but something triggeredin my brain and it was all I could do tocontain myself, my emotions, and tofinish the day. I knew immediately Ihad to see our family physician. I washaving an emotional breakdown. Me.Strong like bull! Active. Healthy eater.How can this be happening to me? Dr.Roy recommends taking a couple ofweeks for myself. I also feel I need totalk to someone, a professional counselorand with his recommendation,I’m matched up with a wonderfulcounselor who I will visit off and onfor the next few months. I was inworse shape than even I suspected.If I am to help Willy in his treatmentand recovery, I need to be therecompletely for him. I My prioritiesand complete focus are on Willy. Withthe same support and compassion,and with a letter from my doctor, Iwent on leave from my job as CustomerService Representative in theAdvertising Department at the OttawaCitizen. I would be away from workuntil March 2006. Willy would havehad his stem cell transplant by thenand have recovered enough for me togo back to work.Earlier that week, we receive the resultsof the Montreal P.E.T. scan …not good news. The cancer is still activeand Dr. Bence-Bruckler has determinedthe next course of action isradiation, staring in November. It isevident through CT scans that Willy’scancer has started to spread. The originaltumour had started to grow againas well as spreading to a small clusterof lymph nodes. As a result, Willymust begin a new regime referred toas salvage treatment. A treatment thatis used when the cancer has not respondedto standard treatments orafter the cancer has relapsed. Thepage is now turned to the chapter onstem cell transplant.There are two major types of stemcell transplants: autologous and allogenic.Autologous transplant uses thepatient’s own marrow. The marrow istreated with chemotherapy to cleansethe marrow of the lymphoma cellsthat might still be present beforebeing given back to the patient. Allo-26 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

genic transplant uses stem cells froma donor, usually a brother or sister, orthrough an unrelated donor.The basis for stem cell transplantationis that blood cells (red cells, whitecells and platelets) and immune cells(lymphocytes) arise from the stemcells, which are present in marrow, peripheralblood and cord blood. Ablood stem cell transplant can restorenormal cell levels that were depletedduring chemotherapy and radiation.Stem cells circulate in the blood invery small numbers. Patients receiveinjections of growth factor prior tocollection to increase the number ofstem cells in the blood by drawingthem out of the marrow. Sufficientquantities of stem cells for transplantare then harvested by circulating largevolumes of blood through a centrifuge-typemachine, then separatesthe components.The blood itself, minus the stemcells is returned to the donor. Thisprocess can take several hours. Thestem cells are then re-infused into thepatient after chemotherapy wherethey migrate to the bone marrow andbegin producing new blood cells.Willy starts preparation for his stemcell transplant, a team effort by theBone Marrow Transplant Team. Inmid-November and before all of thisstarts, Willy goes through two days ofchemo to stabilize his tumours and hehe’s also back on neupogen to buildhis cell counts.The day Willy is scheduled for thestem cell extraction, the CanadianBlood Services Team is in place andin no time at all, Willy is hooked up tothis fascinating piece of equipment. Itwas intriguing to watch as Willy’sblood flowed from his left arm, intothe machine where you could watch itspin, and if you knew what you werelooking for, and could actually see theseparation of the precious stem cellsfrom the blood. The blood was theninfused back through his right arm.All this seemed fascinating at thetime, but that fascination wore offquickly, as it became apparent Willywas going to need more than just afew hours for this process to complete.In fact, it took a return engagementthe following day, a total of twoeight-hour days.To begin this stem cell journey, Willyhas a pic line inserted in his left arm bythe “Pic Chick” as she affectionatelycalls herself. The next day, Willy beginssix days of chemo (Mini BEAM).During the next four weeks Willy,closely monitored, Willy has a feverresulting from phlebitis, a painfulswelling near the site of the pic line.He starts a course of IV antibiotics,platelet and blood transfusions and isnow self injecting a blood thinner toreduce the risk of blood clots. He hasalso developed sores in his mouth.While Willy slept during these visits,I took that time to catch up withthe resident counselor and sat in on acaregiver support session. I alsosought and got advice from the dietician.Getting Willy to eat and drinknutritiously was a challenge.It made sense to offer Willy smallportions of bland, but healthy food andto try to make more frequent offeringsrather than the larger sit-down meals towhich he was accustomed. Flavouredwater and diluted juices quenched histhirst. Cranberry was a favourite.We tried prepared supplementdrinks, but Willy preferred a homemadesmoothie instead. This I madewith banana, plain yogurt, frozenberries, buckwheat honey and milk orjuice to mix.During our time together at the hospital,Willy and I would sometimes sitin complete silence. I would also readwhile Willy slept. We would hold handsand I would stroke his face or foreheadand more often than not, rub his backwith my finger tips, back and forth, upand down drawing pictures, as youwould with a child, until his heavybreathing indicated he was fast asleep.Sometimes I would nod off myself.Monitoring Willy’s medication duringthis time period was my exercisein organization. I set up a chart so Icould ensure he got the right meds atthe right time, kept track of his temperatureand blood pressure, his foodand liquid intake, and noted any abnormalitiesand reported them to theattending nurse.Getting food and liquid into Willywas a huge challenge. I knew the lastthing he wanted to do was put somethinginto an already upset stomach orswallow anything down a raw throat.However, I never felt alone in myrole as caregiver. Someone was alwaysthere to advise, console and instruct.They made my job a whole lot easier,and were a major contributor to Willy’ssuccessful recovery. During all of this,Willy and I would often say that thecure was worse than the disease.January 20th was the time for thefinal onslaught. For the next six daysWilly received the strongest chemoyet, BEAM. During this six-day periodWilly’s cell counts were down to almostzero. All along through his treatments,he has been an outpatient, andhad made it his goal to keep it that way.I never was a numbers person, butchecking Willy’s blood levels on adaily basis has you quickly learningthe healthy and not-so healthy range.When the levels slowly increased, itwas cause for celebration.Day 7: January 26, 2006. Renéeand I are there on the fifth floor forthe great event, “Willy’s SecondBirthday.” His healthy stem cells hadbeen re-infused into his body. A yearlater, Willy would start to receive annualimmunizations like any newbornto boost their immune system.By mid-February, our daily visitschanged to weekly. Although recoverywas in his sights, Willy still feltnausea, fatigue and a frustration thatrecovery was not fast enough. Hesigned up with a personal trainer atthe YMCA, took part in classes to increasehis strength and mobility andwas back on track with Amarog andtheir daily walks at Bruce Pit.Willy became stronger every day. Iwas back at work in April, my caregiving days a distant memory. InMontreal for another P.E.T. scan, theresults came back and showed no cellactivity. Yahoo!Our priorities and attitudes towardslife in general had changed. We foundenjoyment in the simple pleasures of agrandchild’s visit, working in the gardenor the company of family and friends.Our family is extremely grateful forthe dedication and compassion of thedoctors, nurses and staff at the OttawaRegional Cancer Centre. Along withthe outstanding care of our familyphysician, Dr. Marc Roy and his staffin Kanata, there is a huge safety net ofguidance and support every stepalong the way, and ground-breakingresearch continues to inspire and givehope in the fight against cancer.Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 27

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundationwelcomes two new members to the TeamLucie ChâtelainThe Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is pleased to announcethe appointment of Lucie Châtelain to the position ofDirector of Gift Planning.With more than twenty years of professional developmentexperience, Lucie brings with her extensive knowledge offundraising campaigns, volunteer and project management,marketing and communications.Prior to joining our team, Lucie was the Assistant Directorof Development at the University of Ottawa for the past fiveyears. Her previous positions include Director of Developmentat the Hnatyshyn Foundation, Director of MembershipDevelopment for the Canadian Pharmacists Association, andDirector of Development at the Canadian War Museum.Ms. Châtelain is a member of the Association of FundraisingProfessionals and lives in the National Capital Region.Mary Ann MacIntoshThe Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation Board of Directors ispleased to announce the appointment of Mary Ann MacIntosh tothe position of Vice-President, Corporate Engagement.Ms. Macintosh is a recognized leader in the not-for-profit sector.With over 15 years of fundraising experience, Mary Annis a valuable addition to the Ottawa Regional Cancer FoundationTeam. Prior to joining the Cancer Foundation, Ms.MacIntosh was Director of Sponsorship at The National ArtsCentre Foundation and Director, Major Gifts at The OttawaHospital Foundation.In both positions, she played a key leadership role in advancingcorporate partnerships.As Vice-President, Corporate Engagement, Ms. MacIntoshwill be responsible for providing leadership and directionto the Foundation’s new corporate giving division.✃28 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

Support Groups andCancer Information Servicesserving Eastern Ontario“I am not sure how this group works but I know it does.If someone comes in with a particular worry we areable to help them. I know this group has helped mewhen I’ve been worried. It feels comfortable here.”– Support Group ParticipantIt is well documented that peopleliving with cancer benefit enormouslyfrom speaking to others in thesame situation.The support groups listed have allbeen developed to offer patients andtheir families support and information.One of the major benefits is thatjoining a group lessens the isolationand anxiety of dealing with cancer.Many of the groups raise awarenessand fundraise for research and services.This is another way of gainingcontrol and finding hope.• The services offered are:• Peer Support in person• Peer Support by telephone• Group Peer Support• Support from someone who knows what it islike to live with cancer. Services are free, responsive,confidential and accessible.• Contact: 1-800-263-6750Canadian Cancer Society –Peer Support Program,Pembroke Branch• Purpose: To offer support to people diagnosedwith cancer, or their caregivers, friends.• Contact: Renfrew County Unit, CanadianCancer Society, 1-800-255-8873 or613-735-2571Canadian Cancer Society –Transportation Program• Purpose: To provide transportation for cancerpatients to and from their cancer-related appointmentsif they cannot get there on theirown. Contact the local Society office formore details.• Ottawa: 613-723-1744• Lanark, Leeds and Grenville: 1-800-367-2913• Renfrew County: 1-800-255-8873• S.D.G. and Prescott-Russell: 1-800-669-4181The Canadian Thyroid CancerSupport Group (Thry’vors)• A small informal group providing onlinesupport, friendship and guidance to thyroidcancer survivors through email contact, withoccasional meetings.• Provides information, including referral tooutside sources, in dealing with diagnosis,treatment and management of thyroid cancer.• Contact: thryvors@sympatico.ca;www.thryvors.org. On-line support:groups.yahoo.com/group/thryvorsCanadian VHL Family Alliance –Ottawa Area Branch• Purpose: To improve diagnosis, treatmentand quality of life to people with VONHippel-Lindau Disease (VHL)• Contact: Tania Durand, 613-622-7976(during office hours) or email tania@igs.netCandlelighters ChildhoodCancer Support Programs• Candlelighters is a not-for-profit, volunteerorganization.• Purpose: To enhance the lives of childrenwith cancer and their families and topromote awareness, understanding andeducation of this devastating illness.• Provides young people, and their families,a variety of services through three separateprograms: support; education; and publicawareness.• Contact: Jocelyn Lamont, ExecutiveDirector, 613 715 9157;www.candlelighters.netAboutFace• Purpose: To offer support to people withAfacial differences. Connects adults to adultsand parents to parents for emotional supportHelpingand education.Hand• No regularly scheduled meetings. For moreinformation go to www.aboutface.ca• Contact: Donna Bantis, National Office,Support when it’s needed1-800-665-3223, ext. 23.Arnprior and District• Children/Youth programs also availableBreast Cancer Support Group• 144 Pitt Street, Cornwall• Purpose: To provide support and encouragementto breast cancer patients in the Arnprior• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 days a week)• Contact: 613-936-1455, or email at bfcornwalland surrounding area.@on.aibn.com; www.bereavedfamilies.net• Meets every third Tuesday of the monthBreast Cancer Action (BCA)• 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.• Arnprior Public Library, 21 Madawaska St., • Purpose: To inform, educate and supportArnpriorwomen and men living with breast cancer,• Contact: Elta Watt, 613-623-7455their families, and the community. Provides• ourbcsg.bravehost.comcommunity based core programs and clientservices.Barry’s Bay Cancer Support Group • Support and Resource Centre• Support group offered for patients, families, • 739A Ridgewood Ave., Riverside Mall,caregivers and survivors of the Barry’s BayOttawaregion.• 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - 5 days a week• Monthly group meetings, individual support • Contact: 613-736-5921, www.bcaott.caand counselling• Contact: Norma or Ralph, 613-756-2759Canadian Cancer Society –Bereaved Families of Ontario,Cancer Information ServiceOttawa-Region• A nationally bilingual toll-free service offeringcomprehensive information about cancer• Purpose: To provide mutual aid/self-help followingthe death of a loved one. Also providesand the community resources available tocancer patients, their families, the generaleducation in anticipatory grief situations.public and health care professionals.• Meets the first Tuesday of each month• Provides information about all types of• 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.cancer, from prevention and diagnosis to• St. Timothy’s Presbyterian Churchtreatment and supportive care.• 2400 Alta Vista Drive (downstairs hall)• Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.• Contact: Hilda, 613-567-4278• Contact: 1-888-939-3333Bereaved Families of Ontario –• Note: Services only available in CanadaCornwall and AreaCanadian Cancer Society –• Purpose: To provide support, informationand education to families following a death Peer Support Programand/or terminal illness of a loved one.• Purpose: To offer support to people diagnosedwith cancer, or their caregivers,• Bereavement support, groups, telephone helpline, library friends.Continued on page 30Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008 29

Continued from page 29Carefor Breast Cancer Network• Purpose: To provide information and holddiscussion sessions for cancer patients andtheir loved ones.• Meets every third Thursday of the month• 7 p.m.• Carefor Office, 2nd floor, 205 Amelia Street,Cornwall• Contact: Terry Armstrong, 613-932-3451; 1-800-267-1741Carefor Eastern Counties –Changing Journeys• Support group for people coping with aterminal illness• Purpose: To provide social and emotionalsupport to individuals with a terminal illnessand respite to their families.• Weekly meetings• Contact:Terry Armstrong, RN PalliativeCare Coordinator, Carefor Eastern CountiesBranch, Cornwall, 1-800-267-1741;613-932-3451Carefor Prostate CancerSupport Group• Purpose: To provide information and holddiscussion sessions for cancer patients andtheir loved ones.• Meets every second Thursday of the month• 7 p.m.• Carefor Office, 2nd floor, 205 Amelia Street,Cornwall• Contact: Terry Armstrong, 613-932-3451;1-800-267-1741Colorectal Cancer Association ofCanada – Ottawa Support Group• Purpose: To provide support and informationto those living with colorectal cancer, theirfamilies, friends and caregivers.• Meets 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.• Gatineau Room, lower level• The Palisades, 480 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa.• Contact: 613-745-8048, or the ColorectalCancer Association of Canada at1-877-50COLON or• info@ccac-accc.ca; www.ccac-accc.caDundas County Hospice• Purpose: To provide support to anyone witha life-threatening or terminal illness andtheir family/caregivers• Bereavement support• Day hospice• Loan cupboard• Library material for loan• 4324 Villa Drive, Williamsburg• Contact: Reina DeJong, 613-535-2215 orinfo@dundascounty.ca;www.dundascountyhospice.caEganville Group Support• A self-help group for people living withcancer, their families and friends.• Meets the second Wednesday of the month(call to confirm) at 7 p.m.• Action Centre• 68 Queen Street, Eganville (near Pembroke)• Contact: The Renfrew County Unit of theCanadian Cancer Society, 1-800-255-8873or Diane 613-625-2603Friends of Hospice OttawaBereavement Support Group• A structured bereavement support groupguided by an experienced facilitator. Thebereavement group will help the caregivercope with a wide spectrum of emotionsand practical concerns.• Contact: 613-838-4008;www.friendsofhospiceottawa.ca(The) Hospice at May CourtCaregiver Support Program• Purpose: To provide a relaxing environmentto individuals caring for a loved one who hasbeen diagnosed with a life threatening illness.The program provides an opportunity toshare experiences with other caregivers ina discussion group or one-on-one.• Individual support offered by staff andvolunteers• Reiki, foot massage, art and resource centreavailable.• Meets every Wednesday evening at theHospice (114 Cameron Ave.), 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.• Contact: Anne, 613-260-2906 (Please call toconfirm)• Note: A program geared towards children isalso available.Kanata and DistrictBreast Cancer Support Group• Support group for breast cancer patients,where information and sharing is provided.• Meets on the last Thursday of the month at7 p.m. at the Mlacak Centre, Hall D, Kanata• Contact: Pauline Cramphorn, 613-592-0305or pauline.cramphorn@sympatico.ca• ourbcsg.bravehost.comKingston Regional ProstateCancer Support Group• Support group for prostate cancer patients,partners and/or caregivers.• Meets the second Wednesday of the month,7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Ongwanada Resource Centre• 191 Portsmouth Ave., Kingston• Contact: Rita Peters - Facilitator,613-546-1141 or 613 549-4195 (home) orrita.peters@sympatico.caLiving Well with CancerSupport Group – Winchester• Support group for all disease sites. Bring afriend if you wish.• Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Winchester United Church• Contact: Linda Johnson, 613-774-2420ext. 5155Look Good ... Feel Better Program• Support group for women taking cancertreatment and wanting to know more aboutfacial skin care, makeovers and options forhair loss. Free workshop• Contact: 613-737-7700, ext 10315• Pre-registration is requiredGeneral Campus• Every second Monday of each month• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.• The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre• 503 Smyth RoadCivic Campus• Every fourth Tuesday of each month• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.• Maurice Grimes Lodge, 3rd Floor,The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre,200 Melrose AveWinchester Satellite• To register call 613-774-2420, ext. 5704Lymphoma Support Group (LSG)• Support group and educational forum forlymphoma patients, their families andfriends.• Share experiences with others and learnmore about lymphoma from experts• Meets the first Tuesday of each month(Sept-Dec, Feb June)• 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.• Hospice at May Court, 114 Cameron Avenue• Contact: 613-232-7795 or 613-241-7141• www.lsgo.caMarianhill Palliative Care Unit• Purpose: To offer a continuity of accessiblecare with a holistic approach which addressesboth the spiritual and the medical needs ofpeople with terminal illness.• Three private bedrooms• Offers a home-like atmosphere• 600 Cecilia Street, Pembroke• Contact: Cathy Brennan-Hogaboam,613-735-6839, ext. 316, or email Cathy,cathybh@marianhill.ca; www.marianhill.caMississippi Mills/Carleton PlaceArea Group Support• Purpose: To support and encourage participantsin this group to work through issueswhile living with cancer. Sessions willinclude topics of interest geared to the participants,videos, guest speakers, etc.• Refreshments provided• Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month.• 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.• Almonte United Church Parlour• 106 Elgin Street, Almonte• Contact: Canadian Cancer Society (Lanark,Leeds and Grenville Unit) 1-800-367-2913 or613-267-1058, or lanarklg@ontario.cancer.caNu-Voice Club of Ottawa• Purpose: To meet with fellow laryngectomypatients to discuss issues of concern andshare information.• Meets quarterly, March, June, September,December• 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.• The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus• Maurice Grimes Lodge• 200 Melrose Avenue, 4th Floor, Ottawa• Contact: 613-798-5555, ext. 13416, or byemail at pmaser@ottawahospital.on.caThe Ottawa Hospital – GeneralCampus Gynaecologic-OncologyProgram – “Time for Ourselves”• Support group that encourages the participantto share her concerns and feelings withothers.• Meets weekly, on Thursdays• 10:30 a.m. - noon• The Ottawa Hospital - General Campus• 8th Floor Lounge (Room 8230), West Lounge• Contact: Jennifer Fotheringham, 613-737-8899, ext. 72128• Please call to register30 Challenge • Fall/Winter 2008

The Ottawa HospitalCancer Centre Ninon BourquePatient Resource Library• Purpose: To provide up-to-date cancer informationto cancer patients and their families,and members of the general public.www.ottawahospital.on.ca/patient/visit/chlib/index-e.asp• Main Level, 503 Smyth Road, Ottawa• Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m,1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.• Contact: 613-737-7700, ext. 70107The Ottawa Hospital CancerCentre (TOHCC) Social WorkSupport Groups• Purpose: To provide ongoing support groupsoffered by TOHCC Social Workers:1. Adult Brain Tumour Support Group• Support group for people with primarybrain tumours, and their family/friends• Meets the last Tuesday of each month(except July and August)• 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.• Alta Vista Manor, 751 Peter MorandCres., Ottawa• Contact: Sabrina Gaon, 613-737-7700,ext. 70146; Nancy Page 613-737-7700,ext. 70301; Linda Durocher613-737-8899, ext. 78053.2. Caregiver Support Group• Bi-monthly support group for familymembers caring for loved ones withmetastatic cancer• An opportunity to speak to others thatunderstand and to learn about resourcesand services.• Contact: Sabrina Gaon, 613-737-7700,ext. 70146.• Requires pre-registration3. Connextions 18-35• Monthly support group for cancerpatients age 18 to 35 who cope withspecial problems regarding relationships,self image, education, career andlifestyle changes• This support group offers an opportunityto meet others, discuss/share experiencesand explore coping strategies for selfand family.• This course is of particular interestto those who are newly diagnosed.• Learn methods of coping with theemotional aspect of cancer as well asstress management techniques.• Contact: Social Work, 613-737-7700,ext. 70516• Requires pre-registration4. Coping with Cancer Stress• Four-week support group for patientsand family members• Hear about the normal reactions tocancer• Learn self-healing techniques likerelaxation, thought management, andmeditation• Learn how to reduce stress and cope inhealthy ways• Contact: Josée Charlebois, 613 7377700, ext. 70147• Requires pre-registration5. Healing Circles• Support group for patients undergoingtreatment for cancer• Learn about the mind-body connection• Learn relaxation and imagery techniques• Contact: Heather MacPhail613-737-7700, ext. 70143 (English)or Josée Charlebois 613-737-7700,ext. 70147 (French group)• Requires pre-registration (space limited)6. Living for Today• Bi-monthly support group for men andwomen living with metastatic or recurrentcancer• Share thoughts, emotions, informationand experience.• Develop coping strategies for getting themost out of each day.• Contact: Hilary Graham, 613-737-7700,ext. 70143• Requires pre-registration7. Lung Cancer Group• Weekly support group for those with primarylung tumours and their loved ones.• Share with others who understand.• Guest speakers may be invited• Contact: Liane Murphy, 613-737-7700,ext. 70516• Requires pre-registration8. Men and Cancer• A series of skill building workshopsfor men. Partners also welcome.• Learn about stress managementtechniques, sexuality, nutrition.• Offered weekly.• Contact: Diane Manii, 613-737-7700,ext. 70516• Requires pre-registration9. Stepping Stones• 6-week support group for women whoare newly diagnosed with breast cancer.• Become a partner in your health care• Develop new coping skills• Find out about community resources• Learn methods of relaxation and imagery• The Ottawa Regional Women’s BreastHealth Centre• Contact: 613-798-5555, ext. 16563• Requires pre-registrationPerth and Area Prostate CancerSupport Group• Purpose: To provide support to prostatecancer patients and their loved ones.• Meets the second Monday of the month• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.• Dufferin Square Boardroom,202-105 Dufferin St., Perth• Contact: George Clark, (613) 267-1051.Prostate Cancer Associationof Ottawa• Provides support and information for newlydiagnosedand continuing treatment patients,promotes awareness of prostate cancer, interactswith the health community, co-operateswith groups having similar interests.• Meets the third Thursday of each month• 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.• Newly diagnosed members start time is7 p.m. as well.• St. Stephens Anglican Church Hall• 930 Watson, Ottawa• Contact: 613-828-0762; www.ncf.ca/pcaRenfrew County Prostate CancerSupport Group• Support group to assist men with prostatecancer and their families and to increasetheir ability to cope with this disease.• First Wednesday of the month• 7 p.m.• Renfrew Victoria Hospital (cafeteria)• Contact: 613-432-6471 or 613-432-6911Renfrew Victoria HospitalCancer Support Service• Supportive care assessment for all newlydiagnosed cancer patients and their families.• Offering support and teaching with regardsto diagnosis and treatment• Assistance and referrals for other communityservices• Counselling and support re: living with cancerand associated fears related to treatment,recurrence and survivorship• Contact: Renfrew Victoria Hospital, OncologyClinic, Renfrew Victoria Hospital,499 Raglan St. N.• 613-432-4851, ext. 123 or fax at613-432-8649Renfrew Victoria HospitalPalliative Care Services• Multi-disciplined team approach for peoplewith a terminal illness in a hospital, communityor long-term care facility• Pain and symptom management, patient andfamily consultation and support, scheduledrelief for families and caregivers by trainedvolunteers, grief and bereavement follow-up• Renfrew Victoria Hospital, 499 RaglanStreet North• Contact: Palliative Care Coordinator, 613-432-4851, ext. 217, or fax at 613-432-8649United Ostomy Support Group –Ottawa• Purpose: To provide support and educationto people with ostomies, their families andthe public.• Meets the third Thursday of every month,September - November, January - May.Special events in December and June• 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.• Canada Care Medical Centre• 1644 Bank Street (at Heron - behindCanadian Tire) Ottawa• Contact: 613-447-0361;www.ostomyottawa.caWillow Breast Cancer Supportand Resource Services• Purpose: To provide information, supportand networking to those women with breastcancer.• Support from trained volunteers who haveexperienced breast cancer themselves.• Contact: 1 888 778 3100; www.willow.orgYouth/Pelvic Pouch Group• Purpose: To provide education and emotionalsupport to those who have had pelvic pouchor ileostomy surgery, with particularemphasis on the problems of the young.• Contact: Jennifer Bisson, 613-839-7424 orRachel Seed, 613-832-3522.If you would like your Supportor Information Groupmentioned in the next edition ofChallenge...Life with Cancercontact JoAnn Nicol,Library Services,The Ottawa HospitalCancer Centre,(613) 737-7700 ext. 70107.

TheOttawaCitizenBringing Healthcare homeDr. Hartley Stern, head of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, is shown here during a surgical proced ure.Photo: Jayne BalharrieThis is what we do every day:provide pictures and wordshighlighting those heroesthat keep our communitystrong — from the surgeonsand nurses to those they helpin the fight against cancer.“Fighting cancer everystep of the way”For home delivery call 596-1950