It's In You to Fight Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, remember… You are not alone – more than 230,000 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer every year and more people with cancer are living longer Receiving a cancer diagnosis is never welcome, but there are grounds to be hopeful and optimistic. Let your medical team know you so that you can work together to find the best care plan for you. Actively engaging in your treatment and care choices can be empowering, although individuals vary in their comfort levels with this involvement. Taking a proactive role may help foster a more constructive partnership with your medical team, instilling greater confidence in your care decisions. The ZOOMER web resource is designed to support and guide you in taking an active role in your cancer care. Here are some practical tips to help ensure you receive the BEST CARE: Be engaged in knowing the status of your cancer and your diagnosis & treatment options. Enlist the help of a family member or friend to accompany you at medical visits, take notes and support your decisions. Seek information from reputable sources such as trusted medical sites and patient groups. Talk to your medical team about what's important to you when discussing treatment options – your personal priorities, values, beliefs and goals. Consider with your medical team all treatment options available to you, their pros and cons, to help make a choice. Ask your medical team any questions you may have on your cancer, your treatment or your care. Review and write your questions before medical appointments to get the answers you need. Ensure you get what's best for you by helping make it happen as part of your care team! Here are resources to help you get the BEST CARE on your cancer journey:

Zoomer Magazine article entitled “When it’s time to make decisions about cancer care, you hold the key”.
Recording of CARP webinar: "Decisions about Your Cancer Care start with YOU."
Download this new guide if you have been diagnosed with cancer at an earlier stage – it will help you understand your care choices and help you work with your medical team to determine the best treatment plan for you
Five key questions to ask your doctor to ensure your cancer treatment decisions are right for you
Diagnosed with cancer? Is someone missing from your care team? Could it be YOU? In today's patient-centred healthcare, patients have a key role to play in decisions about their treatment at every stage of their cancer care journey
Recording of CARP webinar: Decisions on Cancer Care – You Hold the Key

November was lung cancer awareness month – to learn more about lung cancer, check out:

A key to successfully fighting lung cancer? Find it early by screening, says Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser
Fight Back interview with Olympic Gold Medalist, Hockey Hall of Famer, Medical Doctor, and Assistant NHL GM, Hayley Wickenheiser
CARP webinar on lung cancer

And here are some other resources on cancer care:

More than skin deep: the path from diagnosis to treatment for Canadians with melanoma
Kidney cancer: what you need to know about a serious cancer that gets too little attention
Cancer Above the Shoulders – Don't Shrug it Off!
How Can We Tame Cancer's Biggest Killer?
Screening programs are key to early detection of cancers – and they are making a difference!
Fight Back interview with Libby Znaimer and cancer survivor and patient advocate Kathy Barnard on empowering cancer patients to self-advocate
Immunotherapy – The New 'Fourth Pillar' of Cancer Treatment
Fight Back interview with Libby Znaimer and Medical Oncologist Dr. Paul Wheatley-Price on cancer immunotherapy
Expert panel on Immunotherapy hosted by Libby Znaimer on theZoomer
The Canadian Cancer Care Recovery Project: it's time to take some of the same dynamic thinking used to fight COVID-19 and apply it to our biggest longstanding health issue: cancer
Can our Health System Manage the Cancer Onslaught?

It's In You to Fight Cancer

The Healthy Lifestyle Choices You Can Make to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

World No Tobacco Day: Treatments, Therapies and Apps to Help You Quit Smoking

Ovarian Cancer Awareness: How to Recognize the Early Signs and Symptoms of the Disease

7 Foods to Help Reduce Risk of Cancer

10 Tips to Jump-Start Your Fitness Routine

8 Symptoms of Cancer We Shouldn’t Ignore