This month we have 13 things you can do to support AYAs. Be sure to continue sending us your updates to include in the newsletter every month!
Our Spring Community Call is coming up on Monday, April 22. Please see the agenda attached and the zoom details below. We hope you can join us!
Here are 13 things you can do to support AYAs today:
- Read the minutes from the AYA CAN Winter Community Call from last month.
See the Minutes from the most recent call. Or have a look at Childhood Cancer Canada's Survivor Scholarship program presentation slides.
- Join us at the AYA CAN Spring Community Call on Monday, April 22 at 12 - 1pm EST.
See the Agenda for the next call.
- Pink Pearl Programs
Toronto Local Socials
This program is free to attend, and is open to self-identifying women facing any type of cancer between the ages 18-40. RSVP to [email protected].
March 18th ~ Snakes and Lattes Annex Location at 7pm
April 9th ~ Snakes and Lattes Annex Location at 7pm
May 8th ~ Walk in High Park at 7pm - meeting at the gates on Bloor Street
Peer Support Program
Pink Pearl Canada's Peer Support Program is designed to offer personalized one-on-one peer support while facing a cancer diagnosis. With a peer mentor by your side, you'll have the space to be seen, heard and supported. Their team will pair you up with a self-identifying young woman who understands what it means to hear the words 'you have cancer', and is ready to lend a listening ear. No judgment, just support and a safe space to share your journey.
Click here to learn more and apply. If you have any questions email them at [email protected].
One-on-One Counselling Program
Complete the application to participate in one-on-one short-term counselling sessions of 3-6 sessions with Pink Pearl's team of social workers. This program is open to Canadians who are of low-income with no access to therapy, who self-identify as female, and are facing/have faced any type of cancer between the ages of 18-40 and are currently between this age bracket. There are a limited number of sessions available monthly.
- The Waiting Room Revolution: Podcast and Book
Dr. Hsien Seow and Dr. Samantha Winemaker have spent their careers helping those who are facing serious illness. For years, they often heard patients and families say they felt unprepared and overwhelmed. Despite years of education, research, and advocacy, they continued to hear patients and families say “Why didn’t anyone tell me that sooner…”
They started the Waiting Room Revolution movement because they wanted to improve the patient and family illness experience. They want to build a community to share deeply human stories about caring for others. Through interviews with experts, clinicians, patients and caregivers, they are harnessing the advice of those with lived experience to better prepare those who are just starting their caring journey. Listen to their podcast here. More information on their new book Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest here. And check out this clip of them on City News in Toronto.
- BioCanRX Consultation Survey: Cancer Immunotherapy Research Priorities
BioCanRx is a network of scientists, highly qualified personnel, clinicians, cancer stakeholders, NGOs and industry partners working together to accelerate the development of innovative cancer immunotherapy therapeutics. Learn more about BioCanRx here.
BioCanRx is asking you, the Canadian community engaging in, or looking to engage in, cancer immunotherapy research to help them define their research program priorities via a consultation survey. Deadline to fill out this survey is Monday, April 8, 2024.
They are seeking responses from:
- Researchers across the translational research spectrum (preclinical to early-phase clinical trials, and individuals studying clinical, social and economic and legal issues surrounding implementation and access to cancer immunotherapies)
- Trainees and other highly qualified personnel (e.g., clinical, research, technical or biomanufacturing personnel)
- Individuals with lived experience
- Representatives of a cancer charity, advocacy or research organization
- Industry partners
- Other stakeholders actively involved in expanding access to immunotherapies in Canada
- LLSC's webcast How Your Gut Health Can Improve Your Blood Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada will be hosting the webcast, How Your Gut Health Can Improve Your Blood Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life. Join them on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00 pm EST for a live presentation with Dr. Bertrand Routy as he talks about his research on gut microbiome. Register here.
- Improve Fertility Care & Resources for Young Adult Cancer Online Workshop on March 7 at 5pm PST, presented in partnership by the Anew Research Collaborative, BC Cancer and BC Children's Hospital
If you were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 - 39 in BC or Yukon and would like to improve fertility information and resources then join this interactive workshop. Sharing insights and knowledge to ensure that every eligible young adult newly diagnosed with cancer receives clear, accessible and timely information to help with fertility decisions; and has ready access to fertility support throughout their cancer experience. A $50 gift card will be provided in appreciation of your contribution. See Poster
- YACC Programs
March YACC Chats Schedule
YACC Chats are for young adults aged 18 - 39. See schedule.
YACC Chats: Series - 8 weekly sessions
This series is similar to the regular YACC Chats but participants sign up and commit to getting together weekly for 8 weeks in order to deepen connections and build on the conversation. This program is for people diagnosed with cancer before the age of 40 and is currently between 18-39. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
Register here for Newly Diagnosed series
Register here for Advanced & Metastatic series
Register here for Survivorship series
Registration is open for the next House Party in Vancouver
The YACC House Party is a free event for young adults who were diagnosed with cancer before the age of 40 and are currently between 18 - 39. Spend the day hanging out, connecting and sharing stories. The next House Party will take place in Vancouver, BC on March 23 from 9am - 5pm. For more info and to register, click here.
- Rethink's March Virtual Support Groups
Coming up in March, Rethink Breast Cancer has 5 virtual support group sessions: Breast Cancer & Body Image, The Healing Power of Nature: Spring Equinox Edition, Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer and *2 new pilot sessions* of Compassionate Flow Yoga. Learn more about March Virtual Support sessions here.
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) is looking for volunteers
CCTG recognizes the value and importance of engaging patients, including the patient voice in all aspects of the clinical trial life-cycle. Integrating the patient perspective into the CCTG’s overall strategic agenda ensures the research agenda has the greatest impact on cancer patients in Canada and around the world.
CCTG is currently looking for volunteers for these roles:
- To support the Hematology Disease Site Committee | en français
- To support the Breast Disease Site Committee | en français
- To support the Genito-Urinary Disease Site Committee | en français
- To support the Gynecologic Disease Site Committee | en français
For more information about current committee openings contact Nancy Dusharm.
- Research Study Recruitment: The Childhood Cancer Identity Project (CCHIP): Examination of cancer identity and wellbeing in adult survivors of childhood cancer
The goal of this project is to better understand how individuals view themselves after cancer treatment has ended. They also want to learn about the impact cancer identity has on mental and physical health. Following completion of this study, they will use the study findings to integrate cancer identity into overall care of childhood cancer survivors. Findings may also support the use of patient-preferred terminology in clinical practices, aftercare clinics, research, and among the public.
If you are an adult survivor of childhood cancer, please fill out the survey.
- Wellwood's Programs & Educational Series: Empowering People to Live WELL with Cancer
All programs at Wellwood are available at no cost and are available to anyone affected by cancer. This includes those with a diagnosis, as well as caregivers and family members. They offer opportunities for peer support, creative expression, relaxation and meditation, as well as exercise and movement. They also have virtual educational opportunities on a variety of topics relating to navigating cancer, in addition to their library of recorded lectures. Check out their upcoming programs and events or visit their website. If you're interested in registering, please fill out the Program Registration Form. Email [email protected] with any questions you may have.
- Wildfire Magazine's Free March Pop-Up Writing Workshop
Wildfire Magazine's March Pop-Up Writing Workshop is for those who have been diagnosed with a secondary cancer diagnosis. Join the Wildfire community on Tuesday March 19 at 12:30pm PST / 3:30pm EST if your breast cancer diagnosis wasn't your first brush with cancer, you've been diagnosed with a localized or metastatic recurrence or you've now been diagnosed with a new type of cancer. Click here for the link to register for free.
We hope to see you all at our next Community Call on April 22 at 12pm EST. In the meantime, If you have anything you'd like us to let the AYA CAN community know about, please send it to us and we will include it in our next newsletter and at our Community Call in April.