February 4th is World Cancer Day

As the title suggests, today is World Cancer Day – aimed at raising awareness of cancer, and encouraging its prevention, detection and treatment.

Many of us know that in British Columbia we are lucky to have the lowest cancer incidence, and the lowest cancer mortality rates in Canada – no doubt due partly to the BC Cancer Agency and its model of population-based cancer control that ensures that no matter where you live in B.C. you receive the same high standard of cancer care, treatment and support.

But did you also know that the BC Cancer Agency has one of the leading cancer prevention programs in Canada, and maybe even North America?

As Dr. David McLean, head of the Agency’s Cancer Prevention Programs says, “We believe it’s much better to prevent a cancer than to treat it after it has developed.”  Dr. McLean is featured in our seven-part series on cancer prevention in Vim & Vigour magazine – you can read it here.

Under his leadership, and with direct funding from the BC Cancer Foundation, the Agency has created a team of 19 Cancer Prevention Coordinators who work in all regions of the province, building partnerships, assessing community needs, and helping communities deliver prevention messages about healthy living, sun safety, tobacco cessation and promoting the cancer screening programs of the BC Cancer Agency.

And speaking of those screening programs, we know that if a cancer is detected early, you have a greater chance of being cured.  So get out there and get screened – click here to find out which screening programs are available to you in B.C.

I think the best advice came from one of our Cancer Prevention Coordinators, John Raven, in our first issue of Vim & Vigour magazine:

Make one small change in your life.  Pick one thing and make a change.  When you’re successful at the first thing, you can go on and make another small change.  And remember to celebrate your achievements!

So today, let’s honour all those in our lives who have been touched by cancer by making one healthy change for ourselves.

Warm regards,
Doug

More inspiring news

Last September, the BC Cancer Foundation launched the Inspire the World campaign on Vancouver Island.

Our goal is to raise $10 million for the renovation and construction of 10,000 square feet of space at the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre.  The new space will include a state-of-the-art patient support centre, a predictive cancer research centre and a radiation innovation wing.

When it’s complete, the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre will provide cancer care, supportive care and cancer research all under one roof.

Today, we announced another significant gift to the Inspire the World campaign. 

The Norgaard Foundation, a private family foundation on Vancouver Island, has donated $250,000 for the creation of the Norgaard Foundation Counselling Suite within the new Patient and Family Support Centre.

This donation is very exciting as it raises us over the halfway mark towards our $10 million goal.

The response and generosity we’ve had so far from the public has been truly overwhelming.  Please keep your support coming so that we can continue to Inspire the World.

You can donate to the campaign here, or read more about today’s gift here.

Warm regards,
Doug

Better cancer care, closer to home in the Southern Interior

Today was the official opening of the new and improved radiation therapy treatment unit and a brachytherapy suite in the BC Cancer Agency’s Centre for the Southern Interior.

This is really important because we know that the further a patient has to travel for their care, the more stressful it is, and the larger the financial burden it places on them and their family.

And until the new BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North opens in 2012, the Southern Interior continues seeing patients for radiation therapy from everywhere in the province outside of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. 

For all of these patients, if they can’t receive their treatment in Kelowna, they have to travel to the Lower Mainland – because the only way to receive radiation therapy in B.C. is at a BC Cancer Agency Centre.

So, for a specialized therapy like prostate brachytherapy, which has proven to have really positive results for men with prostate cancer, patients can now receive this treatment closer to home through the whole process – from their initial intake to the procedure itself and all the way through to follow up.

My colleague Cynthia Waldek-Peters, our Director of Development in the Southern Interior, has this to say about the news:

Through the generous support of BC Cancer Foundation donors who donated the  seed money, a less invasive treatment for prostate cancer is now available in the Southern Interior.The campaign to bring brachytherapy to the Southern Interior began in 2003 and raised over $321,000 to bring the program closer to patients.

This has been six years in the making, and we (along with the patients in B.C. who will benefit) are extremely grateful.

You can read more about the opening here.

Warm regards,
Doug

It’s a brand new Weekend

Launching the new Weekend at Sinclair Centre in Vancouver

We officially launched the 2010 Weekend to End Women’s Cancers this week, and I’m excited that this year, it’s a brand new Weekend.  Let me tell you why.

You may have noticed that the name has changed.  The Weekend to End Breast Cancer has been the most successful fundraising event for breast cancer research in B.C. history.  We’ve raised over $16 million for breast cancer research and programs at the BC Cancer Agency – which led to a ground-breaking research discovery just a few months ago.

We are on the right path.

But researchers have told us that there are common links between breast cancer and other women’s cancers – including cervical, endometrial, uterine and ovarian.

 So, we’ve expanded the event to make an even bigger difference in the lives of women in our province and around the world. We have renamed the event The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers as it will now fund both breast and these other gynecologic cancers.

You can even choose whether you want the funds you raise to support breast, or gynecologic cancers.

And we’ve made it even easier to participate. For those of you who have always wanted to join us, but can’t commit to the full two days, we’ve created a one-day walk.  So you can sign up for the one-day, 30 km event or go the full two-day, 60 km experience.

Join us – register now for the 2010 Shopper’s Drug Mart Weekend to End Women’s Cancers here. 

I will see you out there.  Together, step by step, we can end ALL women’s cancers. 

Warm regards,
Doug

Another research discovery – new clues to lymphoma

An artistic representation of the mutated protein (EZH2) with the distinct amino acids (building blocks) represented by different colours. The amino acid found in this study to be mutated in nearly a quarter of all lymphomas of a specific subtype is indicated in white.

More exciting news from the BC Cancer Agency today – following two recent breakthroughs in ovarian and breast cancer, BC Cancer Agency researchers have now discovered a never before seen mutation in the two most common types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. 

You can read the official news release here, or the scientific article in Nature Genetics here but let me explain it to you in simpler terms.

First of all, this is a groundbreaking discovery and a timely one, because lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer and unfortunately, the fastest growing.

It’s significant because the mutation occurred in exactly the same place in one particular gene – called EZH2 – in all the patients’ tumours in the study. Usually, mutations are observed in different sites in individual tumours – but this one shows in exactly the same place.

This has huge implications for lymphoma patients.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is aggressive and can only be cured in about 65 per cent of patients, using strong doses of chemotherapy.  Follicular lymphoma cannot be cured – but can be kept in check for long periods of time with relatively mild chemotherapy.

With the discovery of this consistent mutation, researchers now have a new “marker” or target for these two lymphomas that could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatments, possibly specifically targeted treatments that would only affect the lymphoma cells, not the patient’s healthy cells.

EZH2 is now one of the most frequently mutated single genes ever found in lymphoma.

As with the breast and ovarian cancer discoveries, this research was made possible by the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre. Their capacity and ability to unravel the genetic sequences of tumours ranks as among the best in the field, worldwide.

This is another very exciting achievement for the BC Cancer Agency, once again supported by generous BC Cancer Foundation donors.

Thank you for making this possible.

Warm regards,
Doug

Happy New Year!

This is a great opportunity for me to start the New Year with my first blog posting. 

Having been with the BC Cancer Foundation for a little over six months now, I can say with all honesty how impressed I am every day by the talent, skill and dedication of the scientists and researchers, and the high standard of care that is given to cancer patients in our province. 

I’m also amazed by the generosity of our donors who help fund this research and care. Thank you all for your support throughout the past year.

But it’s the patients and survivors whose stories inspire the work we at the Foundation and our colleagues at the BC Cancer Agency do.  Patients like Anita Cochrane. 

Anita wrote a few weeks ago in one of Nick’s postings, but I’ve asked her to join us again and tell us about her hopes for 2010. Anita writes:

As 2009 comes to an end amid the busy-ness of the holidays, I have found a few moments to reflect on the past year and anticipate what’s in store for 2010.

2009 started with some difficulty with my health, as the chemo I was on was no longer working. That’s what happens: the cancer becomes resistant to the chemo and the chemo eventually becomes ineffective. We always hope the chemo will work for a long time, because the longer it does, the more research can happen, giving us more options to try.

Having been diagnosed with stage IV, terminal breast cancer in 2005, I was extremely thrilled to be able to witness some of the research advances in 2009 at the BC Cancer Agency including Dr. Huntsman’s ovarian cancer discovery, and Dr. Aparicio and Dr. Marra’s discovery mapping out the DNA of a lobular breast tumour. It’s very exciting to witness this progress, and also to meet and talk with these scientists and see their enthusiasm over their work. It’s very hopeful to see how motivated and passionate they are to take their research to the next level!

Fortunately, we were able to get my disease back under control with a few radiation treatments and by starting on a new chemo regime. I am one of the “unlucky, lucky” patients who responds to most chemotherapies – I have responded to all but one. I did with this latest chemo as well and my tumor markers dropped nicely, signaling that things were going really well in my fight against cancer.

Unfortunately though, I have been receiving some not so positive test results recently. My tumor markers have been increasing and the pain in my bones from the breast cancer has increased significantly. I have to take some potent pain medication to maintain my quality of life and to manage the holidays. I also had a radiation treatment to help alleviate some of the pain and it has worked well.

The caregivers at the BC Cancer Agency are such kind and wonderful people and help make this experience so much easier, especially during this time of the year. Their positive outlook, their kind words, or an extra gentle touch might seem so small to them, but it is so significant to a patient like me – they are truly special people.

Not only do the physical side effects cause discomfort, but they increase anxieties and emotions begin to run high. I will be honest, some days are harder than others, but what most helps to keep me calm as I live with a terminal disease is knowing that I have been able to get this disease under control so many times in the past. I trust that my cancer care team will be able to come up with a new treatment for me to try and I know they will do their best to help me through this journey. I am confident that I will respond to whatever it is we decide to try next, and it will last long enough for me to see other discoveries that will hopefully benefit me, and if not me, other women going through a very similar journey.

I continue to hope for the best, not only for my own future, but for other cancer patients as well. It’s important for all of us to continue giving to and supporting the BC Cancer Foundation. Let’s make 2010 another amazing year of success for our health, and for more cancer discoveries!!! 

Warm wishes,
Anita Cochrane

Anita’s words are a powerful testimony to the value of investing together in cancer research. All of us at the BC Cancer Foundation share Anita’s hope for many more exciting and fruitful research advances in the year ahead.

I invite you to join us in helping to this happen and wish you all the very best for 2010,

Cheers,
Doug

Moving on

After more than eight years with the BC Cancer Foundation, I have decided it’s time to move on and refocus my career – and so will be leaving the Foundation at the end of this year.

I have seen so much growth and development over the years, and some remarkable achievements and breakthroughs as well.

My many highlights and memories are way too numerous for this space, but I can honestly say that I have very much enjoyed my time at the BC Cancer Foundation and especially working with so many inspirational people – our patients and families impacted by cancer.

When I joined the Foundation, we were just entering a new millennium and a new era of fundraising for the BC Cancer Agency.  In my eight years here, the Foundation has provided over $100 million in funding to the BC Cancer Agency. 

The BC Cancer Agency has grown immensely, opening a new research centre in Vancouver, the Vancouver Island Centre and the Trev & Joyce Deeley Research Centre in Victoria, the new Abbotsford Centre and soon to be a sixth centre in Prince George!

And the BC Cancer Agency has used Foundation funds to initiate some of the world’s leading cancer research as evidenced by the recent breakthroughs in ovarian and breast cancer. 

This has happened through tremendous growth in all of our fundraising programmes. Just one example is we’ve raised $20.5 million from our signature events alone – from our first Weekend to End Breast Cancer (now the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers) to the new Ride to Conquer Cancer - in just the last six years. 

And I can proudly say I’ve participated in every single one of these events!

So, this is my last blog posting.  Doug Nelson, our CEO, will be taking it over and will continue to bring you news, inspirational stories, research breakthroughs and information on the many ways you can support the work of the BC Cancer Agency through the BC Cancer Foundation.

Let me close by thanking each of you for your generosity of spirit and support to the BC Cancer Foundation over these past years.

Wishing you all the best,
Nick

Team Finn 100

Team Finn in the 2009 Ride to Conquer Cancer

If you participated in last year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer, or if you remember our advertising from last year, then you’ve already met Patrick Sullivan and Team Finn. 

Team Finn is an amazingly sad, touching and inspiring story. 

At 18 months of age, Finn Sullivan was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare form of childhood cancer in which tumours grew in his abdomen.  Sadly, in October 2008, little Finn passed away, leaving behind twin brother Baird, sister Sarah, mom Sam and dad Patrick.

Through his grief, Patrick and some friends formed Team Finn to honour and remember his little boy.  To truly understand why Patrick rides, you need to check out the Team Finn webpage, and Patrick’s personal page – where you can also support their team.

The inaugural Ride raised an amazing $7.1 million, thanks to support from Team Finn and many others. For the 2010 Ride, Patrick vowed to sign up 100 riders – and they’ve done it!  Just in time for Patrick’s birthday on Christmas Eve, Team Finn is 100 strong. 

But why stop at 100? 

If you’ve thought about joining the Ride, but don’t have a team or aren’t sure you will be able to do it, consider joining Team Finn.  It’s an experience I promise you won’t regret.  Take it from Patrick himself:

If you want to be a part of something special; if you want to see how pink can be turned into an emotion; if you want to experience the best kind of happy and the best kind of sad, I can think of no better way of doing that then throwing on a pink Team Finn jersey and biking to Seattle. 

Team Finn is about a lot of things.  Clearly Team Finn is about fundraising for a worthy cause, but Team Finn is also about fun-raising.  Team Finn approaches the Ride like Finn approached his life – we “Run Jump Bounce Dance Sing Love Smile and Ride”. 

One final word: 100 is a floor, not a ceiling.  I know some of you are still thinking about this.  Wondering if you can?  How you can?  I encourage you to take the plunge to pink.  Be a part of making a difference. 

Sarah, my seven-year-old daughter, also had some thoughts on this.  She said to me last weekend, “You know daddy, you shouldn’t stop at 100″.  I asked her why.  She said, “Well, you want 100 riders and just in case some people can’t do it, you are better to have extra”.  I can’t say I disagree.

Truly “finnspirational”. 

Best regards,
Nick

Meet Anita Cochrane

Anita and me at camp during The Weekend to End Breast Cancer in 2008

In my last blog posting, I mentioned Anita Cochrane an amazing woman and good friend who is battling metastatic breast cancer.  She is truly living proof of the hope and positive outcomes of cancer research.

You may have just received an email from Anita, reminding you to support the BC Cancer Foundation as you make your end-of-year and holiday gifts.  You can learn more about that here or make your gift here.

I’ve asked Anita to write a guest blog for us to share a bit more of her story.

I am very excited to be a guest on Nick’s blog! There are so many inspiring stories of people’s journey with cancer that motivate me to keep fighting.  I feel so honoured to get to share mine.

Some of you may be familiar with my story, but for those of you that aren’t, I was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago at the age of thirty – three weeks away from my one year wedding anniversary. We had hopes of having a family.  I was starting my career as a chartered accountant.  We had all the typical dreams a young newlywed couple should.

Everything changed when we were told I have cancer. At first, we were going for a cure and after a year of treatment I was in remission. Unfortunately that only lasted three years when the disease recurred and spread to my bones. I have been off and on chemo ever since then and we are now managing a chronic disease.

Some would say how unfortunate it is for me to be living with incurable cancer for over four years now, and in some respects it is. There are many losses attached to this disease such as the inability to have children, the inability to work, and the inability to have enough energy to play sports and participate in curling, which is my true passion. Life is very different as a cancer patient.

Others would say how lucky I am as I am beating the odds.  On average, a woman lives twenty four months with metastatic breast cancer, and so far I’ve survived fifty one months!

I believe this is thanks to the fantastic care team at the BC Cancer Agency. I’m alive today because of them!  Over the last eight years since I’ve been involved with my treatment at the BC Cancer Agency I have seen so many changes and positive steps forward in not only breast cancer, but ovarian and other cancers as well. That’s why it’s easy for me to keep hoping for not only my future, but for everyone’s future and it is important for all of us to continue giving and supporting the BC Cancer Foundation.

Another exceptional thing is, not only are the treatment options keeping me alive by being more effective today than they were eight years ago, but they are much easier to take and have fewer side effects. This is important to my quality of life – it’s one thing to survive fifty one months, but it’s another thing to survive well!

This last year started off with the disease getting the better of me. My quality of life was diminishing as the pain in my bones was increasing and my energy levels were decreasing. We changed my chemotherapy protocol in June and everything changed for the better again! I had a fantastic summer and was able to enjoy our cabin, I was able to walk a good portion in The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers in August and I have been able to coach two curling teams this fall: a ladies team, and a junior girl’s team. I am able to look forward to another approaching holiday season and knowing that it can be a difficult time for many families, I hope that you can find the magic in it this year and enjoy every moment that is given to you!

I look forward to checking back in with you towards the end of the year, and until then, I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Warm regards,
Anita Cochrane

Anita’s story – and others like hers – continues to amaze and inspire me.  Hopefully we can continue to share more of them over the coming months.

Until then, I wish you all the best of the season.

Nick

Pfizer Canada invests $9 million in BC Cancer Agency

Big news yesterday for the BC Cancer Agency.  Pfizer Canada, the biopharmaceutical company, is investing $9 million in the research of new treatments for breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

This is the Pfizer’s single-largest investment in public research in B.C. and just proves what I’ve been saying all along – that we have some of the world’s best researchers right here in our own backyard.

The two BC Cancer Agency researchers who will lead these investigations are Dr. Sam Aparicio (breast cancer) and Dr. David Huntsman (ovarian cancer).  Both announced amazing research breakthroughs in the last six months, with many more to come I’m sure.  The prostate cancer research will be led by Dr. Martin Gleave at the Vancouver Prostate Centre.

They will be looking for new targets for diagnosis and treatment of the three cancers, using the same next-generation DNA sequencing technology at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre, led by its director, Dr. Marco Marra, which made their previous discoveries possible.

This means new and more personalized treatments for cancer patients, and the hope of extending and improving their lives. You can read more about this announcement here or here.

But what this really means is hope for patients like Anita Cochrane.  Anita spoke at yesterday’s event, and really put it into perspective for us all.  She’s been fighting breast cancer for eight years, and it’s been metastatic for about four.  Her cancer is incurable at this point.

Anita rightfully pointed out that for people like her, investments into research on this magnitude provide the hope that the cancer research will happen at a rate fast enough to save her life.  Already, treatment options are available to her today that were not there four years ago.  And if we can keep it up and move fast enough maybe, just maybe, we can find a treatment that will work permanently.  I sure hope so.

It is also another great example of the power of individual philanthropy to advance cancer research.  The BC Cancer Agency’s breast cancer research department, the ovarian cancer research team and its Genome Sciences Centre were all established with the direct support of BC Cancer Foundation donors. 

Your personal investment in cancer research helped launch and fuel these BC Cancer Agency research teams, which were then able to attract major research grants and funding partners such as Pfizer Canada.

This is great news for cancer patients and their families across B.C. – and you are part of it too!

Best regards,
Nick