|
|
|
|
Help through the Unknown
Desa Chipman, Prince George BC
|
It has been nine years but I can still feel the tingling rush of fear that ran through my body when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer; it was a feeling that I had never before experienced. To add to my fear, I found there was very little information accessible to help prepare me and my husband for the journey that we were about to embark on. I remember one visit in particular where the surgeon drew a diagram on the paper sheet that covers the exam bed; this was to help us visualize what anatomy was to be removed from my body. My husband did endless hours of research on the computer but eventually stopped because it became too overwhelming.
In June 2009 I was invited to participate in a workshop Shifting Gears: Planning for a collaborative future for breast and gynecologic cancers. What an amazing group of strong women I had the fortune of meeting that day. The purpose was to collaborate and build a network responsive to the needs of persons diagnosed with breast and gynecologic cancers in BC and the Yukon. At this meeting it was clearly identified that there is a lack of information for women at the time of a cancer diagnosis and from there the Gynecologic Cancer Action Group (GCAG) was formed.
On May 14, 2010 the first GCAG meeting was held with survivors and health care professionals in attendance. We shared our stories and talked about what it was like at the time of our diagnosis, the places we went for information, what type of information we would have wanted and what we could create to help newly diagnosed women.
Our wish and hope would be that the system inconsistencies and shortcomings that we experienced will be a thing of the past and the newly diagnosed, wherever they live, will have access to the supports, resources and information they need.
Ginger, Vancouver BC
By the end of the day, the Gynecologic Cancer Companion Guide was envisioned which will include navigation maps, terminology and resources at the time of diagnosis, during treatments and after treatments end. This resource will be the first of its kind in BC and the Yukon for this group of female cancer patients. |
I was uncertain what the day would bring and how far we might get in this plan of ours. We made great strides, I think and I believe most of us came away with a sense of accomplishment. At the very least, we have a plan that will work well and we did that without re-inventing the wheel.
Rebecca, Prince George BC
The next steps are to build the content and have it reviewed by other survivors/patients and health care professionals. If all things go the way they should, a rough draft will be available for pilot testing by the end of summer 2010. I feel honoured to be a part of creating a resource that will benefit so many women and those who support them.
The work that we have begun will be a great support to those who unfortunately will follow on this same journey. Hopefully this new tool will light their path where we encountered only darkness and fear.
Lynn, Parksville BC
|
|
Archived Feature Pages
|
| Spring 2010 Vol.1 No. 2 |
2010 Olympic Torchbearer #033
|
Judy Caldwell, Founder, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation |
| Winter 2010 Volume 01 No.1 |
Not Alone
|
Margie Ostroff |
| Fall 2009 Vol. 10 No. 4 |
Shifting Gears
|
Candice Work |
| Summer 2009 Vol.10 No.3 |
The Vogalonga in Venice Italy
|
Jenny, Carol and Jane |
| Spring 2009 Vol.10 No. 2 |
10 years with Abreast in the West
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
| Winter 2009 Vol.10 No.1 |
Haiti, A World Away
|
Colleen Yrjana |
| Fall 2008 Vol. 9 No. 4 |
The Other C-Word
|
Kate Noble |
| Summer 2008 Vol.9 No.3 |
Screening, Investigation & Care
|
Profile by Sandy Poggemiller |
| Spring 2008 Vol.9 No.2 |
12 Women
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
| Winter 2008 Vol.9 No.1 |
Approaching 60 Years, A Breast Cancer Survivor
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
| Fall 2007 Vol. 8 No. 4 |
A Runner with a Heart
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
| Summer 2007 Vol.8 No.3 |
Lullaby
|
|
| Spring 2007 Vol. 8 No. 2 |
Managing Stress When You Have Breast Cancer
|
Karen Flood, PhD, RCC |
| Winter 2007 Vol. 8 No.1 |
An Anchor Point in Prince Rupert
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
| Fall 2006 Vol. 6 No. 4 |
Continuing the Life Quilt Legacy
|
Ann Massey and Janice Drohan |
| Summer 2006 Vol.7 No.3 |
The Magic of a Chance Encounter
|
Gail Konantz |
| Spring 2006 Vol. 7 No. 2 |
Amazon Heart Odyssey-Sri Lanka
|
By Lou Moreau and Lisa Underhill |
| Winter 2006 Vol. 7 No.1 |
A Surgeons View of Breast Cancer
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
| Fall 2005 Vol. 6 No. 4 |
HOPE
|
In memory of my Vicki |
| Summer 2005 Vol. 6 No. 3 |
Translational molecular breast cancer research at the BCCA
|
Dr. Samuel Aparicio BD BCH PhD MRCPath |
| Spring 2005 Vol. 6 No. 2 |
"ring...ring... Hello, your boobs are calling..."
|
Lisa Underhill, RN, MN |
| Winter 2005 Vol. 6 No. 1 |
The Power of Creativity
|
Lynne Hill |
| Fall 2004 Vol. 5 No. 4 |
'We Are Family'
The Young and the Breastless Conference a Huge Success
|
Gabriele Helms, diagnosed age 35 & Joanne Stephen, Research consultant, BC Cancer Agency |
| Summer 2004 Vol. 5 No. 3 |
Abreast In A Boat South Africa: Making Miracles Happen
|
Lou Moreau |
| Spring 2004 Vol.5 No. 2 |
The Young & the Breastless
A Networking Event for Young Women with Breast Cancer
|
Elise Partridge and Gabriele Helms |
| Winter 2004 Vol. 5 No.1 |
An Advocates Perspective
|
Laurene Clark, Patient Advocate |
| Fall 2003 Vol.4 No.4 |
Breast Re con struc tion!
|
Gilly Heaps, B.Ed. M.A. (Counselling Psych) |
| Summer 2003 Vol.4 No.3 |
A Dream Come True
|
Peggy Robertson |
| Spring 2003 Vol.4 No.2 |
Titz 'n Glitz, Whitehorse,Yukon
|
Joyce Majiski |
| Winter 2003 Vol.4. No.1 |
'The End of a Beginning'
|
Lynn Macdonald |
| Fall 2002 Vol.3 No.4 |
A Pot Full of Healing
|
Mary Tremayne |
| Summer 2002 Vol.3 No.3 |
Quilting Life Back Together
|
Rosemary Shandler |
| Spring 2002 Vol.3 No.2 |
Visual Voices
|
Sharon Tilton Urdahl |
| Winter 2002 Vol.3. No.1 |
Daffodils for Unity
|
Della Wilson |
| Fall 2001 Vol.2 No.4 |
River of Life
|
Ava P. Christl |
| Summer 2001 Vol.2 No.3 |
Living Well with Cancer
|
Breast Cancer Resource Fair |
| Spring 2001 Vol.2 No.2 |
Time to toot our horn! Initiatives of the Alliance for Breast Cancer Information & Support
|
|
| Winter 2001 Vol.2 No.1 |
Baring Breasts
|
Ginny Mitchell |
| Fall 2000 Vol.1 No.4 |
Best Friends through it all!
|
|
| Summer 2000 Vol.1 No.3 |
Fatigue Ranked #1 Complaint
|
Suzanne C. Malfair Taylor, BSc (Pharm), PharmD, BCPS |
| Spring 2000 Vol.1 No.2 |
Abreast in Nepal: Paddlers Trekking
|
Gail Konantz |
| Winter 2000 Vol.1 No.1 |
The Role of Silicone Breast Implants in Breast Reconstruction
|
Dr. Peter Lennox, Plastic Surgeon, Clinical Instructor |
|
Home |
Feature |
Medical News |
Healthy Living |
Journeys |
Insight |
Hot Flashes |
Complementary Corner
What's Going On |
Resource Guide |
Sponsors |
Contact Info |
|
