2011 POGO Survivor Conference

POGO held its first-ever Survivor Conference at the Kingbridge Conference Centre & Institute in King City on May 21-22, 2011. Over 90 survivors of childhood cancer from across the province attended the two-day event. The educational sessions addressed topics including: nutrition, fertility, second cancers (risks and prevention), self esteem and sexuality, relationships and disclosure, heart health, memory challenges, and hormonal issues and their treatment. Videos of all of the presentations from the Survivor Conference that POGO has permission to post are available here, along with the accompanying presentation slides.

VIEW THE PROGRAM

NOTE: The content of each presentation captures the unedited information and opinions presented by the speaker. Please note that the information contained in the presentations was current at the time it was presented – there may be further information in subsequent literature. Listed speaker credentials were current at the time of presentation.

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Building His or Her Mojo: Sex, Intimacy and Sharing

Presentation Description: In this presentation, issues related to romantic relationships were discussed. Topics included: 1) disclosure of cancer history, including sexual and fertility late effects; and 2) the importance of passion and intimacy as it relates to the change in values and priorities experienced by survivors.

 

Speaker:          Andrew Matthew, PhD, CPsych

                           Assistant Professor

                           Department of Surgery and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

                           Psychologist, Princess Margaret Hospital

 

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Subsequent Cancers - Risks & Preventions

Presentation Description: Some survivors of childhood cancer may be at a higher risk for developing another cancer - but not all survivors are. This presentation explained what puts survivors at risk and provided strategies to decrease the risk.

Speaker:          Mark Greenberg, OC, MB, ChB, FRCPC, FAAP

                           Senior Adviser, Policy & Clinical Affiars

                           Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), Toronto

                           Senior Staff Oncologist

                           Division of Haematology/Oncology, SickKids, Toronto

                           Professor of Paediatrics & Surgery, University of Toronto

 

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The Sexual Self after Cancer: Body Image, Self-Esteem and Sexuality

Presentation Description: This presentation discussed the role of body image and self esteem in healthy psychosocial development and overall happiness of one’s sexual self. For childhood cancer survivors these components can play a more complicated role. Some survivors struggle with body image and low self-esteem, whilst others feel that their self-esteem and body image are even stronger than their peers. This presentation included strategies on how to improve one’s sexual self.

Speaker:          Sage Bolte, PhD, LCSW, OSW-C

                           Oncology Counsellor

                           INOVA Cancer Services, Fairfax, Virgina

 

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Survivorship in Oncology: The Role of Exercise in Preservation and Restoration of Quality of Life

Presentation Description: This presentation provided an overview of exercise-based strategies for cancer survivors that serve to preserve and restore quality of life by overcoming the myriad of physical limitations and secondary risks imposed by previous cancer diagnoses, surgical interventions and therapeutic treatments.

Speaker:          Scott Adams, MSc (c)

                           Exercise Physiologist

                           Jewish General Hospital, Montreal

                           Masters Student, Concordia University, Montreal

 

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Insurance 101

Presentation Description: Insurance and financial planning issues can be difficult to navigate even at the best of times. For those of us with a complex medical history, obtaining life insurance, disability insurance and/or supplemental health plans can often feel like an impossibility. This presentation explained why these coverages are so important, common roadblocks to securing insurance and outlined steps that cancer survivors can take to better their chances of securing appropriate coverage.

Speaker:          Glen Oliver, CFP, CLU, CHFC

                           Financial Planning Consultant

                           Glen Oliver & Associates Financial Consultants Inc., Toronto

 

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Heart Health

Presentation Description: Certain chemotherapy drugs such as anthracyclines and/or radiation in the heart region, have greatly improved survival of childhood cancer, but can have late effects on heart function.  Dr. Ross Davies, an adult Cardiologist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, has experience with heart failure and heart transplantation, including some patients who have been survivors of childhood cancer.  In this presentation, he discussed the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on the heart, non-invasive cardiac diagnostic tests used to assess heart function such as echocardiography or radionuclide ventriculography, cardiac medications which can be given to improve heart function and heart healthy behavior including diet and exercise advice for survivors of pediatric cancer.  He also explored some of the relevant publications such as the Children’s Cancer Survivor Study.

Speaker:          Ross Davies, BSc, MD, FRCPC, FACC

                           Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa

                           Member, Heart Failure, Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension Programs

                           Division of Cardiology

                           University of Ottawa Heart Institute

 

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Hormonal Issues and Their Treatment

Presentation Description: Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of developing chronic medical conditions, primarily as a direct result of the treatments they received to cure their cancers (for example radiation, combination chemotherapy). Endocrine or hormone problems are among the most common chronic medical conditions seen in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Hormone problems are most often seen in persons who were treated with radiation to the brain, neck or pelvic area and those who received high doses of a class of chemotherapy drugs called alkylation agents (such as cyclophosphamide, busulfan, melphalan, thiotepa). Hormone problems can affect growth, sexual development, stamina, and overall well being. Fortunately, many hormone problems are treatable.
This presentation reviewed the major hormone complications seen in survivors of childhood cancer, risk factors for these problems, as well as common symptoms and treatment approaches.

Speaker:          Mark Greenberg

                           Senior Adviser, Policy & Clinical Affiars

                           Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), Toronto

                           Senior Staff Oncologist

                           Division of Haematology/Oncology, SickKids, Toronto

                           Professor of Paediatrics & Surgery, University of Toronto

 

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Memory Changes Following Cancer Treatment: Effective Strategies for Milder Symptoms

Presentation Description: One of the most frequently reported and debilitating neurocognitive symptoms following a neurological illness involving the brain is that of memory impairment. The presentation provided an overview of the neurocognitive changes that can occur following cancer treatment with an emphasis on memory function. A few strategies were covered that are known to be effective in addressing milder memory symptoms, including commercial smartphones that are optimally suited to support day-to-day memory functioning.

Speaker:          Eva Svoboda, PhD

                         Neuropsychologist

                         Baycrest Health Centre, Toronto

                         West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto

                         Adjunct Professor; Lecturer

                           York University; University of Toronto, Toronto

 

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