Todd Cunningham, PhD: Assistive Technology After Childhood Cancer
Assistive Technology After Childhood Cancer
While the survival rate for childhood cancer is 82%, approximately 60% of these young survivors will experience long-term effects because of their cancer or treatment. The late effects that affect the brain and learning and cognition can range from mild to severe and can include cognitive impairment resulting in learning difficulties that can affect a young person’s success at school or in the workplace. Assistive technology is any technology that allows someone to use their natural strengths to overcome an area of weakness. Todd Cunningham explains that new technology exists to help with cognition, like reading and identifying important parts of the text. With artificial intelligence, the software can analyze a document and highlight the most important bits of information for the reader, cuing them to pay attention to that passage. Assistive technology reduces the cognition load, allowing you to pay attention to what’s really important and relevant.
Todd Cunningham, PhD, C.Psych is a psychologist with Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. He spoke at POGO’s 2013 Survivor Conference: Life after Childhood Cancer where he presented these and other ideas.
Download a PDF of Todd's full presentation
Straight Talk about Childhood Cancer is POGO’s series of video shorts featuring the insights of experts whose leading-edge work impacts the care, treatment and quality of life of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.
Dr. Christopher Recklitis: Emotional Health After Childhood Cancer
For many patients, the childhood cancer experience takes them away from school, hobbies and friends and thrusts them into the adult world.
In his talk Emotional Health After Childhood Cancer, Dr. Christopher Recklitis stresses the importance of talking to your healthcare professionals about how to maintain balance between regular life and treatment.
Christopher Recklitis, PhD, MPH, is the Director of Research and Supportive Services at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He spoke at POGO’s 2013 Survivor Conference: Life after Childhood Cancer.
Straight Talk about Childhood Cancer is POGO’s series of video shorts featuring the insights of experts whose leading-edge work impacts the care, treatment and quality of life of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.
Dr. Mike Neal: Male Fertility Concerns for Survivors
Dr. Mike Neal: Male Fertility Concerns for Survivors
One false assumption is that childhood cancer treatment won’t have an effect on fertility. It is important to increase awareness about the options men have prior to and post treatment. Procedures can be easy and inexpensive and can offer insurance to young men who are hoping to have a family down the road.
Michael Neal, BSc. (Hons), MSc is the Scientific Director at ONE Fertility in Burlington Ontario. He spoke at POGO’s 2013 Survivor Conference: Life after Childhood Cancer.
Straight Talk about Childhood Cancer is POGO’s series of video shorts featuring the insights of experts whose leading-edge work impacts the care, treatment and quality of life of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.
Dr. Ellen Greenblatt: Female Fertility Concerns for Survivors
Dr. Ellen Greenblatt: Female Fertility Concerns for Survivors
It is crucial for childhood cancer patients to remember that life does go on after cancer. Understandably, fertility is an important aspect of that. Cancer treatments, however, can jeopardize reproductive health, most notably due to certain chemotherapy agents, particularly the class called alkylating agents that can kill off eggs in women and sperm in men. Radiation treatment to the pelvis can also affect ovarian function or the ability for the uterus to carry a pregnancy.
Despite such concerns, Dr. Greenblatt assures young survivors that there are many therapies that are less toxic and that pregnancy after cancer is not associated with a higher risk of abnormalities in children. She recommends visiting a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility centre if you have undergone treatment yourself. While such measures are recommended, Dr. Greenblatt provides a healthy reminder: all women, not only survivors, must think of family planning as planning their family rather than leaving it up to chance.
Ellen Greenblatt, MD, FRCSC is the Medical Director for the Centre for Fertility and Reproductive Health at the Mount Sinai Hospital and Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. She spoke at POGO’s 2013 Survivor Conference: Life after Childhood Cancer.
Straight Talk about Childhood Cancer is POGO’s new series of video shorts featuring the insights of experts whose leading-edge work impacts the care, treatment and quality of life of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.
2015 POGO/Ooch Survivor Conference
On October 16-18, 2015, Camp Oochigeas and POGO presented the 3rd Life After Childhood Cancer Survivor Conference, a gathering for survivors of childhood cancer aged 19 and over. More than 70 adult survivors of childhood cancer joined us at Camp Oochigeas in beautiful Muskoka for a weekend of connecting with other survivors, learning about managing their health and living well after childhood cancer.
Scroll down to view the Survivor Conference slide presentations that POGO was granted permission to share. If you are interested in a specific subject, click on a subject tag at the bottom of a post to view all the slides or videos that cover that subject.
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.
PLENARY SESSIONS
We Are All Storytellers: Discovering the Power of Knowing and Sharing Your Story
Michael Lang, MSc
Raymund Ong
Managing Your Fertility: Current Options, Practical Strategies
Sara R. Cohen, LL.B.
Karen Glass, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG
All in the Family: Talking to Siblings about Childhood Cancer
Norma D’Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Shamata, sibling of childhood cancer survivor
Kevin Wang, MD/PhD student
Beyond Survival: Emotional Equilibrium After Cancer
Christopher Recklitis, Ph.D., MPH
WORKSHOPS
Communicating with Family and Friends
Norma D’Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Common Workplace Issues: Tools and Strategies
Lori Otte, BA, RRP
Genetic Testing for Cancer Survivors – Who and When
Nikki Parkinson, MSc, CGC
Managing Your Fertility: Current Options, Practical Strategies
VIEW THE PRESENTATIONS
Presentation Description:
This session presented a brief overview of options for fertility preservation in female and male survivors of childhood cancer. Mostly, the session reviewed the options for survivors who are unable to conceive post treatment. The session discussed the options for building a family using third party reproduction. The practical and legal perspectives were discussed for surrogacy, donor eggs and donor sperm
Speakers:
Sara R. Cohen, LL.B.
Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys
Adjunct Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Karen Glass, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG
Reproductive Endocrinologist, CReATe Fertility Centre
Director, Oncofertility Program
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto.
All in the Family: Talking to Siblings about Childhood Cancer
VIEW THE PRESENTATION
Presentation Description:
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the focus automatically tends to fall on that child and how their disease will affect them. People rarely think about how the disease will affect their entire family, especially any siblings they may have. Whether the sibling is older or younger, at the hospital every day or away at school, having a sibling with cancer will inevitably not only change the dynamic with their brother/sister, but the family as a whole. This presentation looked at the disease through a less heard of, but equally important point of view: the sibling. The panel included the voices of an older brother, a younger sister, and a summary of relevant research presented by a health care professional.
Speakers:
Norma D'Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Clinical Health Psychologist, University Health Network
Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Jenna Shamata, BAH
Sibling of a childhood cancer survivor
Kevin Wang, BHSc, MD/PhD Candidate
Hospital for Sick Children
University of Toronto
Sibling of a childhood cancer survivor
Beyond Survival: Emotional Equilibrium After Cancer
VIEW THE PRESENTATION
Presentation description:
Childhood cancer can be an intensely stressful experience that may have emotional affects even years after treatment. While cancer can contribute to personal growth in some ways, it can also lead to emotional and social vulnerabilities later in life. This session explored common developmental challenges for survivors, highlighted the relationship between emotional and physical health, and considered the different ways survivors make sense of their cancer experiences as they move into adulthood.
Speaker:
Christopher J. Recklitis, Ph.D., MPH
Senior Psychologist
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Harvard Medical School
Workshop B - Communicating with Family and Friends
VIEW THE PRESENTATION
Presentation description:
This workshop provided participants the opportunity to have small group discussions about challenges around communicating with family and friends about the hard things. Topics addressed included: a) When to tell people about your cancer history? b) How to explain to others that “It is not over” and c) Learning to ask for help when you need it. Through the discussion helpful strategies and techniques were identified and compiled. The goal was for participants to leave the workshop with increased confidence and comfort in their ability to tackle the difficult conversations with family and friends.
Speaker:
Norma D'Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Clinical Health Psychologist, University Health Network
Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Workshop C - Common Workplace Issues: Tools and Strategies
VIEW THE PRESENTATION
Presentation description:
Working from “Rethinking Disability in the Private Sector,” a Government of Canada Report from the Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, this workshop explored the reasons why qualified people with disabilities are good employment prospects. Myths surrounding hiring people with disabilities are discounted. The pros and cons of disclosing disability status are discussed, as well as types of accommodations and what the employee can take responsibility for in the accommodation process.
Speaker:
Lori Turner-Otte, BA, RRP
SAVTI Counsellor
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO); London Health Sciences Centre