Topic: Cancer Advocacy

Do You NEED to Spend Money on Cancer Care?

Published by on July 21, 2021 | Share your thoughts

Is it really, truly necessary to spend money on cancer care? Why can’t you get everything you need through public healthcare? And why aren’t the very best diagnostics and cancer treatments covered in Canada? If anything is a hot topic in cancer care, it’s THIS. 💰 And it makes me sad! In an ideal world, no one should need to think about money when it comes to their health… Especially with something as serious and challenging as cancer. It’s honestly really messed up that money plays a role in this. And yet… The lesson that I keep learning about healthcare is: We must deal with the reality of the way things are NOW, first, in order to have a chance at changing them in the...
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From Coma to Complete Remission: Kayleigh’s Incredible Story

Published by on June 23, 2021 | Share your thoughts

Is complete remission really possible when you’re stage IV? With precision oncology, yes! “We got a call from my oncologist saying that I had a complete response to my treatment – that was probably the best day of my life.” In April 2021, Kayleigh achieved complete remission from a rare form of blood cancer. But, you should know… Kayleigh and her husband, Cassidy, had been through hell before Kayleigh was able to finally get the treatment she needed. Standard care had taken WAY too long to diagnose her rare form of lymphoma.  The Worst Case Scenario… They were in dire straights: Kayleigh was in a life-threatening coma.  Cassidy was terrified, frantically researching any and all options that could save his wife’s life. He’d quickly realized...
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Do You Need a Second Opinion?

Published by on June 16, 2021 1 Comment

Your time is precious, so I won’t beat around the bush. The answer is… YES! You 100%, absolutely, positively need a second opinion. Cancer is not a simple disease. And there are many different approaches to treating it…and new strategies are coming out all the time. What your oncologist tells you is the best treatment plan is – almost always – NOT the whole story. You almost always have more options beyond what standard care can give you. It’s up to YOU to decide if you’re going to demand the best care… Or if you’re going to settle for the first answer you get. Still not convinced? CTOAM’s cancer expert, Alex Rolland, explains why a second opinion is so important for all cancer patients…and why...
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How to Talk to Your Doctor About Precision Oncology

Published by on June 2, 2021 1 Comment

“How do I talk to my doctor about Precision Oncology?” We hear this a lot… So I wanted to give you something that might help: My team and I made this easy-to-read pamphlet specifically for this reason –  So patients could show their doctor… And start a conversation about getting better cancer care. Click here to get the pamphlet! My recommendation? Give this to your doctor and see what they say. If they have any questions or concerns, write them down, and then email them to me.  I’ll be happy to answer you back.  You can also invite your doctor to call me and my team if they’d like more information. Why is it SO important to start a conversation about Precision Oncology with your...
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PET/CT Scan

PET/CT for Cancer – Explained!

Published by on May 5, 2021 2 Comments

Why is a PET/CT scan for cancer important? If you’ve ever been diagnosed with cancer, you’ve undoubtedly heard the term ‘CT scan’ pop up.  And, if you’re lucky, you’ve also heard a bit about PET/CT scans… But what’s the difference between these two types of imaging?  And why is it that most doctors will usually only send you for a CT scan…and not a PET/CT for cancer?  These are important q’s that directly relate to your cancer treatment success… And you need to understand the answers in order to be able to advocate more effectively for yourself. That’s why I’ve put together a comprehensive guide for you that’s all about PET/CT scans (and why they’re different from CT scans)… And I want to give it...
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Suffering from Cancer Treatment Wait Times?

Published by on March 31, 2021 | Share your thoughts

You’re not alone. It’s true… 55% of cancer patients in Canada are experiencing treatment & testing delays these. A recent article by the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network reveals that even after cancer services have resumed, over half of cancer patients are still reporting that their treatment, tests, and appointments have been cancelled or postponed… “Respondents said they had to wait an average of 34 days to reschedule cancelled or postponed in-person appointments, and 52 days to reschedule surgery and other procedures.” As I have talked about many times before, the sad reality is…even without COVID, cancer treatment wait times are far too long to begin with. You know as well as I do – you need access to proper diagnostics and treatment, NOW.  You need...
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How to Beat Stage 4 Lung Cancer – Thomas’s Story

Published by on March 10, 2021 | Share your thoughts

“5 days ago I celebrated my 75th birthday…I want to celebrate my 90th for sure. And you are my hope.” – Thomas Thomas came to us after standard care told him there were no more options left for him. He’d been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011…which soon escalated to stage 4 lung cancer. After a long road of chemo, he finally decided to take matters into his own hands. He had no choice. Our cancer expert, Alex Rolland, got him genetic testing and a far more accurate diagnosis than he’d ever received from standard care. Alex also gave Thomas and his oncologist some excellent targeted treatment recommendations, which they were able to access. Thomas is now getting those drugs covered through Pfizer’s compassionate care...
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Cancer Treatment Delayed by COVID? See Anna’s Solution…

Published by on February 3, 2021 | Share your thoughts

Many patients are experiencing their cancer treatment being delayed due to COVID. Find out what your options are, now. How Anna Got the Right Treatment, Fast Anna had been feeling pretty strong, all considering. Sure, the shock of her breast cancer diagnosis a few months prior had turned her life upside down…  But she’d been dealing with it as well as possible. Her husband was really showing up for her and even her 6-year-old seemed to be managing fine. Anna was trying to live each day as normally as possible…taking things a day at a time. At that point, she’d gotten a few CT scans and was scheduled for surgery. The plan after surgery was chemo. While Anna was dreading the chemo, she was counting...
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Why is Standard Cancer Care Lacking?

Published by on January 27, 2021 2 Comments

Find Out Why Standard Cancer Care in Canada is Just Not Good Enough… I hear this all the time – and I bet it’s on your mind, too: “So is this what our medical plan has come to? People with money can afford better, faster cancer care than people with no money??” Yep.  And it’s sadly true…  For now. We’re working to change this at CTOAM. It is our #1 mission, in fact! But what we’ve learned over the past 10 years is… In order to create change, you also need to deal with the situation as it is now.  As in: you need to work within the current system AND outside of it. It’s the only way to actually build a better future. What...
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