Session A
CONFERENCE DAY 1 - THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH 2008 (9:45-10:45)
CONCURRENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS (Select 1 of 9):
1A Findings from "Native American Cancer Education for Survivors" (30261)
Dr. Linda Burhansstipanov, Dr. L.U. Krebs & Dr. B. F. Seals Native American Cancer Research (USA)
The study addresses meeting the cultural and psychosocial needs of Native American cancer patients through tailored online educational methods. This poster presentation will include information about how to access the web site, innovative features, and how to tailor the software through Native Partners working one-on-one with patients.
This project shows the benefits of tailored, interactive Internet-based cancer information for under-served survivors who live with disparities. Patients of breast and other cancers and both genders are currently using the website. By the end of the session, audience participants also will be able to access relevant information from the culturally-specific breast cancer survivorship program.
2A Making a Difference through Diet and Physical Activity (29151)
Ms. Beth A. Szuck - WRHA Breast Health Ctre (Canada)
Evidence continues to mount that eating a healthy diet, managing weight and being physically active can decrease the risk of recurrence and of dying from breast cancer. In this interactive session, the current research will be reviewed and practical suggestions made on how to make a difference in life after breast cancer.
3A No Breasts, Great Shoulders (29977)
Dr. Sue Hanna - University of Auckland (New Zealand)
The symbol for woman in New Zealand sign language is one that shows the cupping of a woman's breast ... a poignant reminder of the centrality of breasts to the identity of women and to representations of their sexuality.
The process of decision-making around different treatment options, following a diagnosis of breast cancer, is a subjective journey and unique to every women. However, the symbolic meaning and importance accorded to women's breasts, not least of all by women themselves, makes a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy a challenging choice to contemplate. This presentation will demonstrate, with reference to female imagery and archetypes, the complexity of decision-making when one breast has cancer and the other is both paradoxically an innocent and a risk factor. However, the story does not end with the decision and this paper will also discuss the process of making meaning that accompanies living with a bilateral mastectomy.
4A TBD
5A Group Peer Support for Young Women with Breast Cancer (31407)
Ms. Lesley A. Washington - Canadian Cancer Society-AB/NWT (Canada)
In 2005, the Canadian Cancer Society conducted a national review of best practices in support groups, as well as research on support group topic development. In 2007-2008, Alberta/Northwest Territories was the first division within CCS to pilot a group peer support program.
The workshop will be co-facilitated by four people: a health professional; a breast cancer survivor; a young woman (also a breast cancer survivor) who participated in the peer group; and a consultant who was involved in program development and the final program evaluation.
The workshop will present the benefits of group peer support in terms of coping, quality of life and adjustment; the training needs of professional and peer facilitators, curriculum design; and evaluation findings.
6A The ABCs of NHPs (Natural Health Products) After Breast Cancer (30341)
Ms. Danica Lister - CancerCare Manitoba (Canada)
For health care professionals, keeping up to date on the latest information is a growing requirement and challenge. In addition, increasing workload and strain on resources throughout the cancer care system creates a need for the development of a systematic, efficient approach to answering these questions for optimizing patient safety.
A pharmacist will offer her personal experience with the vast, confusing volume of data, her acceptance of the reality that not all questions can be answered with certainty, and the approach she has taken to best address these shortcomings.
This session will discuss some of the available resources for finding reliable, scientific information related to Natural Health Products, as well as published tools for advising patients on these products.
This session is intended for anyone who has ever asked, or been asked, "Is this okay to take?", and are not sure where to begin.
7A From Abyss to Hope: Supportive Care in a Low-income Environment (29479)
Ms. Eva Berenji - Ecumenical Humanitarian Org. (Yugoslavia)
Objectives include: 1) develop supportive care in a war-struck country where all cancers and mortality show a rising tendency; 2) help place breast cancer into the public spotlight by providing outreach and education on early detection of breast cancer; 3) raise breast cancer awareness, reducing ignorance and mortality; 4) turn the negative attitude towards survivors into positive ones; 5) promote voluntarism in a support service; 6) promote copying positive survivor examples.
Discussion Points will include: 1) healthy women vs. ca affected women; 2) once affected - doomed; 3) treatment vs. emotional support; 4) back to normal or no future; 5) How?
8A Mirrors: Identity, Intimacy and Sexuality Post-Mastectomy (32211)
Ms. Carole Suzor - Butterfly Projects (Canada)
In Western Society, youthfulness, performance, beauty and body image are so greatly valued. In this context, what happens when a doctor announces a diagnosis of breast cancer and there is a radical mastectomy.
In face-to-face intimate interviews, women who had a radical mastectomy, opened their hearts, their intimacy, and often offered their profound questions and feelings: "Am I still a woman? Am I still a seductive woman? Is it possible for me to have again sexual intercourse? Can I still please?"
During analysis of the interview with women, a concept of six mirrors was developed by the researcher. Each mirror reflects a time in the cancer journey, from the discovery of an anomaly until the time sexual interaction resumes post-mastectomy. The image that the women perceived in each of the six mirrors will be explored, along with the move from one mirror to the next.
9A-1 Creating Enabling Environment for Women with Breast Cancer (32977)
Ms. Ranjit Kaur - Breast Cancer Welfare Association (Malaysia)
Regaining self-confidence, positive body-image, and the dignity and will to live are essential elements of a good quality of life for women with breast cancer. Timely intervention with a supportive environment can help individuals with breast cancer to experience a smooth recovery. Be it retreat programmes, treatment facilities, community attitudes or peer support programmes, each minute detail can serve to aid recovery and a new normalization.
This workshop will present examples of the barriers in attitudes and the environment, along with the ways in which a change in attitudes and the environment can transform women with breast cancer from victims to survivors and thrivers.