Young Adult Cancer Canada > Community > News

University researchers want to hear what it’s like to live with cancer

Chad Hammond of the Cancer and Young Adult Research Team at the University of Saskatchewan wanted to pass on the following message about a research study they are conducting on young adults in Canada. Have a look!

The Cancer and Young Adulthood Research Team is a group of social researchers at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. We would like to learn what living with cancer is like for young adults in Canada.

This research will help us to understand the specific challenges facing young adults with cancer so that the quality of care may be improved.

We are currently recruiting people in Canada who are between the ages of 18 and 45, were diagnosed within or close to that age group, and wish to talk with us about life with cancer.

You can participate in this important study in one or both of the following ways:

A 90-minute, one-on-one conversation with one of our researchers. If you are living in and around the south Saskatchewan area, we may be able to meet in person. Otherwise, this conversation will likely be conducted over the telephone.
A short personal account about your experiences with cancer in whatever format and style you wish.

Our research is supported by a national Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant.

If you are interested in participating, or would like more information about the study, please feel free to contact us through the information below. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Cancer and Young Adulthood Research Team: Dr. Ulrich Teucher, Chad Hammond, and Devon Andersen

Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan
9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon SK S7N 5A5
illness.stories@gmail.com
(306) 966-2996

You can also check out their Facebook Page for more info!

Posted on Jan 20, 2012 - 03:28 PM by Angie

Survive & Thrive Expeditions wants YOU to come on an adventure!

Bonnie Lang wanted to take a moment to let you guys know what she and Mikey have planned for Survive & Thrive Expeditions (STE) this year. While STE is no longer a part of YACC's official programming, we encourage you to read what they have planned and apply for any trips you feel might help you along.

Hey everyone! Although we’re all in the midst of winter, Mikey and I are already turning our thoughts toward the summer ahead. Why think about it while we’re still surrounded by snow and wearing down jackets? Because we’re building momentum for three exciting Survive & Thrive Expeditions trips in June, August, and September. We wanted to take a moment to share some specifics about the trips and invite you to come adventuring with us this summer (or even start thinking about a trip the following summer).

Who can go on a STE trip?

While we prefer people to have had experience in a group setting before (like a Retreat or Conference with YACC or another support group), we’re open to all young adult cancer survivors. If you’re cleared by your doctor (medical form provided by us for your doctor/s to sign off on) and are ready to be a part of a community, sharing openly and honestly in a supportive group setting, then you’re ready to come on a trip!

Why sign up?

If you’re looking for a different type of experience that gets you outside into a beautiful wilderness setting, challenges you physically and mentally, and brings you into a tight-knit, fun community, look no further. Stepping away from technology, responsibilities, and the distractions of everyday life gives you time to reflect, refocus, and rebuild your life post-treatment. Our goal is to help you identify, process, and apply the life lessons that can be hidden in a terribly difficult cancer experience. You are guaranteed to experience amazing views in beautiful country and have the chance to engage in discussion with fellow survivors about the important issues in life.

Where is STE going?

Kayaking the Owyhee River in Oregon, June: Join us for our fourth white-water kayaking expedition down the incredible canyons of the Owyhee River. You will spend eight days kayaking 72 km of Class III rapids with guides and survivors down one of the most diverse and inspiring rivers in the USA. To get a taste of the trip, check out the trailer for our film, Wrong Way to Hope, and continue to the STE Kayaking page for more details.

Rafting the Grand Canyon, August: Take advantage of this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and hop aboard for a rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon! People literally wait years for a permit to raft this river and we have been given an incredible chance to fill two boats with survivors and trek down the river in the heat of summer, enjoying the cold water, amazing rapids, and beautiful hikes. Don’t hesitate! Sign up and read more details on the STE Rafting page.

Sailing the Discovery Islands, September: At the tail end of the summer comes a beautiful sailing expedition around the Discovery Islands on the west coast of Canada. The trip includes learning basic navigation; camping on islands; whale, porpoise, and seal watching; hikes to lakes; cliff jumping; campfires; and great discussions each night. To know what to expect, check out our newest film, Ebb & Flow: Storytelling for Cancer Survivors. First come, first serve for this incredible expedition, so check out the STE Sailing page for more information.

Please consider joining us for an adventure this summer! And don’t hesitate to explore the Survive & Thrive Expeditions website, Wrong Way to Hope (to learn more about Mike and the kayaking trip), and my website to help you get fit before you come. We hope to see you out on the water--in a kayak, raft, or sailboat--with us this summer!

Posted on Jan 16, 2012 - 12:05 PM by Angie

Young Adult Survivor writing workshop in Vancouver

Anton and Brandy Worrall-Soriano are offering a free workshop for young adult cancer survivors in Vancouver called "Cancer [Expletive] Sucks: A Workshop for the Young Adult Cancer Community" through Rabbit Fool Press.

"When I became involved with YACC in 2009 at Retreat Yourself West, I knew then that someday I’d want to do a writing workshop for this community, especially knowing how this age group of cancer patients and survivors are underserved in the realms of research and support," said Brandy.

"I have done workshops mainly on family history, memoir, and poetry. But I do have particular themes I’d like to address in this one, like isolation, life planning, and how one deals with friends and older relatives who have a hard time understanding how someone that age could get cancer."

The workshop will encourage people to weave their cancer narratives through their own personal narratives to create a comprehensive story through the use of weekly prompts, exercises, and even discussion.

Brandy says it's important to incorporate all the writer's memorable and defining experiences. In showing the whole person, the story becomes more compelling to the reader because the themes become more universal.

She said, "Cancer patients and survivors don't exist solely as that--they've had other experiences to round them out as a person, and it's all connected. What they've learned about themselves as they become more multidimensional through the cancer experience can be valuable for their readers."

This workshop is suitable for writers of all experience levels who are looking for some direction on where to begin.

"The beauty of workshopping is that you're not working alone. So everyone feeds off everyone else's energy. A lot of times, people will come to a workshop with no idea about how they are going to spend the next six weeks in the class, but once they hear other people tell their stories, they get inspired to tell their own, and the ideas come flooding in," she said.

Rabbit Fool Press will publish an anthology of the stories written during the workshop which will be made available through Amazon and as an e-book.

Details

The deadline for registration is January 13.

Space is extremely limited but please email workshops@rabbitfoolpress.com for more information.

Where: St. James Community Hall - 3214 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver

When: Sundays, February 12-March 18 from 2-5 p.m.

Posted on Jan 12, 2012 - 06:23 AM by Angie

Check out the Young Hearts group in Oshawa

Young Hearts is a group for cancer survivors between the ages of 25 and 40. They meet twice a month to discuss such topics as:

Life after diagnosis
Living with fear, anger, and sadness
Coping with treatment
Cancer's impact on your relationships
How to support your children
How to find hope and happiness
And more!

Details

When: The second and fourth Wednesdays of each month

Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre (86 Colborne St. W)

Register

To register, or for more information, please call (905) 579-4833 or email meredith@hearthplace.org.

Posted on Jan 11, 2012 - 01:12 PM by Angie

Hang out, eat chili, and meet survivors in Toronto

You Can Connect is organizing "Heartwarming Foods for Cold Winter Nights" at the ELLICSR kitchen so young adults dealing with cancer in Toronto can get together, mingle, and enjoy some delicious food.

Registered dietician Mary Bamford lead a demonstration in cooking vegetarian chili, cornbread, and salad, and then the attendees get to eat it!

The event is free, but interested survivors are asked to register so the organizers will know how many people to prepare for.

Details

Date: Wednesday, February 1

Time: 6:30-9 p.m.

Where: Toronto General Hospital, Basement Level, Room BCS021

REGISTER

To register, or for more information, please contact Marsha Wallace at (416) 323-6400 ext. 4240

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 - 07:43 AM by Angie

Get moving with the University of Calgary

The Culos-Reed Health and Wellness Lab is inviting everyone to "Get moving: Exercise for cancer survivors from surviving to thriving."

You should check out this event if you are currently in treatment, working through survivorship, a parent of someone dealing with cancer, a health professional, or a fitness professional and are interested in learning about the role of physical activity in the cancer journey.

The afternoon will include information on the latest evidence supporting physical activity, advice on starting a fitness routine and sticking to it, and resources that are available. It will also cover topics such as "What does your oncologist really think about exercise?"

This is a free event and there is no registration, so just show up with your listening ears and learn some great info!

Details

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Time: 1-5 p.m.

Where: Tom Baker Centre Auditorium

Posted on Dec 21, 2011 - 06:21 PM by Angie

Have opinions on relationships post treatment for female cancers?

Darya Gaydukevych is coordinating a study on what it's like to start a new relationship following treatment for a female cancer (gynecological or breast cancer). While women from the ages of 18 and 80 are invited to participate, she is particularly interested in the experiences of women from 18-35.

She will be conducting phone interviews with 15 participants from across Canada. Each interview should only take about 90 minutes.