By Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press - Dec 20, 2009

The following article is about one of our very strong and inspirational survivors!
Weifun… our thoughts and love are with you, Fred and your family!

“All that Weifun Chang wants for Christmas is to live.

Chang was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June 2008 and since then has undergone radiation and chemotherapy.”

To read more of Weifun’s survivor story, please click here.

By Daniel Nolan, The Hamilton Spectator

A local doctor who has an international reputation in the treatment of childhood cancer has won a prestigious prize from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dr. Ronald Barr, 66, is the 2009 recipient of the O. Harold Warwick prize, which is presented to a scientist who has had a major impact on cancer control in Canada.

To read this article on Dr. Barr’s award please click here.

By Misty Harris, Canwest News Service

It’s the most exclusive new social networking site in Canada, but membership isn’t something you want to earn.

Designed for youths with cancer, Teen Connector is a gated online community whose denizens can navigate a hospital the way others their age can a shopping mall.
Known as “the lost generation,” these teens have been largely overlooked in a system built around young children and adults but not those that fall in between.

The new site — a kind of Facebook for the chemo crowd — aims to fill that need, offering adolescents with cancer a place to connect.

To read this full article about teen cancer connections please click here!

Creative Behaviour, Male Chronic Illness, and Perceived Stress: An Exploratory Study

We have been contacted by a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan, Tara Labuik, who is looking to learn more about the relationship between creative behaviour and stress in men with chronic illness.

A relationship between creative behaviour and stress in women with chronic illness has been discovered and she is interested in determining whether there is a similar relationship between creative behaviour and stress in men with chronic illness. Her research has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Saskatchewan and is in the data collection stage.

If you are a male who is 18 years or older and who was diagnosed with a chronic illness

you are able to complete the survey. If you do not fit this description, please forward this posting on to any men for whom this survey might be relevant.

There are no known risks associated with participation in this study, and each participant’s responses will be kept confidential and anonymous. Participation is totally voluntary.

If you would like to complete the survey, please click on the link below (or cut-and-paste it into your web browser).

        https://survey.usask.ca/survey.php?sid=15430

Completion time for the survey will vary from approximately 15-30 minutes depending on your experiences. You are urged to take the survey, even if you have not been involved in very many creative activities.

Your time and effort are greatly appreciated. Tara would be happy to answer any questions you have about this study. Please feel free to contact her at (306)966–5263 ortajesto@yahoo.ca, or her research supervisor, Dr. Jennifer Nicol, at (306)966-5261 or jaj.nicol@usask.ca. They would be happy to provide
more details about this study.

The National Cancer Institute in the US just created this new portal for young adults. It contains a lot of interesting information. Because it is in the US, some information don’t apply to Canadians, but still, a lot can be found on their site. Here is a preview of what you can explore:

Nearly 70,000 adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39) learn they have cancer each year in the United States. This portal offers links to resources for questions about cancer, its treatment, clinical trials, and issues that may be faced after treatment. It also contains links to research studies and reports.

Learn about cancer types common to adolescents and young adults (15 - 39 year olds).

Learn about different cancer treatments and clinical trials. Get information about how to find a doctor and where NCI designated Cancer Centers are located.

Learn about dealing with emotions and managing side effects during treatment. Find out about resources for family and friends and where to get financial-related help.

Read about life after cancer treatment and follow-up care.

Check out other organizations and resources that provide information for adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Find research studies, reports, and articles that address adolescent and young adult cancer issues.

To visit the portal go to Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer