This February, the Canadian Cancer Society and our stakeholders are gathering Alberta’s greatest minds working to study and treat lung cancer with leaders in primary prevention and supportive care along side every-day Albertans touched by the disease.
More Albertans died of lung cancer in 2017 than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer combined, yet the continuum for lung cancer is relatively unsupported when compared to other cancers. Improvements and investments are needed along the entire continuum of care from primary prevention, research, and early detection to treatment and supportive care.
Canadian deaths in 2017 (Rounded to nearest thousand)
We aim to share, learn, and build consensus on a strategy for progress to:
- reduce the social stigmatization and isolation impacting lung cancer patients;
- improve processes to support the primary prevention of lung cancer incidence;
- improve access to lung cancer screening ;
- improve patient and caregiver supports across the care continuum;
- promote and improve research, treatment innovation, and investments; and
- influence a greater shift in the national perspective on lung cancer.
Dr. Robert Thirsk was born and raised in western Canada. Bob received degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also holds a Doctorate of Medicine from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Bob has flown on two space missions as a member of the Canadian Space Agency’s astronaut corps. He first flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1996 with six international crewmates as part of the Life and Microgravity Spacelab Mission. His second flight in 2009 was a six-month expedition aboard the International Space Station. Bob and his five international crewmates performed multidisciplinary research, robotic operations and maintenance of Station systems.
Bob is a Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Calgary. He is a strong promoter of an economy based upon exploration and innovation. He encourages youth to build their dreams upon a foundation of advanced skills and lifelong learning.
7:30 am – 8:15 am
8:15 am – 8:45 am | Chelsea Draeger
Dr. Robert Thirsk is a former astronaut who is familiar with the harsh nature of the space environment and the health risks associated with spaceflight. He will discuss the design of future astronaut healthcare delivery systems which will feature autonomous, intelligent and patient-centric delivery models. Dr. Thirsk will then bring his thoughts down to Earth and describe his family’s personal experiences with cancer. Could the operational approaches to deep space healthcare be adapted on Earth to enable earlier diagnosis of the most unmanageable cancers?
8:45 am – 9:30 am | Dr. Robert Thirsk
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Primary prevention and lung cancer screening pillar recommendations
- Radon exposure reduction | Dr. Aaron Goodarzi
- Commercial tobacco use reduction | Les Hagen/Dr. Brent Friesen
- Occupational and environmental exposure reduction | Dr. Cheryl Peters
- Lung cancer screening | Dr. Eric Bédard
Supportive care and improved quality of life pillar recommendations
- Improving the understanding regarding the needs of patients and family caregivers | Shaneel Pathak
- Reducing the gaps in supportive care | Lisa Lamont
- Reducing stigma and altering social norms regarding lung cancer | Angeline Webb
- Improving palliative and end-of-life care supports for lung cancer patients | Dr. Ingrid de Kock
Research, diagnosis, and treatment pillar recommendations
- Diagnosis and treatment continuum | Dr. Don Morris
- Research innovation, resource and funding improvements | Dr. Gwyn Bebb
- Improved access to access to
lung cancer drugs | Beth Kidd
10:30 am – 11:00 am
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Facilitated discussions
- Primary prevention and lung cancer screening pillar recommendations
- Supportive care and improved quality of life pillar recommendations
- Research, diagnosis, and treatment pillar recommendations
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm | Dr. Don Morris/Angeline Webb
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm | Chelsea Draeger
Forum participants are encouraged to stick around for an evening reception with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
5:00pm – 7:30pm | Location TBD
Lung Forum participants are encouraged to register for the 2019 Western Canadian Tobacco Reduction Forum being held in tandem with this event on Thursday, February 21st.
Getting There Together will bring together individuals and organizations who champion tobacco reduction research, policy and practice from across western Canada with a focus on achieving a less than 5% smoking prevalence rate by 2035.
Separate registration is required. Abstracts are being accepted until January 31st.
Thursday February 21, 2019 | Hosted by the Campaign for a Smoke-Free Alberta
Lung Forum participants are encouraged to register for the 2019 Western Canadian Tobacco Reduction Forum being held in tandem with this event on Thursday, February 21st.
Getting There Together will assemble individuals and organizations who champion tobacco reduction research, policy, and practice from across western Canada with a focus on achieving a less than 5% smoking prevalence rate by 2035.
Separate registration is required. Abstracts are being accepted until January 31st.
