The PMCF launches podcast hosted by legendary broadcaster Lisa LaFlamme
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF) is proud to launch Carry The Fire, its debut podcast, which is hosted by legendary Canadian broadcaster Lisa LaFlamme.
The powerful, eight-episode series brings to light the personal stories of cancer patients who have faced extraordinary challenges alongside the doctors, researchers and nurses spearheading world-changing advancements in treatment at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
"With two in five Canadians expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, cancer affects us all," says Lisa. "At the Princess Margaret, groundbreaking progress is being made every day, and our podcast will offer a candid, human perspective on the real-life journeys of patients, families and loved ones.
"Through these intimate conversations, we hope to ease the fear surrounding cancer and bring comfort and hope to those who need it most."
The series kicked off on Feb. 4, World Cancer Day, with an episode featuring Tennille Rose Will, an artist and mother who was diagnosed with colon cancer during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennille shares her emotional journey, including the pivotal role her childhood best friend, Hollywood star Rachel McAdams, played as her main support during that time.
Together, they shine a light on the critical contributions of caregivers, with expert insights from Dr. Sarah Hales, a leading researcher in the psychosocial aspects of caregiving.
"Caregivers often don't get the recognition they deserve. My friends, Rachel and Anne, were my lifelines," says Tennille. "I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for all my friends and family in their unwavering support.
"Without their love and commitment, I don't know if I would've had the same triumphant outcome."
Subsequent episodes of the podcast feature remarkable personal stories and descriptions of groundbreaking treatments, including:
- Jeanne Beker – The celebrated TV host and fashion editor who faced a breast cancer diagnosis with courage while discovering cutting-edge treatments at the Princess Margaret.
- David Lahey – A patient who benefited from the trailblazing Tumour Immunotherapy Program at the Princess Margaret, receiving treatment that trained his own immune system to fight his terminal cancer.
- Luana Locke – A patient with a rare genetic mutation who overcame cancer six times thanks to advancements in early detection at the Princess Margaret.
- Sangita Patel – The TV personality who shares how a rare cancer diagnosis reshaped her outlook on life and the one surgeon in Canada who could help her.
- Alicia Mathlin – A cancer patient and therapist who shares her own journey of choosing to stop physical treatment and instead rely on a world-leading psychosocial team.
- Atoosa Rashid – A young adult navigating her colon cancer diagnosis with support from the Princess Margaret's unique Adolescent and Young Adult program.
- Paul Carleton – A participant who shows us the importance of clinical trials to help improve patient outcomes.
Each episode of Carry The Fire is a window into the human side of cancer treatment, showcasing the resilience and strength of those fighting the disease, and the medical professionals who are driving progress to create a world free from the fear of cancer.
To learn more or subscribe, visit CARRYTHEFIRE.CA/Podcast or listen on your preferred podcast platform.
Submissions open for $50,000 Healthtech Power Play Pitch Competition
Entrepreneurs can win up to $50,000 and the opportunity to showcase their game-changing ideas to leaders in the health care industry at the International Conference on Aging, Innovation & Rehabilitation's (ICAIR) Power Play Pitch Competition.
The purpose of the competition is to support innovators working to address unmet needs in health care through preventative solutions, diagnostic tools, assistive devices and other approaches.
"Power Play is a gateway for innovation," says Dr. Milos R. Popovic, Director of UHN's KITE Research Institute and Chair of the ICAIR Organizing Committee. "It's a unique opportunity to accelerate success in the health care space while exhibiting the ground-breaking ideas of the rehabilitation research community."
Whether you're at the concept stage or have a fully developed product, entrepreneurs at all stages of innovation are invited to apply. Finalists will present their ideas or products to a live audience of potential investors and collaborators on May 1 and 2, 2025.
All finalists will receive dedicated space in ICAIR's Innovative Startup Exhibitor Zone. Additional exhibitor spaces will be distributed to Innovative Startup contest applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Learn more and apply. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 28.
Saskatchewan becomes second provincial partner to join PM Cancer Care Network
The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) is one of the earliest provincial cancer programs in Canada to join the Princess Margaret (PM) Cancer Care Network.
As the sixth partner organization in the network, this collaboration will strengthen expertise, expand access to cancer services, and advance education and research, ultimately enhancing care and support for patients and their caregivers.
"This partnership is an important step in the ongoing commitment to improving cancer care for all Saskatchewan residents," says Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill. "By working with top experts and using the latest treatment methods, we're making cutting-edge care more accessible and improving patient outcomes across the province.
"This collaboration shows strong dedication to creating a healthier future for Saskatchewan families."
The SCA operates prevention and early detection programs, including screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers to help detect cancer as early as possible. The organization is also proud to conduct innovative research performed by world-class scientists and researchers who provide laboratory, epidemiological and clinical research, including clinical trials.
"This partnership demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional cancer care, not only within our centre but also across Canada," says Dr. Keith Stewart, VP Cancer, UHN, and Director of UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
The partnership will provide SCA streamlined access to program development support through shared insights and best practices, collaboration on advancements in digital and virtual care, and access to educational resources to support patients, caregivers, and health care providers.
"We are excited to become the first member of the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network from Western Canada," said Dr. Shazia Mahmood, Vice President, Medical Services of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. "This partnership allows our medical teams to connect with a greater field of experts, offer opportunities for further learning and development, and also opens doors to innovation and new clinical trial opportunities for Saskatchewan patients who deserve the very best in cancer care."
The SCA joins a collaborative network that includes several partners across Ontario (Southlake Health, Grand River Hospital, Oak Valley Health, and William Osler Health System) and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
UHN's STOP-Bang questionnaire makes news in South America
Dr. Frances Chung, a clinician-investigator at UHN's Krembil Research Institute, won UHN's 20th annual Inventor of the Year Award in 2023 for her revolutionary sleep apnea questionnaire — STOP-Bang.
Researchers from the Hospital Universitario Austral in Argentina are continuing this work with a study to detect sleep apnea in Latin America by using a popular Spanish-language news site to recruit respondents to use Dr. Chung's award-winning questionnaire.
In the study, a whopping 44.7 per cent of nearly 6,000 respondents recruited through the news site were identified through the STOP-Bang tool as having a moderate-to-high risk for sleep apnea, highlighting the importance of increasing awareness and early detection.
A free academic license for the study was facilitated by Commercialization at UHN.
STOP-Bang, an acronym for snoring tiredness and other commonplace symptoms of sleep apnea, screens people for the disorder, which causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep.
It was originally developed to identify patients with undiagnosed sleep apnea for the prevention of critical incidents during surgery. It is now a global standard diagnostic tool within 40 geographic regions and 500 institutions across a wide range of industries, informing preventative care and treatment for sleep apnea.
"It was curiosity and perseverance that led to the development of the STOP-Bang tool, and today, it is saving and improving lives around the globe," says Dr. Chung.
