Canadian Cancer Survivor Network announces website launch just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Website features video testimonials and information about chemo-induced nausea and vomiting

OTTAWA, Oct. 3, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) is pleased to announce the launch of their website (www.survivornet.ca) and their new Ottawa office at an open house that will be attended by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. Among other subjects, the website tackles an important issue that they believe is not being appropriately addressed across Canada: chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

Part of CCSN's vision is to ensure cancer patients and survivors have access to current knowledge about treatment, options and outcomes. Concerned that there is a lack of information about managing CINV, CCSN is working hard to close this knowledge gap in order to help end disparities in patient care and treatment.

"Nausea and vomiting is the most feared side effect of chemotherapy. When uncontrolled, it can have a severe impact on patients, including loss of appetite and weight loss, even broken bones and re-opening of surgical wounds in extreme cases", says Dr. Kylea Potvin, Medical Oncologist at the London Regional Cancer Program. "As a result, some people even decide to stop treatment that can prolong their survival."

Approximately 70 to 80 per cent of cancer patients experience CINV¹

Although chemotherapy regimens have been very useful to treat cancer it can come with debilitating side effects such as nausea and vomiting. This is an unfortunate but common side effect of chemotherapy regimens.

"CINV can be debilitating but can also be prevented. Patients should speak to their doctor about treatment options before they start chemotherapy," says Jackie Manthorne, President and CEO of CCSN. "Cancer is already a difficult journey and patients should be able to focus on healing while spending quality time with their loved ones. By preventing CINV, there is one less thing to worry about".

There is hope for Canadian patients to live a better life with cancer
CCSN believes that with access to the right treatment options, there is hope for Canadian patients to live a better life with cancer. "We reached out to those in our network who has undergone, or who are undergoing, chemotherapy and who have experienced nausea and vomiting to share their stories with us. We chose three people who volunteered to participate in video testimonials to explain how access to treatment helped them regain control of their life, and we have posted them on our website," adds Manthorne.

"Fifteen years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and suffered from severe nausea and vomiting during my treatment. I felt like I had completely lost control over my body," explains Catherine Mooney, a cancer survivor. "Last year, I was diagnosed again with breast cancer. This time, my doctor provided me with an option to help control the nausea and vomiting. This enabled me to spend more time with my friends and family and it really helped me to be more positive about my treatment because I didn't feel so sick all the time."

CCSN's new video testimonials are from:

• Catherine Mooney, from Charlottetown, PEI, battled breast cancer twice. To see her story: http://youtu.be/V5GDkcII-6U
• Marlo Taylor, an ovarian cancer survivor from Toronto, Ontario. To see her story: http://youtu.be/vfLh73OjDek
• Isabelle Barrette, a young mother from Montreal, Quebec, who is currently undergoing breast cancer treatment (in French). To see her story: http://youtu.be/2hYeYwiOCPg

To learn more about CINV treatment options, speak to your doctor, or visit be www.survivornet.ca/en/cancer_issues/chemo_induced_nausea_and_vomiting for more information.

About the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN)

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network was created by a group of Canadians concerned about cancer. CCSN's mission is to empower collaborative action by cancer patients, families and communities to identify and work to remove barriers to optimal patient care, and to ensure that cancer survivors have access to education and action opportunities to have their voices heard in planning and implementing an optimal health care system. CCSN is committed to educate the public and policy makers about the financial, emotional and health costs of cancer and offer considered, positive ideas and recommendations to alleviate their effects. To learn more, visit www.survivornet.ca.

The CCSN acknowledges Merck Canada for its support of the launch of the CCSN website and its  campaign to raise awareness about CINV.

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¹ NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology; Antiemesis, Version 2.2010.

SOURCE: Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN)

Toronto
Kristen King
416-848-1427
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Montreal
Dominique Quirion / Roch Landriault
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