Lymphoma: over the past 10 years, close to 50,000 patients, survivors and informal caregivers have been affected in Quebec

MONTREAL, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - "Being diagnosed with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 33 is a life-changing experience. It hits you head on, causing your world to crumble overnight," says Richard Petit, honoree of the very first Lymphoma Action Symposium, presented by Lymphoma Foundation Canada and scheduled to take place on November 12^th, 2012 at the Marriot Château Champlain Hotel in Montreal.

The author-composer-performer and lymphoma cancer survivor points out that "given all the difficult conditions that go along with cancer diagnosis and treatment, it is imperative that we focus on improving services in order to ensure the availability, promptness and quality of care and support provided to the afflicted."

Lymphoma ranks 5^th as a leading type of cancer in men and women. Each year, in Canada, over 8,000 people are diagnosed with lymphoma (Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's, Burkitt...) and more than 3,000 die as a result of it.

Before a targeted audience, experts, mostly from the field of health, will be discussing the issues surrounding this disease which increasingly upsets the lives of Quebecers or their loved ones in a variety of ways.

Issues to be addressed include: the types of lymphoma, the patient's role, access to care and drugs, new technology and its role in the treatment of lymphoma as well as mobilizing and raising of awareness in the battle against lymphoma.

A number of prominent speakers have confirmed their attendance, including:

• Josette Champagne, M.D., Pediatric Hemato-oncologist, CHU Sainte-Justine;
• Philippe Couillard, C.P., M.D., Consultant, former Quebec minister of Health and Social Services;
• Nathalie  Johnson, M.D., Hemato-oncologist, Jewish General Hospital;
• Pierre Laneuville, M.D., hematologist, Royal Victoria Hospital; CR
• Bernard Lemieux, M.D., Hemato-oncologist, CHUM - Notre Dame Hospital;
• Nathalie Letarte, Oncology Pharmacist, Saint Luc Hospital;
• Harold Olney, M.D., Hemato-oncologist, CHUM, Notre Dame Hospital;
• Marc Osborne, Director, Government relations and Health policies, Oncology - Roche;
• Barry Stein, President of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada.

Richard Petit invites all Quebecers afflicted with lymphoma to meet with him during the Lymphoma Action Symposium. "Together with Lymphoma Foundation Canada, I am appealing to all lymphoma patients, including their families and loved ones. The Lymphoma Action Symposium is an event not to be missed!"

For additional information about the event and to register online, visit CR www.2000neuf.com/lymphome

About Lymphoma Foundation Canada

Lymphoma Foundation Canada has its roots in two distinct regional organizations, the Lymphoma Research Foundation of Canada (LRFC) and the Canadian Lymphoma Foundation (CLF), which were both founded in 1998 and merged in 2000. The Lymphoma Foundation Canada is a national non-profit organization whose goals are to provide education and support for individuals with lymphoma across Canada and their support network, to fund medical research to find a cure for lymphatic cancer, to advocate for the best treatment and care for lymphoma patients, to promote rapid access to new developments.

For more information, visit the website www.lymphoma.ca

SOURCE: Lymphoma Foundation Canada

Tracey-Ann Curtis
1.866.659.5556 ext. 9
[email protected] 

For all media requests:
Sylvie Piché
514-868-2009 ext. 225
[email protected]