Skip to main content

The Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil Campaign

 On Thursday April 21, I had the opportunity to speak in response to a Ministerial Statement on the Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil campaign, a month-long campaign to raise funds to help find better treatments and cures for cancer and to help those suffering from cancer.  My comments are below.

Daffodil Campaign


Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, cancer can be a tragic, challenging and difficult disease which too often still ends in death from the cancer. The good news is that there is more hope than ever with existing and new treatments that deliver longer and longer sur­vival and in­creasingly higher and higher rates of cure.

      In Canada, much thanks is due to the Canadian Cancer Society and its efforts, including the Daffodil Campaign every year.

      When I began my internship and residency to be a pediatrician in 1971 at the Uni­ver­sity of Minnesota, there was no evidence that a child with acute lympho­blastic leukemia could be cured. It was considered a  death sentence. By the time I left my time as a physician, looking after children with blood problems and cancer, to enter politics in 1993, 75 to 80 per cent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were being cured.

      Today, the rates of im­prove­ment and cure from treatment of all cancers have improved–some dra­mat­i­cally, some less so.

      One of the most difficult cancers to treat is and has been lung cancer. The gov­ern­ment of Manitoba should be doing much more to prevent lung cancer by reducing radon levels in homes, as well as in reducing smoking. The lifetime risk for lung cancer for those who are both smokers and who are exposed to radon is one person in three: very high, and much higher than somebody who is just a smoker only. This is why we need to be very active in reducing both.

      My ex­per­ience in Minneapolis working with in­dividuals who were at the leading edge of the research and treatment of cancer in children showed me how im­por­tant it is to have research and the clinical trials to test new options. It made a huge difference in the  treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is making a big difference in more difficult to treat cancers like lung cancer.

      The Daffodil Campaign raises awareness and funds to prevent cancer and to improve the lives and the outcomes for those who develop cancer. Thank you to the Canadian Cancer Society for all you do to help in this endeavour and to help Manitobans and Canadians in this respect.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Being able to participate matters - Let’s build a more inclusive, accessible Manitoba

Too often, our homes, buildings, and outdoor spaces are designed without sufficient consideration given to how they will impact little people, those with large bodies, or those with disabilities.  Manitoba should become a leader in designing and building new structures so they’re comfortable and accessible to all.  Further, the province needs to do more to adapt our existing infrastructure, so that it meets everyone’s needs.   The design of our built environment makes daily living a challenge for too many.  A friend, who uses a wheelchair, must call ahead wherever she goes to ensure she can enter a restaurant, store, salon, etc. A young person in River Heights has a struggle each fall to make sure that with his cerebral palsy he is able to get the support he needs to do well in school.  A large-bodied man I know has been bedridden for five months because he lacks access to a usable lift or wheelchair.  Samantha Trubyk, President of the Little People ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March.  South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory.   The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions.   This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14.  Manitoba ( red line )  started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then.   South Dakota ( blue line )   has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4.  Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations
18 comments
Read more

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

  On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.  
Post a Comment
Read more