The Blood Cancer Experience

In this special episode, guest host Montana Skurka connects with AML survivor Michael Wark. Together they explore topics of blogging and sharing a cancer experience, the importance of support networks, the power of spiritualty, and how his cancer experience has changed his life.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) survivor Samantha Redsky discuss the all things relationships - how a cancer experience can change the relationship you have with yourself, with your loved ones, and even with your own body.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood. In this episode, Dr. Aly Karsan provides an overview of AML, talks about his research and shares a message of hope for the future of AML treatments. Dr. Karsan is Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UBC, and Distinguished Scientist at Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at BC Cancer.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. In this episode, Dr. Kareem Jamani provides us with an overview of CML, talks about the advances in treatment options over the years, explores potential barriers to research and imparts messages to those diagnosed with CML. Dr. Jamani is a hematologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, Alberta.

Todd Winsor is CML and prostate cancer survivor. In this podcast, Todd speaks about his experiences and about some myths and facts of living with a chronic blood cancer.

Veronica Vardy is mother to 5 year old Amelia who is a survivor of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Veronica discusses the impact that cancer has had on her daughter, her family, and what her role as caregiver to Amelia has been like.

Bob Sisler has been in remission from Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, since 2015. Bob shares with us his personal experience with diagnosis, treatments, and life after blood cancer. As a Peer Support Volunteer, Bob gives back to the blood cancer community through the LLSC’s First Connection program

Dr. Abish shares insights into what it’s like treating children and teens, and the complexities of serving this youngest age group as well as their follow up care. Dr. Abish attended McGill Medical school in Montreal and then completed pediatric training at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, as well as a fellowship in pediatric hematology and Oncology in New York at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Can...

Mayra Husicwas diagnosed in 2011 with stage 4 Follicular Lymphoma while training for a marathon. In this podcast, we will talk about her experience with blood cancer such as diagnosis, treatment, side effects and so on.

In this episode we speak with Amy Pulsifer about her experience managing long term effects due to her Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or CLL.

In this episode we talk to Elizabeth Corkum about what it was like caring for her husband when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

C. Elizabeth Dougherty is a Social Worker and Educator with extensive experience supporting children, youth and adults facing serious illness, uncertainty and grief. In this podcast, she helps us understand the different types of grief, explains how we can manage the grief that the current pandemic is causing us all to experience,as well as strategies for adapting to all the changes that we are ex...

Scott Bellerby, outpatient hematology nurse at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, talks to us about the ways this pandemic has affected how we manage a chronic blood cancer and provides some insights on how we can continue to care for ourselves effectively.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of aggressive NHL subtype. In this episode, Dr. Jacqueline Costello covers the basics of diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and research for DLBCL. Dr. Costello is an adult Hematologist and clinical assistant professor at Memorial University in St John’s, Newfoundland.

Paul Davis is a Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma survivor. Paul has dedicated his life to serving his community, including supporting numerous not-for-profits, a policing career, a political career including having served as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and he currently holds the position as Chief Operating Officer with a Canadian based international telehealth company.  In 2011 Paul was diagnose...

Al Collings was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia over three years ago.  Al talks about learning to live well with a chronic cancer and how it has brought new meaning to his life. 

Learn more about CLL treatment options and their side effects.  This podcast will help you play an active role in the management of your side effects. When should you consult? Why is it important to manage side effects well and to provide tolerable treatment options?

Dr. Villeneuve is a hematologist at the Ottawa General Hospital, in charge of the Myelofibrosis clinic. In this podcast, he talks about diagnosis, treatment, side effects and research.

Mrs. Linda August is a Lymphoma survivor from Montreal. During her experience with cancer, she quickly understood the importance of taking an active part in her care and treatments. She tells us about her experience,  how she took an active part in her treatments and how she  advocated for herself.

Jeff Chow is an ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) survivor who was diagnosed when he was 15 years old. He shares his story of receiving a cancer diagnosis as a teenager, and the support that he received during his experience.

Meagan Massad lives in Ottawa, Ontario. She lost her younger brother Paul, who passed away from non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 22. Paul was an inspiring young man and did everything that he could to fight his disease. Seeing her brother go through cancer treatments was one of the most difficult times of her life. In this podcast, she is talking about her experience and gives ideas to cope with...

Connor Dalton from the LLSC speaks to Dr. Gilles Robichaud about CLL research on this episode of the Blood Cancer Experience. Dr. Robichaud is a professor and researcher at the Université de Moncton. His research is funded by the LLSC. He shares information about his current research and how it could help inform CLL treatment in the future. 

Journaling may have benefits for you no matter where you are in your cancer experience. The practice can help manage stress, help you solve problems more effectively, and help you get to know yourself better. The LLSC teamed up with Rachel Hayek to produce a podcast that walks you through a mindful journaling practice and an accompanying journal that you can print at home. Rachel is a Hatha yoga i...

A conversation with Maureen Parkinson, co-lead (with Dr. Christine Maheu, McGill University) for www.cancerandwork.ca , a resource to guide cancer survivors on returning, remaining and finding work. Maureen has a Masters in Counselling Psychology, is a Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counsellor and completed the Certified Return to Work Coordinator Program through the National Institute for Disa...

Margo Kennedy is an oncology social worker at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto Ontario, working mainly with the leukemia outpatient site. Working within the Department of Supportive Care has provided Margo with a deep appreciation for the many stresses, barriers and challenges that people with cancer can encounter. "Our cancer care systems pay a great deal of attention to the physica...