Toronto Connect & Learn event for the blood cancer community

Oncology nurses Alex Conchie and Stephanie Tate: What to expect with a stem cell transplant.

More than 110 people attended our Connect & Learn event for the Toronto blood cancer community on September 20. The agenda was cram-packed with 7 healthcare professionals (5 from the city's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre) leading several sessions. The event kicked off with a joint talk by Drs. Tobias Berg and Samantha Mayo on the latest in blood cancer treatment and care, covering a wide range of topics from CAR T-cell therapy to the intersection of medical innovation, mental health and quality of life. (See their presentation PDF.)

A complimentary lunch buffet was followed by three informative break-out rooms focused on:

Coping strategies for mental health challenges, including discussion on post-traumatic stress, fear of cancer recurrence, caregiver burnout, and 'scanxiety' (anxiety related to waiting for results of scans and other tests). Led by Drs. Mayo and Christian Schulz-Quach. (presentation PDF.)
Stem cell transplants (autologous and allogeneic) led by oncology transplant nurses Alex Conchie and Stephanie Tate. (presentation PDF.)
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy for blood cancers, led by Dr. Maria Agustina Perusini. (presentation PDF.)

Left to right: Hammad Umar, Janice Skoblenick, Colleen McMillan and Freda Kassis of LLSC Ambassador program.

The event wrapped up with a panel discussion on managing blood cancer treatment side effects, with Drs. Mayo, Berg, Schulz-Quach, pharmacist Melissa Lo, LLSC's Isabella Garofolo, and blood cancer survivor Freda Kassis. (Panel photo at the top of this article.)

Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2019, Freda is a LLSC volunteer Blood Cancer Ambassador. She is shown here with two of her fellow Ambassadors, Janice Skoblenick and Hammad Umar, and LLSC Advocacy Lead, Colleen McMillan, at the Toronto event.

Partner organizations were also present; Canadian Blood Services and Gilda's Club Toronto had tables and staff there, and we offered a Community Table for organizations such as the Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia Association of Canada, Myeloma Canada, CLL Canada, the Ontario Caregiver Organization, and the Canadian MPN Network who left information for attendees to take home.

Half a dozen LLSC employees were on hand to welcome the blood cancer community, answer any questions, and facilitate learning sessions. These included the 2 community service leads in Ontario, Daniela Sinisi (East Ontario including the City of Toronto and Ottawa regions), Isabella Garofolo (West Ontario including the GTA and beyond), and representatives of our Light the Night event (nationwide next month) Diana Bilyk and Dana Kissondath.

Dana Kissondath, Diana Bilyk, Isabella Garofolo, and Daniela Sinisi, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). — Left to right: Dana Kissondath, Diana Bilyk, Isabella Garofolo, and Daniela Sinisi, all of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC).