Latest news with #DaffodilMonth
CBC
26-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
P.E.I. man describes the limbo of living with cancer when health care isn't close to home
Dwight Gardiner, a Summerside, P.E.I. man who has been living with cancer since 2018, says the Canadian health-care system is not keeping up with those who live in rural areas. Gardiner has multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects one in 2,500 Canadians. It is not curable, but treatments can improve a patient's quality of life. "When I was first diagnosed in 2018, I had to go to Moncton — off-Island — to see a hematologist to get diagnosed and I started my treatment there," he said in an interview with Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass tied to April being Daffodil Month for the Canadian Cancer Society. Gardiner was able to transfer his treatments to Summerside after that, but then he faced another issue. "Since then I've had five different doctors overseeing my care, because on P.E.I. we seem to have a revolving door." P.E.I.'s longstanding shortage of workers in the health-care sector has been marked by the loss of specialists, including the hematologists who diagnose and treat blood-related conditions and disease. "The current one retired before Christmas, and our current oncologist that could look after me is also retiring this summer," Gardiner said. "They've been making referrals for people that we are aware of... off-Island, from Halifax to Ottawa." His wife, Megan Gardiner, is now working as a leader of the P.E.I. Myeloma Support Group. "It's been very hard because my father also died of this disease," she said. When her husband was diagnosed, she said it "was like a really hard blow," lessened by strong family support, including from the couple's four daughters. "We've had a lot of help with Myeloma Canada," she added. "That has gotten me started as a group leader on the Island and it's been wonderful. Our health care is the worst it's ever been, in a lot of years. — Dwight Gardiner "It seems to be a rare type of cancer, but ... we help each other, we get information from even our members that come to our meetings." Though Dwight Gardiner said his numbers are good at the moment, the family is stuck in a kind of limbo between doctor's referrals as they wait to see what his next avenue will be. He's been referred back to Moncton, but says they haven't heard anything back, and "that's a couple of months ago." All this care comes with a cost, with patients needing to travel long distances to get the care they need, but it's not just about the money. "We're all waiting and nobody's getting any answers yet," Megan Gardiner said. Cuts into finances, job time Dwight Gardiner said they have had to go off-Island to get care only a handful of times so far, but he hears stories from members of their group who have had to travel frequently to Halifax, Moncton or Ottawa: "That it is quite a burden on some people." His wife said some of the support group members are taking part in clinical studies, which means even more more travel. That adds up financially, and with their time as well, because they're missing work. Sometimes myeloma patients aren't able to work anymore. "They have to travel for all their bloodwork, all their treatments," she said. "It begins, they're going a couple times a week, than they're going weekly, then bi-weekly, then monthly — and that adds up financially, and with their time as well, because they're missing work. Sometimes myeloma patients aren't able to work anymore." That is the case for Dwight Gardiner, who hasn't been able to work for nearly seven years, after stepping back from his job in 2018. Then there are the patients sent off-Island for appointments who are being told that relocation is their best bet. The Gardiners know of one couple in that situation. "They had their appointment, and they were told that they will have to move to Ontario to get the care that they need," Megan Gardiner said. Travel expenses add up Another expense comes when Maritimers are referred for treatment in another province during the winter, and choose to travel extra early to ensure bad weather won't prevent them from arriving on time. That adds hotel costs to the bill. "Our health care is the worst it's ever been in a lot of years," Dwight Gardiner said, quoting the stats on multiple myeloma, which is twice as prevalent in Canada as liver cancer, for example. "It's getting to be a bigger issue, and not to have access to treatment on this Island, it just makes it harder to continue on." For now, Megan Gardiner wants people to know there is support for those who need it on the Island. "People [ought] to know that they can reach out to us and join our group and have support from one another," she said. "Families are welcome as well, that we'll support." The support group is looking for more volunteers, especially outside of Summerside. Ideally, they'd find someone in the Charlottetown area so that there could be a Multiple Myeloma March in the capital as well as in P.E.I.'s second-biggest city each fall.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
P.E.I. man describes the limbo of living with cancer when health care isn't close to home
Dwight Gardiner, a Summerside, P.E.I. man who has been living with cancer since 2018, says the Canadian health-care system is not keeping up with those who live in rural areas. Gardiner has multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects one in 2,500 Canadians. It is not curable, but treatments can improve a patient's quality of life. "When I was first diagnosed in 2018, I had to go to Moncton — off-Island — to see a hematologist to get diagnosed and I started my treatment there," he said in an interview with Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass tied to April being Daffodil Month for the Canadian Cancer Society. Gardiner was able to transfer his treatments to Summerside after that, but then he faced another issue. "Since then I've had five different doctors overseeing my care, because on P.E.I. we seem to have a revolving door." P.E.I.'s longstanding shortage of workers in the health-care sector has been marked by the loss of specialists, including the hematologists who diagnose and treat blood-related conditions and disease. "The current one retired before Christmas, and our current oncologist that could look after me is also retiring this summer," Gardiner said. "They've been making referrals for people that we are aware of... off-Island, from Halifax to Ottawa." Dwight Gardiner, left, is living with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. His wife Megan Gardiner, centre, and her sister Bethany Reeves lost their father and their aunt to the disease. (Pickering Communications Inc.) His wife, Megan Gardiner, is now working as a leader of the P.E.I. Myeloma Support Group. "It's been very hard because my father also died of this disease," she said. When her husband was diagnosed, she said it "was like a really hard blow," lessened by strong family support, including from the couple's four daughters. "We've had a lot of help with Myeloma Canada," she added. "That has gotten me started as a group leader on the Island and it's been wonderful. Our health care is the worst it's ever been, in a lot of years. — Dwight Gardiner "It seems to be a rare type of cancer, but ... we help each other, we get information from even our members that come to our meetings." Though Dwight Gardiner said his numbers are good at the moment, the family is stuck in a kind of limbo between doctor's referrals as they wait to see what his next avenue will be. A variety of drugs are used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. (Shutterstock) He's been referred back to Moncton, but says they haven't heard anything back, and "that's a couple of months ago." All this care comes with a cost, with patients needing to travel long distances to get the care they need, but it's not just about the money. "We're all waiting and nobody's getting any answers yet," Megan Gardiner said. Cuts into finances, job time Dwight Gardiner said they have had to go off-Island to get care only a handful of times so far, but he hears stories from members of their group who have had to travel frequently to Halifax, Moncton or Ottawa: "That it is quite a burden on some people." His wife said some of the support group members are taking part in clinical studies, which means even more more travel. That adds up financially, and with their time as well, because they're missing work. Sometimes myeloma patients aren't able to work anymore. — Megan Gardiner "They have to travel for all their bloodwork, all their treatments," she said. "It begins, they're going a couple times a week, than they're going weekly, then bi-weekly, then monthly — and that adds up financially, and with their time as well, because they're missing work. Sometimes myeloma patients aren't able to work anymore." Dwight Gardiner and Megan Gardiner joined CBC News: Compass to talk about Dwight's multiple myeloma and the difficulties getting treatment. The two are heavily involved in the P.E.I. Myeloma Support Group. (CBC News) That is the case for Dwight Gardiner, who hasn't been able to work for nearly seven years, after stepping back from his job in 2018. Then there are the patients sent off-Island for appointments who are being told that relocation is their best bet. The Gardiners know of one couple in that situation. "They had their appointment, and they were told that they will have to move to Ontario to get the care that they need," Megan Gardiner said. Travel expenses add up Another expense comes when Maritimers are referred for treatment in another province during the winter, and choose to travel extra early to ensure bad weather won't prevent them from arriving on time. That adds hotel costs to the bill. "Our health care is the worst it's ever been in a lot of years," Dwight Gardiner said, quoting the stats on multiple myeloma, which is twice as prevalent in Canada as liver cancer, for example. "It's getting to be a bigger issue, and not to have access to treatment on this Island, it just makes it harder to continue on." A file photo of Carol Porco and Maria Marinelli, who took part in the 2021 Winnipeg Multiple Myeloma March. Porco was diagnosed with the blood cancer in 2018, and her daughter Marinelli was walking in support of her. (Justin Fraser/CBC) For now, Megan Gardiner wants people to know there is support for those who need it on the Island. "People [ought] to know that they can reach out to us and join our group and have support from one another," she said. "Families are welcome as well, that we'll support." The support group is looking for more volunteers, especially outside of Summerside. Ideally, they'd find someone in the Charlottetown area so that there could be a Multiple Myeloma March in the capital as well as in P.E.I.'s second-biggest city each fall. "It's a great way to get the awareness out there for the disease."
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sangita Patel reflects on having an 'ugly cry' after being diagnosed with cancer: 'I've never had a breakdown'
Sangita Patel is reflecting on her journey with a rare form of thyroid cancer. In a interview released in March for "Carry The Fire," a podcast from the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation hosted by Canadian journalist Lisa LaFlamme, Patel opened up about receiving her diagnosis at the peak of her professional life. The Toronto-born TV host was told she had encapsulated angioinvasive oncoytic carcinoma in 2023. Although she's now cancer-free, she said she's only now begun healing emotionally from the life-changing diagnosis, surgeries and treatment. This April is Cancer Awareness Month, otherwise known as Daffodil Month. In honour of the special month, here's everything we learned about Patel's recent conversation with LaFlamme. Patel is a strong person, both physically and mentally. The former ET Canada host has cultivated an online presence filled with fitness, healthy recipes and positivity. This article was first published in March 2025. However, when LaFlamme asked the 46-year-old mother of two about her biggest takeaway from cancer, Patel had a surprising answer. "That I'm allowed to be weak," Patel said, adding that for her, weakness looks like "vulnerability." Despite the lesson, Patel added she's still learning how to put it into practice. Patel was understandably nervous when the lump on her throat was biopsied and when she underwent surgery to have one side of her thyroid removed. However, following the surgery, Patel's pathology report revealed she had encapsulated angioinvasive oncoytic carcinoma, also known as Hürthle cell carcinoma. It's a form of thyroid cancer that can be more aggressive and potentially spread to the lungs or bones. Patel said she understood the pathology report was serious because her husband, a radiologist named Samir, was quiet when reading the results. "It's bullshit. I was just like, 'I can't believe this is happening,'" Patel said. "I thought I've done my part. I'm healing. Life is good. I've done what I had to do ... and I'm like, 'What's wrong with me? What is happening right now?'" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sangita Patel (@ Patel and her family decided to retreat to Barbados following the official diagnosis. Although the trip was supposed to be restorative, she said she experienced a new emotional low point. "I've never had a breakdown in my 45 years. I don't even know what happened. Something my daughter said. And we were at dinner, and I went back to our hotel room and I had the ugly cry," she said. "I don't remember the last time I ever had an ugly cry like that. And my husband was there, and I'm thinking about death, and I'm thinking about everything, just things I would never think about. I finally said, 'Holy shit, I could die.'" Patel said her husband admitted he had a similar breakdown after learning of her cancer and said she was going to do more to see how Samir's feeling even now that she's cancer-free. Patel's surgeon, Dr. Jesse Pasternak of University Health Network in Toronto, removed the rest of her thyroid. For both surgeries, Pasternak used a cutting edge method called TOETVA (transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy-vestibular approach). TOETVA involves making incisions inside the mouth to access the thyroid, instead of accessing the gland through the neck, meaning there's no visible scarring. Pasternak is the only surgeon in Canada using the method, and although the surgery was successful, he ordered more treatment to help prevent future cancer recurrences. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sangita Patel (@ "Radioactive iodine is an iodine pill that you take that has, instead of the regular iodine that we eat in our iodine salt, it's got a radioactive particle attached to it," he explained to LaFlamme. "Interestingly, only thyroid cells in the body use iodine, and so the iodine only goes to the thyroid cells, and then it basically explodes once it gets to those thyroid cells and kills the thyroid cell with it." While Patel is on the mend emotionally, she now focusing on new projects. That includes establishing a wellness brand, which she compared to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. "Building my brand is what my goal is for the next few years, and I take it step by step. If there's one thing I do is I definitely stay on my own journey," she said. "I don't look to the left. I don't look to the right. I stay on my journey. "I don't even know how I got here, but it's partly because I stayed on my journey. And that's my next step, is to actually explode internationally, to be in that space, knowing there's a whole world out there."
