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Health Oakville resident celebrates victories against melanoma Oakville Beaver By Kathy Yanchus METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP While waging her own battle with melanoma, Oakville's Annette Cyr has fought for more research, new treatments and access to information for fellow patients across the country. "I've been working round the clock on this for the last almost four years because we really did need some attention brought to this disease," said Cyr, founder and chair of the Melanoma Network of Canada. In most cases, if caught early, there is a high degree of comfort, between 90 and 97 per cent that it won't return," said Cyr. "But if it's not caught early and it spreads, it is very difficult to treat. It is one of the most virulent cancers out there." For Cyr, it began 11 years ago with a small, itchy mole on the side of her ankle. At her physical about eight months later she showed it to her GP who wasn't overly concerned but referred her to a dermatologist. As it turned out, her seemingly innocuous mole was melanoma. "So it was scary and it took me a long time to get over. Any diagnosis of cancer knocks your knees out from under you." Then, in 2007, Cyr noticed a lump outside the excised area. The melanoma had returned, three large tumours were removed, followed by skin grafts, a CT scan, MRI and bone scan to determine if the cancer had spread. Fortunately, tests indicated no spread beyond the local area, but her prognosis was grim. "It was an emotionally difficult time for me, lots of anxiety. " There was so little information for patients in Canada at the time, no Canadian websites, so many unanswered questions and no treatment therapies, only dire outcomes, said Cyr. "I thought we really need to connect as patients across this country, first of all to push for some more access to clinical trials and to give knowledge and information, because information is so powerful to patients. Up to 90 Annette Cyr per cent of melanomas are likely related to exposure to ultra violet radiation, either through outdoor exposure in the sun or exposure to indoor tanning beds." With her background in corporate governance, Cyr created the Melanoma Network of Canada. Its website has garnered more than 2,000 patient listings from across the country and the organization itself has announced a $275,000 research grant and become the first organization in the country to establish a national teleconference line facilitated monthly by a professional social worker. The website discussion forum gets 4,000 hits a month. The group's focus is also on sun awareness and prevention. "Information is so powerful and at least it gives people some options." Cyr was ready to celebrate her five-year anniversary cancer-free when the disease recurred last June. Numbers for melanoma are going up rather than down; this past year melanoma moved up from the eighth most common cancer in Canada to the seventh, according to the the last year, Zelboraf and Yervoy, have now been Canadian Cancer Society, said Cyr. "That's not the direction you want to be approved for funding by the province of Ontario. For more information on melanoma or the going. There will be about 5,800 cases diagnosed in Canada this year alone and nearly 1,000 will walk, visit www.melanomanetwork.ca die this year. It's on the rise and is one of the most prevalent cancers in our youth between 15 and 34 years of age so our youth tanning behaviours, tanning beds are a big issue for us." Initiated by Cyr and her group, and with the help of town councillors Ralph Robinson and Pam Damoff, "the mighty Helping Families Every Step of the Way! little town of Oakville" pushed through Specializes in: legislation last spring banning minors · Pediatrics · Fertility Issues · Pre and Postnatal Care · Low Back/Neck Pain from access to tanning beds, legislation · Naturally Turning · Sciatica that was also passed in Peel. Breech Babies · Posture "This has helped pressure the · Headaches/Migraines · Osteoarthritis Province to announce looking at movWellness care for the entire family! ing forward with provincial legislation. Wishing You and Your Family We're waiting for that anxiously. Good Health in the New Year! Tanning beds certainly aren't the only 250 Wyecroft Rd., Unit 15, Oakville, ON cause but they're a major contributor and they're a big risk factor, so we're Dr. Jenna Davis happy some of our efforts are taking Family Chiropractor/Acupuncturist hold and making some difference." 905.844.WELL (9355) Two new drug therapies for melawww.acornhealth.ca drdavis@acornhealth.ca noma approved by Health Canada in 47 · Thursday, December 27, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Gliding Shelf Solutions Inc. Transform your existing cabinets with custom pull-out shelves Live Life within Reach Gift Certificates are available for a Perfect Holiday Gift 905-815-9795 · 1-877-895-9766 www.glidingshelf.ca Call the experts for a free consultation The P Chri erfect sma Gift s Your local Tim Hortons believes in supporting initiatives that make a difference in our community. That's why we're proud to be a part of programs such as Free Holiday Skate, Earn A Bike, Smile Cookie, and Timbits Hockey.Visit us instore today for a schedule of Free Holiday Skate ice times and locations this holiday season, compliments of Tim Hortons Oakville Restaurant Owners. To find out more please visit www.timhortons.com © Tim Hortons, 2011