CAPO 2024 Psychosocial oncology networking
LLSC Community Service Lead for Alberta, Desiree Naylor, recently attended the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO 2024) Conference – the first time the event has been held in Calgary in more than 20 years.
Desiree is shown here with her poster presentation about our First Connection Peer Support Program, which she says fit well with the CAPO 2024 theme of “Building Hope: Integrating Sustainable, Innovative and Accessible Care in Psychosocial Oncology.”
There were more than 80 sessions over June 6 and 7, and Desiree was able to attend some of them. With a particular interest in pediatric blood cancer, she sat in on:
- The fear of recurrence experienced by pediatric cancer survivors
- Social adjustments and education outcomes in survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- The gendered nature of body image and social adjustment in survivors of pediatric ALL
- Traumatic stress in family caregivers of pediatric and adult patients with acute leukemia
- Interventions to improve transition from pediatric to adult care for youth diagnosed with cancer
- Changing the approach of psychosocial oncology care to address unmet needs in regional, rural, and remote settings
- Novel interventions for people with cancer in their 30s and 40s
- The relationships among income and physical, emotional and practical concerns in older adult survivors of cancer (65+).
As well, Desiree attended sessions about: changing the approach of psychosocial oncology care to address unmet needs in regional, rural, and remote setting; novel interventions for people with cancer in their 30s and 40s; relationships among income and physical, emotional and practical concerns in older adult survivors of cancer (65+).
The LLSC understands the importance of collaboration among community supports for people impacted by a blood cancer. During CAPO, Desiree was able to connect with community exhibitors, including The Oladele Foundation / African Cancer Support, Look Good Feel Better, and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Desiree was very excited to meet experts in the pediatric cancer landscape from across Canada, including Dr. Leandra Desjardins, an active member of Advancing Childhood Cancer Experience, Science & Survivorship (ACCESS) and Dr. Fiona Schulte, a psychologist in the hematology, oncology, and transplant program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and hearing about all the research happening to support families impacted by a pediatric cancer.
LLSC is looking forward to deepening our relationship with CAPO nationally, to support each other’s missions. Every Canadian touched by a blood cancer needs psychosocial support.
