Public Interest Group on Cancer Research - Newfoundland and Labrador

05/19/2026

Let's start this morning with an informative video on 'Workplace rights"

Information presented may benefit any of us needing workplace accommodations, for example, while going through cancer treatment

Take a look:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGpXCN9srhQ

This is a pre-recorded speech by Carey Majid, KC, for the public ev...

05/12/2026

Very pleased to note this award being given this year to our lead, Sevtap!

Announcing the CAPO 2026 Innovation Award Winner: Sevtap Savas

Her scholarly work focuses on medical and social outcomes of cancer patients, including identifying prognostic markers, post-cancer lived experiences, and patient priorities.

Read more https://www.capo.ca/CAPO-Innovation-Award

05/04/2026

We are 5 years old! :)

Join us reviewing the past 5 year of activities by our group

We are proud of everything we have achieved, our work, and our members

Sound on!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUaDkdlnf4g



NL Support

1 like. "5th year anniversary for the Public Interest Group on Cancer!"

05/01/2026

New study using an online survey❤️

Have you ever considered being a patient or public partner in a health-related initiative in NL?

OR

Have you ever acted as a patient or public partner in a health-related initiative in NL?

AND

Are you 19 years of age & older?

Then, researchers at Memorial University would like to invite you to participate in this study

See further info and link to survey: https://strength-in-community.ca/2026/02/06/new-study-on-patient-partner-experience-is-recruiting/

Please note that for this study:
• Patient means that you are someone affected by a health issue. A caregiver or a family member of a person with a health issue is also called a patient.

• Public means that you are a member of the general public. You may or may not be a patient.

• Partner means that you are a part of a team. This team may be conducting a research study. Or, it may be designing and delivering an initiative, such as a program, planning session, consultation session, townhall, or public engagement event.

Other terms can also be used to define partners. For example, they may be called an advisor, council member, project team member, interest group member, or committee member.

• As a patient and public partner in the team, you work together with other team members. You may have equal rights or responsibilities for the work done together.

04/20/2026

May 2026 is an important date for us the Public Interest Group on Cancer, when we will be celebrating our 5th anniversary 💓

Since 2021, our Group has undersigned a significant number of accomplishments in public engagement, advocacy, and public outreach on cancer

This year brings an exciting project - ae are just about to start a research study on the vision of cancer in NL - stay tuned!

We are proud.
We are strong.
And we will go as far as we can.

We thank the wonderful staff at now-abolished Office of Public Engagement, NL Support, and colleagues at Discipline of Oncology for their support that has enabled us to form & achieve

04/15/2026

If you ever collaborated (or wanted to collaborate) with researchers in health related initiatives and studies,

we would like to invite you to our study aiming to understand

- your motivation
- barriers you experienced
- your recommendations

Info: https://shorturl.at/Bd3Q3

For more information about the study, you can contact the study PI:
Sevtap Savas, PhD. Memorial University 709 – 864 6507; savas{at}mun.ca

If you have any questions regarding your rights as a participant, you can contact the Health Ethics Research Board in St. John’s at 709-864 8871 or info{at}hrea.ca.

04/08/2026

Our lead, Sevtap, just offered her years of experience in cancer research and public engagement in an email to help address the information needs of the NL population on cancer & asked for government funding for public engagement

Without funding, public partnerships like ours that raise awareness about cancer, patient stories, and cancer care services available to residents cannot continue

Crossing our fingers. We do not wanna be disappointed any more. We should be able to come up with a good plan...



Government of Newfoundland and Labrador NL Support Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador Quality of Care NL Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University

04/05/2026

April is Daffodil month

Listen to Dr. Melanie Seal talking about patient-centered cancer in

Her compassion and clarity are unmatched - we need more leaders and healthcare providers like Dr. Seal to speak and empower us by improving our understanding 💓

Dr. Seal is a medical oncologist and a leader at Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador and NL Health Services

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1iPJMM1ng4aITceF8PqPaO?si=TBjNSX7DTjueMfyQ0mdQTQ&nd=1&dlsi=2ec669dc9e194463

Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University

Public Interest Group on Cancer Research · Episode

03/08/2026

Our Lead, Sevtap Savas, was featured in this Canadian Cancer Research Alliance release among other women leaders in cancer research in Canada

03/05/2026

***This is a message from Sevtap, our lead***

I would like to be very clear that if you develop colorectal or any other type of cancer, please do not blame yourself.

It is not your fault, as I think that nobody works to get cancer.

BUT, systems are failing us by not informing us, by not helping us prevent it, early detect it, treat us equitably, and better support us during the cancer journey

-------------------------

We are all at risk of developing cancer

Some of us are at higher risk of cancer due to various reasons

What are they?

-genetics

-age (as our age increases, cancer risk increases)

-access to healthcare

-our environmental conditions, including occupational places

-infections

-life style factors (diet, exercise, etc.)

-lack of knowledge etc.

Some of these things we cannot change, like our age but we can reduce our risk as much as possible by arming ourselves with knowledge

Knowledge about:

-risk factors

-cancer screening programs

-family history

-our body and changes in our body

AND by taking action

-------------------------

Do not trust all knowledge out there

Influencers, anti-science folks, or random folks on the social media will not have your best interest in their mind all the time

Find trustable resources for knowledge

Talk to your doctor if you have one:

-tell them about your family's medical history, your age, your symptoms

-ask them about what you can do to reduce your cancer risk and how to early detect it via screening programs

-ask them about how to best treat if you are diagnosed with it

After all, if you and your doctor do not look after you, WHO WILL?

-------------------------

I understand if you are scared to find out that you may be sick

I was there. Many of us have been.

You are not alone and you can do it. Seriously.

Sometimes, this step is the line between health and death

TAKE THAT STEP for a BETTER VERSION of YOU

----------------------------

In , we have a wonderful Provincial Cancer Care Program this program has smoking cessation, cervical, colon, and breast screening program lots of support programs too

Take a look: cancercare.easternhealth.ca

Tell others about this program too

I wish you well informed days when you can take full charge of your own health and wellbeing, not cancer

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada – but the earlier it’s found, the better the chances of treatment and survival.

Symptoms often only appear once a tumour has grown into surrounding tissues and organs.

That’s why it’s important to pay attention to changes in your body and know what signs to look for.💛

Read our blog to learn more about colorectal cancer: https://bit.ly/3N68Z4n