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Help Suzanne Aucoin
Update Sept. 20, 2006
Hello!! Wow what a chilly couple of days… looks like fall has arrived!!!
In the meantime, life has been very full and action packed. Last week I was back on to
full treatment and that went well. On Friday, I went to Chicago for a colon cancer
conference hosted by the Colon Cancer Alliance. This was my second conference
with them. I was happy to have three other Canadians attend this conference who
also are members of the Colon Cancer Resource and Action Network (the one I
created with Toni Codispoti). Anyhow, Chicago is an amazing city with great
architecture and vibrancy. The conference was informative and supportive. I was able
to meet with other patients, attain updates on treatments and network. Overall, I
have learned about an excellent thoracic surgeon in Pittsburgh who I am hoping is
going to ablate my 12 lung lesions. I need to send him my scans and medical records
for him to assess. As well, I am going to meet with a surgeon at Princess Margaret
Hospital to explore a liver re-section. I also learned that oxaliplatin (the first chemo
drug I was on and discontinued two years ago) shows to be effective after taking a
break from it. The third item to note is that treatment regimes can be differentiated.
This means some people are getting two months of treatment and then taking a break
for two months. I am considering mixing up my treatment schedule.
Moving on… I was at the OHIP appeal hearing on Monday in Toronto. My parents,
friends and reporters were there to support me. I was able to testify and felt a degree
of satisfaction in voicing my views, frustrations and challenges with OHIP. The tribunal
appeared to be sympathetic but I know that they are bound to strict rules and
regulations. The crux of the issue is where I received Erbitux. Both sides were in
agreement about the fact that I needed Erbitux. They will take months to deliberate
and come up with a decision. For now, I will be putting my charter claim of sueing the
government on hold. I will wait to see what OHIP does before I take that next step. I
was very pleased with the media coverage and feel that there are a few good options
in the works for the future to have my story told.
I am trying to get back to they gym and incorporate some rest time in between these
conferences, appointments and legal issue. There is a lot of work to be done to
consolidate the Colon Cancer Resource and Action Network. We are in the infancy
stage for our organization and want to make good decisions to build a solid foundation.
I am indebted to all of you for your continued support and strength
Suzanne Aucoin
Hello!! Wow what a chilly couple of days… looks like fall has arrived!!!
In the meantime, life has been very full and action packed. Last week I was back on to
full treatment and that went well. On Friday, I went to Chicago for a colon cancer
conference hosted by the Colon Cancer Alliance. This was my second conference
with them. I was happy to have three other Canadians attend this conference who
also are members of the Colon Cancer Resource and Action Network (the one I
created with Toni Codispoti). Anyhow, Chicago is an amazing city with great
architecture and vibrancy. The conference was informative and supportive. I was able
to meet with other patients, attain updates on treatments and network. Overall, I
have learned about an excellent thoracic surgeon in Pittsburgh who I am hoping is
going to ablate my 12 lung lesions. I need to send him my scans and medical records
for him to assess. As well, I am going to meet with a surgeon at Princess Margaret
Hospital to explore a liver re-section. I also learned that oxaliplatin (the first chemo
drug I was on and discontinued two years ago) shows to be effective after taking a
break from it. The third item to note is that treatment regimes can be differentiated.
This means some people are getting two months of treatment and then taking a break
for two months. I am considering mixing up my treatment schedule.
Moving on… I was at the OHIP appeal hearing on Monday in Toronto. My parents,
friends and reporters were there to support me. I was able to testify and felt a degree
of satisfaction in voicing my views, frustrations and challenges with OHIP. The tribunal
appeared to be sympathetic but I know that they are bound to strict rules and
regulations. The crux of the issue is where I received Erbitux. Both sides were in
agreement about the fact that I needed Erbitux. They will take months to deliberate
and come up with a decision. For now, I will be putting my charter claim of sueing the
government on hold. I will wait to see what OHIP does before I take that next step. I
was very pleased with the media coverage and feel that there are a few good options
in the works for the future to have my story told.
I am trying to get back to they gym and incorporate some rest time in between these
conferences, appointments and legal issue. There is a lot of work to be done to
consolidate the Colon Cancer Resource and Action Network. We are in the infancy
stage for our organization and want to make good decisions to build a solid foundation.
I am indebted to all of you for your continued support and strength
Suzanne Aucoin