The History of Canadian Cancer Society

Canadian Cancer Society
Assignment #3
Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc77860759 \h 2History of the Organization PAGEREF _Toc77860760 \h 3Rationale behind the Choice of this Community Organization PAGEREF _Toc77860761 \h 3Theoretical Lenses PAGEREF _Toc77860762 \h 4Community Action PAGEREF _Toc77860763 \h 5Community Partnership PAGEREF _Toc77860764 \h 7Resources PAGEREF _Toc77860765 \h 9
Introduction
Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is a Toronto-based community organization whose mission is to eradicate cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients. The society has about11 provincial and territorial units, more than 600 community locations, and over 350,000 volunteers(CCS, 2021). Local efforts are coordinated through divisional officers. It achieves its mission through education, research, patient services, and advocacy for healthy public policy. CCS is committed to financing medical and behavioral research to help determine the best cancer intervention methods to reduce cancer risks and promote lifestyle changes (Macbeth, 2015). The organization also supports advanced training in clinical oncology by awarding fellowships. Itspublic education programs focus on the early detection and prevention of cancer. Additionally, CCS works with other health professionals to lobby legislatures regarding public policies needed to prevent cancer and promote health (Cerdeira, 2015). Patient services offered by the organization include cancer awareness, transportation to care facilities, networking programs that allow patients to interact with trained volunteers, and educational publications.
History of the Organization
The origin of CCM dates back to1929 when Saskatchewan Medical Association established Canada’s first cancer committee (Macbeth, 2015). The committee was formed to address the increasing concerns of lack of awareness of cancer signs. Physicians believed that victims consulted them when their cancer was advanced and had minimal chances of surviving (Cerdeira, 2015). Follow-up was done by cancer committees within other provincial medical associations. This led to the formation of the Canadian Medical Association’s National Study Committee in 1931 (CCS, 2021). In 1937, the National Study Committee recommended creating the CCS for cancer control(Cerdeira, 2015).
In 1947, the society formed the national Cancer Institute of Canada (a cancer research facility) through an agreement between the Canadian Cancer Society and the Federal Department of Health and Welfare (CCS, 2021). Since this agreement, the two organizations have worked together to achieve a common goal: - reduce cancer incidence and mortality, and improve the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. CCS has also funded cancer research across all disciplines and invested over $ 2 billion in research (Miller et al., 2012). Canadians have seen improvement through this investment. In 2017, CCS merged with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to eradicate effort duplication and help patients with breast cancer in Canada (CCS, 2021). Last year, the society amalgamated with Prostate Cancer Canada to further reduce duplication and help prostate cancer patients through education, research, advocacy, and support.
Rationale Behind the Choice of this Community Organization
The vision of CCS is to create a world where no Canadian fears cancer. I chose this community organization to investigate the rising cancer cases in Canada and determine what I can do to help cancer patients lead normal life. Currently, cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, and new cases are expected to be diagnosed. I am moved because many Canadians are dying from cancer, and others are enduring pain and suffering due to the disease. Unfortunately, mortality and morbidity rates are high because people seek medical attention when cancer has advanced. I want to promote cancer awareness and improve public understanding about cancer to seek medical attention in the early stages of cancer instead of waiting for it too late.
My motive is to help the public understand that early detection is the best protection for cancer. I intend to influence people to have regular tests known as screening exams for early diagnosis. Early diagnosis improves cancer outcomes through care provision at the earliest stage. In my view, this is a significant public health strategy in all settings. Today, people have developed a fear for cancer, and every time one hears that another person has been diagnosed with cancer, they tend to think that the patient is left with no option but death.
This fear has raised stigma among cancer patients. To some extent, people fear going for cancer screening because they do not know how to handle the problem if the test turns positive. I feel delighted when everyone comes out to support cancer patients and make them believe they can survive from it. I have heard many testimonies about cancer survivors, and I believe anyone can battle with it and win. I have the same vision as CCS, and this vision motivated me to choose the organization.
Theoretical Lenses
This research paper focuses on the organization’s actions towards eradicating cancer and improving the lives of cancer patients. I want to evaluate the role and position of CCS in helping Canadians living with cancer. Despite the efforts put by the organization to increase cancer awareness, some people still develop fear and are less likely to go for testing. Unlike many other cancer charities, this organization is more than a funder for research. It also runs programs that provide practical support to cancer patients and survivors through online resources, transportation, and telephone counseling.
The purpose of this research will be to explore why cancer patients develop fear briefly. Doing so helps the organization to influence the public to go for screening for early detection. This allows for quick intervention, which helps in achieving the society’s mission. Cerdeira (2015) defined CCS as the largest Canadian charitable fundraising organization for cancer research. It has a strict review process that ensures that funds collected are directed only to quality cancer research in the country. Basic cancer research helps us understand how cancer starts, grows, and spreads as well as ways to prevent and reduce cancer risks (Evans et al., 2013). It is all about cells and is performed in the lab where researchers focus on understanding the differences between normal cells and cancer cells.
Other than research, CCS encourages the public to choose healthy lifestyles and advocates for healthy environments. The organization’s efforts have been positively embraced because most schools in Canada have incorporated similar health information studies in their curriculum (Cerdeira, 2015). It also supports workshops established for cancer awareness and provides platforms for healthcare practitioners to expand their knowledge about cancer.
Community Action
Cancer treatment breakthroughs have attracted public attention and media coverage for a long time. Media articles have constantly spoken of various discoveries in cancer treatment, fuelling the community’s desire for a magical cure (Miller et al., 2012). But, unfortunately, scientists and researchers have not found a cure for cancer. Meanwhile, cancer incidents in Canada continue to rise, and estimates show that more cases and deaths will be reported in the future. These growing cases and projected incidents have called for immediate intervention.
According to Miller et al. (2012), dealing with this challenge requires a new approach. Researchers have estimated that at least one-third of all cancers are preve...