Patient & Family Education NewsPRINCESS MARGARET …...By Rob Milne BSc MEd, Education Research Analyst, Survivorship and Patient Education, ELLICSR ... cessation form to fill out

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PAT I E N T S , FA M I L I E S , S TA F F

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IN THIS ISSUE

Smoking Cessation Programs at Princess Margaret

The 14th annual Gerald Kirsh Humanitarian Awards celebrates The Princess Margaret’s culture of compassionate care

Wills & Power of Attorney

Patient & Family Education NewsP R I N C E S S M A R G A R E T C A N C E R C E N T R E

Your Learning Matters - Survey from Cancer Care OntarioWere you happy with the education you got at Princess Margaret? Did you miss any key information? Cancer Care Ontario and the Princess Margaret wants to hear from you!

Share your feedback in a survey that takes only 7-10 minutes to fill out. Find out more about the survey at http://fluidsurveys.com/s/princessmargaretcancercentre/

Smoking Cessation Programs at Princess MargaretBy Rob Milne BSc MEd, Education Research Analyst, Survivorship and Patient Education, ELLICSR

The benefits of quitting smoking are substantial and well known. Quitting tobacco (smoking and chewing) lowers the risk of developing certain cancers and many other diseases.

There are many benefits for people who have cancer when they quit using tobacco. It is very important that tobacco using patients who are getting or about to get treatment for cancer attempt to quit, even if it is only until they finish their cancer treatments. Recent research shows that stopping smoking before or during cancer treatment:

• increases the effectiveness of treatment

• lessens the side effects of treatment

• improves healing after treatment

• lowers the chance of cancer coming back

These benefits are experienced by patients even if they only manage to quit during the time they are getting treatment.

To help patients quit, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has started a smoking cessation program. The smoking cessation program at Princess Margaret is available to anyone with an Ontario health card, including patients, their family and friends, and even hospital staff.

New patients at Princess Margaret are given a smoking cessation form to fill out at their first appointment. This form asks the patient if they currently use tobacco, and if so, whether they are willing to quit smoking in the next month. If a patient is interested in trying to quit, a health care professional will offer a referral to a community agency:

• The Canadian Cancer Society’s Smoker’s Helpline will call patients, provide counselling, and link them to other resources in their home community. Find more information about the Smoker’s Helpline at www.smokershelpline.ca or call 1-877-513-5333.

• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) runs a dedicated Nicotine Dependence Clinic that provides in-class sessions and prescribes nicotine replacement therapies. Find more information about this program at www.nicotinedependenceclinic.com.

Every year, staff and volunteers at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre are nominated for their exemplary service by patients and their families for The Gerald Kirsh Humanitarian Awards. The 14th annual celebration was held on November 24, 2014.

After having experienced exceptional care for their father and husband, Gerald, the Kirsh family decided to do something special to honour the many staff and volunteers who assisted them on their cancer journey. In collaboration with The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, the Kirsh family established The Gerald Kirsh Humanitarian Awards. Through the award’s nomination process, patients and families have the opportunity to thank staff and volunteers who provide outstanding, compassionate care.

Jennifer Lebow, daughter of Paula Kirsh, shared her gratitude with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre staff at the ceremony on behalf of the Kirsh family.

“These awards are very special to my family because they are both a tribute to my father, for whom the awards are named, and to the many

• The Princess Margaret Outpatient Pharmacists have all received advanced training and are prepared to meet with patients one-on-one to provide counselling as well as to prescribe nicotine replacement therapies if needed.

Patients may choose to be referred to the program or programs they prefer.

Patients who have taken advantage of these referrals have given very positive feedback, and many have managed to remain free of tobacco use throughout their cancer treatments.

Anyone can take advantage of this program, even though it is only offered to new patients during their first clinic visit at the moment. If you or someone that you know is interested in quitting tobacco, talk to any healthcare professional at Princess Margaret and ask them for a referral form.

amazing people at The Princess Margaret,” said Lebow. “During this time in the hospital, my father couldn’t help but notice the wonderful care he received and the pride everyone took in their work. My father recognized that what often helped the most was the care he received as much as, or even more so, than the technical skills that came with each person.”

The 14th annual Gerald Kirsh Humanitarian Awards celebrates The Princess Margaret’s culture of compassionate care

2014 Kirsh nominees and winners Harjot Singh Vohra (front, left) and Dr. Andre Schuh (front, right) with Mrs. Paula Kirsh (front, middle). (Photo: The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation).

Nominees demonstrate The Princess Margaret’s seven core values: caring, excellence, teamwork, innovation, leadership, integrity and respect in an exceptional manner. These values support The Princess Margaret’s ability to lead as one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world.

All staff members and volunteers at The Princess Margaret are eligible for nomination, including doctors, security guards, nurses and beyond.

Dr. Andre Schuh, Director of Clinical Services for Malignant Hematology, and Harjot Singh Vohra, Clinical Research Coordinator, were the proud recipients of this year’s awards.

Staff, patients and their families are invited to nominate any Princess Margaret Cancer Centre employee or volunteer for exemplary, compassionate care. Please visit www.thepmcf.ca/kirshawards to submit a nomination online, visit the Patient and Family Library at The Princess Margaret or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

What are Estate Planning, Wills, & Power of Attorney?By Aileen Trang MSc, Patient Education Research Analyst, ELLICSR

On Tuesday November 25, 2014, Eric N. Hoffstein, a partner at Minden Gross LLP, presented about Wills and Powers of Attorney at the Princess Margaret Patient Education Lunch & Learn.

Properly preparing your will and power of attorney can help save your loved ones from emotional and financial hardship in the event of critical illness or death.

WillsA will is a legally binding document that states exactly what should happen to your estate in the event of death.

Who should have a will? Everyone. Yet, only half of Canadians have a legal will. A will is the only legal document that ensures your affairs are managed

how you would like. In a will, you can declare who will take care of your children, parents, or other people you take care of, and how your assets should be distributed to your beneficiaries (the people who will receive your assets). Without a will, your assets will automatically go to your family, called next of kin. If you do not have any family, your assets will go to the government.

Distribution of your assets can get complicated if you have a joint account, common law status, American assets, or if you’d like to set up a trust fund. A trust fund is a financial tool where assets are set aside for people who are unable to manage their own finances like young children or people who are ill. Mr. Hoffstein suggests getting a lawyer’s help when writing your will.

Power of AttorneyAnother important part of estate planning is your power of attorney (POA). There are 2 types:

• Power of Attorney for Personal Care is a legal document that gives one or more people permission to make decisions about your personal care when you are unable to do so. This includes deciding where you will live, what you will eat, and the care you receive.

• Power of Attorney for Property is a legal document that gives one or more people permission to manage your finances and property. A power of attorney for property cannot make or revise a will on your behalf.

How to start your estate planning1. Get to know your family background well and

any family circumstances going on.

2. Create a detailed list of all your assets and liabilities.

3. Decide what you want to do with your assets. Do you have any obligations?

4. Decide who the beneficiaries are and what they will get.

5. Decide whether your beneficiaries will get the assets outright or in trust. If in trust, what are the conditions?

6. Choose an executor(s).

7. Draft your Will.

8. Draft your Power of Attorney for property and personal care.

Read more

The information contained in this newsletter is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. © University Health Network - Princess Margaret Hospital - Patient and Family Library - 2015

Patient & Survivorship Education Editor: Alaina Cyr, Patient Education Coordinator | Editorial Board: Nazek Abdelmutti, Daniela Fierini, Robin Forbes, Myann Marks, Lauren ShorserGraphic Artist: Kristin Foster | Please forward comments, questions or submissions to [email protected]

The Patient Education and Survivorship Programs are supported by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

“When you’ve had cancer, every day is a gift.”

“ Thanks to the groundbreaking research, the care of Dr. Messner and the compassion of the whole team at The Princess Margaret, I’m here today.”

See Chris Taylor’s story at www.thepmcf.ca

A gift left in your Will can save lives. If cancer is your cause, support one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. To learn more about planning your gift, call 416-946-2295 or email [email protected]













–Chris Taylor

It’s important to review your estate planning regularly as your life circumstances change. Beneficiaries and executors may move or pass away. You may get married or divorce. New people may join your family. There may be changes to your assets or wishes. Be sure to review your will and power of attorney regularly.

Thank you to Eric N. Hoffstein for an interesting and informative talk.

Thank you to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation for generously providing lunch and Starbucks for providing tea and coffee.

Watch this presentation and past Lunch & Learn talks online at http://theprincessmargaret.ca/LunchAndLearn

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Patient & Family Education NewsPRINCESS MARGARET …...By Rob Milne BSc MEd, Education Research Analyst, Survivorship and Patient Education, ELLICSR ... cessation form to fill out