Colorectal cancer researcher needs more than BC survivors – Keremeos Review



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Dr. Mary De Vera received a research grant to study one of the most common types of cancer in Canada, and the personal experience of its effects motivated her search for answers. Now all she needs is the experience of a little more colorectal cancer survivors, via an online survey.

Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Science at the University of British Columbia, De Vera is part of a team working to fill the information gap on colorectal cancer, which has not captured the attention of more types known to the disease.

After following treatment herself after being diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 36 and finding a shortage of information about the treatment, De Vera launched the patient survey, who has received more than 1,000 responses since the end of last year.

The survey is open to anyone who has ever had a diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer and is over 18 years old. Grants are exhausted at the end of March.

"There is a lot of information to help patients diagnosed with bad cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and other forms of cancer, but there is very little information readily available to people with colorectal cancer, "said De Vera. "We had a good response to the survey internationally, but with fewer than 200 Canadian respondents, we need more Canadians to help identify the type of information we need." patients need and the best way to get this information. "

The Canadian Cancer Society says colorectal cancer is the second most common type in Canada. The 27,000 people diagnosed in 2017 accounted for 13% of all new cancer cases. BC According to estimates by the Provincial Health Services Authority for 2018, 3,720 BC. residents would be diagnosed and 1,290 would die of colorectal cancer.

Vera was diagnosed shortly after the birth of her second daughter, with a promising career in medical research. She spent the next year five weeks of chemotherapy, two major surgeries and four months of chemotherapy.


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