Stay with me here while I bust up this keyboard as I’ve got something to say… wait a minute… “That’s the way love goes” by J Jackson won’t cut it… Better Now - Collective Soul, much “better”.

Who has the power?  If you aren’t sure about this answer we need to connect more… the answer is you do.  On the macro level I’ve got this core belief that “the people” are the ones who have the power.  What do i mean by the people?  Any individual or group that wants to influence change.  Power is as much perception and when you believe you have the power to influence change you are half way there, the biggest half too might I say.

Change, what would we like to change?  It’s a long list for me as I see opportunity for growth and improvement everywhere and of course the Canadian healthcare system is as prime an example as you’ll ever find.  Funny how those places that are often in need of change the most are designed to resist it at every corner.  So we have this system, that in my opinion needs to change, in fact there is so much change needed that I could, on a good day, make an argument that we should not bother but instead drop a bomb on it and start over.

During my active treatment I battled with the system so often cause I hated being second or twentieth priority, I lived in a system that was foremost interested in serving it self.  The ultimate example of a human creation that is out of control and self-serving.  Forget all the nightmares about the day the terminator’s turn on us, we’ve already got it and we’ve created this monster to serve the most precious element of life, our health.  What really pissed me off was when I was really sick, and I mean I could barely have a conversation with people my energy was so low yet this system of ours would push me, demand more when I really had none to give.  Yes it was humans who carried out these orders from “the system” but for some reason they were caught in a mind-trap unable to think for themselves far too often to see that I had dropped 30 pounds in a month, had no white count and that it probably would be uncomfortable, never mind dangerous, for me to sit in a shitty wheelchair for half an hour in a freezing cold hall way waiting for a the chest x-ray of the day.

Don’t confuse what I’m saying here with a hit on the humans in the system, while I do believe there needs to be a rethink about how they work within it, that is the primary responsibility of healthcare leadership, and there is a deficit of leadership, thus the system perpetuates itself.

“Courage to change the things I can, tolerance to handle the things I can’t and wisdom to know the difference”, so much insight there.  I try to do my part to help guide our too often misguided system in a direction that I feel passionate about.  My philosophy is simple… it should be about the patient, the person, each individual.  We should be empowering people, serving them and supporting them during their times of trial.

One of the ways I share my perspective is through the National Survivorship Working Group, an initiative of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.  We are a diverse group, which makes for great discussion, and our work is focused on the issue of survivorship care plans.  We are looking at plans and models for delivery, and we each bring our own bias to the table, which is natural and healthy really provided you are able to be open.

We met last week, and we were discussing models, which we had done in the past… we got down into the details and I shared one vision of mine which would be to deliver these care plans, to help survivors get back to good in all areas of their life after cancer.  It involved my philosophy, make it about the patient, their needs, wants, empower them to take control.  I didn’t know but there are even lots of studies supporting the power of patient empowerment… imagine!  My view is that Young Adult Cancer Canada is well positioned to be one mechanism for survivors to connect with a care plan, create it and get support as they implement it, live it so to speak.  I feel strongly that patients want to be empowered and supported to take control of their recovery as they rebuild from active treatment and the emotional wreck that is often created from dealing with cancer.  I was sharing this vision, passionately as always, I seem to know no other way when I get excited.  I finished my rambling thought about patient empowerment and a doc sitting at the table said “the revolution is coming.”

I immediately agreed with her, in a very good natured way I was encouraged to hear the word revolution honestly, as I think it is needed.  Within a second I realized she was not sharing my enthusiasm but instead appeared to be dreading the thought.  Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to approach her about that comment but believe me when I say, she was right!

The revolution is coming, and I am jacked to be a part of it. 

Not literally.  She’s so into sex she’s researching it… specifically as it relates to you and other young adults with cancer.  You can help…

A few years ago I had the opportunity to head to Camp Mak-a-dream in Montana to speak and be a peer facilitator.  It was an awesome experience where I made some great friends and met a ton of incredible people.  CMD host at least two programs for young adults with cancer that I’m aware of… you can check them out on Facebook.

One of the other facilitators there was Sage Bolte, a professional counsellor who focused on sexuality and intimacy.  I sat in on Sage’s full group presentation and it was awesome.  Her talk actually opened my eyes to seeing the difference between sex and intimacy in a way I never had before.  After Sage’s talk she fielded questions, and there were lots of questions… she openly addressed everything that came up, everything was fair game with Sage.  I could tell very quickly that if you had struggled with any kind of sex/intimacy challenge having someone as open, inviting and informed as Sage would be a huge benefit.

On a personal note Sage and I totally connected and have stayed friends since the CMD conference in 2006 and both our lives have changed dramatically with the growth of our families.  However even as a new Mom Sage has continued her work with and for young adults with cancer.  She is conducting research for her Ph.D and has a very important survey that will help her help more young adults as it relates to their sexuality and how our systems deal with that issue (as currently many of them don’t deal with it).

Hope you will take the time to help out this super cool lady who is making a big time effort to help us.

Hit the survey here - http://www.sexualselfandcancer.com or at https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/15326g3c37c

Keep up the great work Sage and thanks for your help everyone.

Always…
Live life. Love life.
Geoff