Toronto Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN): Meeting with Patients: Their experiences and perspectives

Blogger's Note: patients views and opinions, not specific to any one particular disease but patients opinions and views of their healthcare system/s

                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Erella: 

"Just because I'm getting used to the symptoms doesn't mean things are okay."

Patient Destiny prepared this report summarizing
the findings of the December 7th ‘Meeting with
Patients’ in collaboration with the Toronto Central
LHIN. In January, Patient Destiny sent an initial report
to meeting participants which provided a complete
account of their comments and input. (newsletter - 6 patients views/opinions)

TCLHIN-PDR-ENG-web.pdf (application/pdf Object)

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Ontario Health Promotion (backgrounder) Meeting with Patients: Their Experiences and Perspectives Report

Ontario Health Promotion E-Bulletin, 20 April 2012 - OHPE Bulletin 750, Volume 2012, No. 750

Sent on Behalf of Camille Orridge, CEO, Toronto Central LHIN
Dear colleagues
There is growing understanding that involving patients, clients and caregivers as partners in their health care results in better health outcomes and a system that better serves us all.
We also know that there is often a divide between how health care is delivered and what patients and their families say they want.
Patient Destiny and the Toronto Central LHIN co-hosted a day with patients and caregivers who receive services in the Toronto Central LHIN on December 7, 2011.   The session brought together a cross-section of patients and caregivers to discuss their experiences, perspectives and ideas for improvement and change.
Participants talked about their fears, frustrations, gratitude and hopes.  Most of all, they offered inspiration and concrete ideas that will help us achieve a better health care experience for all.
This report Meeting with Patients: their experiences and perspectives  will help to inform health system planning in the Toronto Central LHIN, including the Toronto Central LHIN's 2012-14 Strategic Plan and health quality and equity initiatives.
We encourage you to incorporate the report into planning within your own sectors and organizations.  This report is relevant to all members of the health care system from administrators to health professionals to policy makers.  Please distribute it widely.
I would like to thank all of the individuals who participated in the Meeting with Patients and contributed to this report.  We would also like to recognize Patient Destiny for their vision and commitment to strengthening the patient's voice in health care.
Sincerely,
Camille Orridge
CEO, Toronto Central LHIN

abstract: Relationship among glycolytic phenotype, grade, and histological subtype in ovarian carcinoma - F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging

Relationship among glycolytic phenotype, grade, and histological subtype in ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Knowing the glycolytic phenotype of cancers is important for the appropriate use of F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging. This study was performed to determine the influence of tumor grade and histology on the glycolytic phenotype of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Only histopathologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer patients, with no other concurrent malignancies, who had F-18 FDG PET/CT either before or at least 3 months after any therapeutic intervention and had confirmed measurable disease of >1 cm were included. The F-18 FDG PET/CT uptake was determined as maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) at the pathologically confirmed site of disease or in the most active lesion. SUVmax was correlated to tumor grade and histology.

RESULTS:

Of 171 ovarian cancer patients, 42 referred for F-18 FDG PET/CT scans between January 2003 and December 2010 were eligible for inclusion. Histologic diagnosis most frequently revealed the serous subtype (n = 32) and grade III (n = 28) epithelial ovarian cancer. Overall, ovarian carcinomas exhibited a strong glycolytic phenotype (average SUVmax, 7.6 g/mL). The SUVmax averaged 7.76 g/mL, 6.76 g/mL, and 7.95 g/mL for Grade I, II, and III, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between tumor SUVmax and the histologic tumor grade (P = 0.74). No statistically significant differences were found between the tumor SUVmax of serous and endometrioid subtypes (P = 0.53). For other histology subtypes, no statistic evaluation was possible due to the low number of cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

The glycolytic phenotype in epithelial ovarian cancer, expressed as SUVmax, is strong. However, tumor FDG uptake is unrelated to tumor grade and histologic subtype implying that F-18 FDG PET/CT cannot be used to predict tumor aggressiveness or histology.

Fortitude: true stories of true grit - Malinda Teel - Google Books

Fortitude: true stories of true grit - Malinda Teel - Google Books

This powerful, inspirational book launched the publisher's "Virtue Victorious" series "FORTITUDE" stories feature ordinary people who have triumphed over extraordinary obstacles. Topics include wilderness and wartime survival, tough athletic challenges, domestic violence and grave illness. Two-hour Christian TV special was devoted to stories of editor and four other contributors. "Booklist" termed this book "compelling" and recommended it to libraries across the U.S. and Canada.

Fortitude:

true stories of true grit

Malinda Teel

Malinda P. TEEL Obituary: View Malinda TEEL's Obituary by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Malinda P. TEEL Obituary: View Malinda TEEL's Obituary by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


TEEL, Malinda P. MALINDA P. TEEL October 23, 1942 – April 16, 2012

Malinda P. Teel died on April 16, in the Grant Park home she helped renovate and where she lived for 34 years, following a proactive 7-year fight against ovarian cancer. She was a graduate of UGA's School of Social Work and Thiel College and retired from her third career as a therapist and social worker in 2010. Previously, she had been a skilled writer and editor and for several years ran a small moving company in New York City known as Huckleberry Truck. She was the editor of a collection of true stories, Fortitude, published in 2000. An enthusiastic Francophile, she pursued study of the French language throughout her life, including a year at the Sorbonne in Paris. Other interests included vegetable gardening and all aspects of food-cooking, nutrition, restaurants, etc. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Malinda was active as an advocate in the ovarian cancer community, and in 2010 was recognized by the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance for her support of its mission. Malinda was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is survived by her dear husband, Thomas F. McGowan, beloved son, Samuel F. McGowan and his fiancé Jordan Dieck and her brothers Martin, Steve and Parker Teel and their families. Everyone loved Malinda. She blessed us all with her amazing fortitude, her joy for life and her optimism for the future. A celebration of her life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ovarian Cancer Institute at Georgia Tech, http://ovariancancerinstitute.org/contributions.html. Goolsby Mortuary (404)588-0128.

abstract: Comparability and Biosimilarity

Conclusion: Given the knowledge gap under which biosimilars are developed, data to establish biosimilarity should go beyond a simple comparability exercise.


Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1185/03007995.2012.686902

abstract: End-of-life preferences in advanced cancer patients willing to discuss issues surrounding their terminal condition

End-of-life preferences in advanced cancer patients willing to discuss issues surrounding their terminal condition

Abstract: 

The aim of the present study is to describe end-of-life preferences of advanced cancer patients willing to talk about death issues. Eighty-eight advanced cancer patients were interviewed through End of Life Preferences Interview (ELPI), a 23-item interview covering a wide range of end-of-life care issues.