Message from the Chair, CCAN Newfoundland/Labrador
Welcome to CCAN Newfoundland/Labrador.
As chair of this provincial group, it can be said that I fill many roles. However, I wear two very distinctive hats.
For more than 13 years, I have served as chair of the Cancer Coalition for Alternative Medicine (commonly known as C-CAM), an organization I founded along with my late wife Carol.
Several years ago, C-CAM began working with the Canadian Cancer Action Network. Through time, this evolved into a natural partnership given the need to be proactive and advocate for integrated conventional and complementary treatments for cancer. At that time, I accepted the role of provincial CCAN chair with the intention of building a network of patient voices in the province to ensure patient issues relevant to residents of our beautiful province were raised, a role I continue to hold.
Through the existence of the Cancer Coalition for Alternative Medicine, CCAN Newfoundland/Labrador is evolving into a very “hands on” group with a growing presence in the province. Our combined focus is to provide cancer patients, families and caregivers with information (both holistically and conventionally) with an adopted mantra of “YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH.”
As a strong cancer patient advocate, I personally have appeared on television and have been a guest of radio dealing with issues pertaining to cancer care. I have been a guest speaker to cancer groups and with Memorial University ‘s School of Medicine , as well as other organizations throughout the province. My hope is that as CCAN Newfoundland/Labrador continues to grow and move our work forward in the province that our team of CCAN cancer patient representatives will expand as well.
In closing, I encourage you to reach out and contact CCAN if you are interested in making change happen for cancer patients in Newfoundland/Labrador.
Jeff Blackwood, Chair
