Hi, I'm Christine

I'm a published book author, patient & family advocate, and recent cancer widow.

Our Cancer(s) Story (coming soon)

Before Cancer

Find out more by checking my professional information at Career Cupid

Then, came cancers—two of them within four years, because my husband was always an over achiever.

During Cancer

First cancer treatable but activated his severe childhood abuse history. Second cancer diagnosed/treated during the Covid 19 pandemic. Low volume, extremely badly located cancer. Excruciating pain for nearly two years. Final five months in hospital trying everything (unsuccessfully) to manage the pain. Final four months paralyzed from the ribs down—and still in agony. Not enough community staff to bring him home.

To be honest, it was pretty much an extended sh*t show, even though we were very fortunate to know people in "high places" and a lot about the medical system. What on earth was it like for people who didn't have our advantages, we wondered??

The Mission

I'm on a mission. Well, a few, actually!

1) Share our story. Michael had a rarer type of lung cancer and was a survivor of severe childhood trauma that affected his cancer journeys in many ways. It also had a huge impact on my journeys as a caregiver. I was inspired to create a workshop for healthcare professionals to help support the suspected 1/3 of cancer patients who are survivors of abuse.

2) Improve systems for patients and families (because it's SO hard even for people who know what they're doing!) Getting a life-limiting diagnosis such as cancer is like being thrust into a life-changing exam when you have never taken a single class in the course. There is a huge learning curve and people need help.

3) Reduce stigma, increase awareness and funding for lung cancer. It kills far and away the most cancer patients every year worldwide, yet it receives reduced funding due to the (outdated) stigma of smoking.

After Cancer

I am a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at the Southeastern Ontario Cancer Centre where I use my (sometimes wonderful, sometimes traumatic) experiences as a caregiver and—my husband's experiences as a patient—to policy and education at the cancer centre as well as the broader Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

I am also a Patient and Family Advisor with the Queen's Family Health Team.

I am working on assisting Lung Cancer Canada in areas of advocacy and raising awareness about this still too-common disease. Nearly 1/4 of all cancer patients every year die of lung cancer. That is more than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer COMBINED. That is a terrible fact that needs improvement.