Find the educational and support tools you need right here.
Every day, we at Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada strive to bring HOPE to all those affected by a brain tumour. HOPE through support. HOPE through information & education. HOPE through research. HOPE for a cure.
This year, our webinar series will bring you HOPE through a variety of presentation topics and presenters, and we would like to thank Novocure for sponsoring the 2022 Webinar Series.
Who is this webinar series for?
This series is for anyone affected by a brain tumour (patients / survivors, caregivers / loved ones, and volunteers) or anyone interested to learn more about brain tumours (health care professionals and researchers).
Which topics will be covered this year?
Topics will include neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, research, care for the caregiver, anticipatory grief, the use of cannabis and CBD to treat symptoms, managing mental health and many personal stories of hope,.
We will chat with a variety of health care professionals including a neuro-oncologist, a neurosurgeon, researchers, social workers, nurses, survivors, and caregivers along the way.
Please make sure you are signed up for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada updates here to stay connected and updated about our upcoming webinars and / or if there are changes to the schedule.
Is registration free?
YES! All our virtual programs are FREE including our webinar series.
Once registered for a webinar, you will receive an email confirmation. Please make sure our emails are not going to your junk folder.
All webinar presentations are recorded and uploaded to the Online Videos page. If you register for a webinar but are unable to attend, you will receive a notice as to when the video is uploaded.
1:00 pm EST – 2:15 pm EST
Stories of transformation: How everyday people can make big impacts on Brain Tumour research and support programs from their estates – Ryan Fraser
Join one of Canada’s most engaging and funny estate specialists, author Ryan Fraser, for an entertaining and informative session. Ryan will share the real-life stories of how average Canadians have reduced or even eliminated tax from their estate and redirected the money to support causes like Brain Tumour research. You will learn how one lady danced home when she turned $1350 into a $300,000 impact, and how a farmer transformed his RRSP into a legacy of brain tumour research. Most importantly, you’ll learn important considerations for your own estate planning.
Personal Story of Hope – Jamie Bradstreet
For Jamie, life with a brain tumour is full of highs and lows, but he says the important thing is to carry on, keep a sense of humour, and ask for help when you need it. Diagnosed in 2012 at the age of 27 with a pineal tumour. Since then, Jamie has had four surgeries along with six weeks of radiation and now chemotherapy.
Jamie wants to share his story to let others affected by brain tumours know that Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is there to support them. Anyone leaving the hospital with a major scar on their head should know they are not alone, he says.
Jamie will also share why he has chosen to make a gift in his Will to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
1:00 pm EST – 2:15 pm EST
Emotions Matter Part 1: Supporting the Mental Health of Children Diagnosed with a Brain Tumour
Joining us for this webinar are Angela Yohan, Social Worker and David Brownstone, Professional Practice Lead & Social Worker from the Hospital for Sick Children.
Part 1: This interactive session will focus on how to support children’s mental health needs at various stages of the care journey. We will:
Part 2 of this webinar will be on Tuesday, December 6.
1:00 pm EST – 2:15 pm EST
Use of Tumour Treating Fields in the Management of Brain Tumours: A Canadian Perspective – Dr. David Roberge, Professor, Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Montreal
This is a conversation about the nature of tumour treating fields (Optune), the evidence for their use in treating malignant gliomas, the treatment process, the status of the technology in Canada as well as active research looking at new uses in brain tumours (primary and metastatic).
Personal Story of Hope – Todd Pappas
Diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2021 at the age of 58, Todd had many hobbies before his diagnosis including 24 years of martial arts, running, hiking and spending time at their cottage in northern Quebec. Todd wants to share how he is coping with integrating his hobbies since his diagnosis while being treated with tumour treating fields (Optune) and hopes that his experiences will help inform others about this type of treatment for Glioblastoma giving patients and their families a ray of hope!
1:00 pm EST – 2:15 pm EST
Inherited Factors That Predispose to Brain Cancer – Dr. Daniel Schramek, Principal Investigator, Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto, ON
2021 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s Research Grant Recipient
“Funding from Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada will allow us to take the next step in elucidating which mutations trigger the progression of relatively begin Low Grade Glioma (LGG) to very aggressive and often deadly glioblastoma (GB). As scientist but also as close relative of a LGG patient, I am very grateful to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the many donors who make this research possible.”
Dr. Schramek will share an update with us on his research. Low-grade glioma (LGG) are brain tumours that at first are relatively “benign” (low-grade brain tumour and not harmful) and tend to grow unrecognized over years and sometimes decades to a size that causes headaches and seizures. Unfortunately, almost all low-grade gliomas eventually progress to secondary high-grade glioblastoma and patients succumb their disease within a few months. Dr. Schramek will share his research on this topic
Personal Story of Hope – Jen Byvelds
Jen started experiencing visual changes along with headaches and migraines with visual auras while she was pregnant with her second child. Jen thought it was stress from being a new mom. Along with this, her mom had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Jen and her family moved to be closer to her and switched jobs but lost her mother two-weeks after they moved. Jen had a 3 and a 11-year-old at the time. After many different doctor and specialist appointments, Jen found out she had three brain tumours and since her diagnosed has lost all vision in her right eye.
1:00 pm EST – 2:15 pm EST
Emotions Matter Part 2: Mental Health of Caregivers of Children Diagnosed with a Brain Tumour
Joining us for this webinar are Angela Yohan, Social Worker and David Brownstone, Professional Practice Lead & Social Worker from the Hospital for Sick Children
Part 2 of the presentation will focus on supporting the mental health of caregivers through various stages of the care journey. We will:
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Novocure, Inc.
