Avenue and Ridley goes to the 2011 POGO Survivor Conference

This past weekend Avenue and Ridley’s humble blogger attended the first ever Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) conference for adult survivors of childhood cancer. Titled “Life After Childhood Cancer”, the conference took place at the magnificent Kingbridge Conference Centre and Institute in King City, Ontario and featured a wide range of speakers and survivors gathered in common cause. If you are unfamiliar with POGO as an organization, here is a description taken directly from their website:

The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) was founded in 1983 by a group of pediatric oncologists to champion childhood cancer care and control. As the representative voice of the childhood cancer community, POGO works to ensure that all of Ontario's children have equal access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment and required ancillary services. We also aim to make certain that Ontario's children have the greatest prospects for survival with an optimal quality of life.

The speakers at the conference were exceptional. There was a wide range of presenters, dealing with a wide range of topics including: nutrition, heart health, reproductive and sexual health, personal relationships, financial planning, insurance, fitness, and my personal favourite, memory loss due to cancer treatments. All were aimed at adults who have had childhood cancer and every presenter was exceptionally good at taking PhD or MD-speak and making it accessible to laypersons.

But as good as the speakers were; the best part of the weekend was the fellowship and friendship created with other cancer survivors. Often in life, a young cancer survivor can find themselves being the only person in their group, classroom, office, etc. who has been diagnosed with, and treated for cancer. At this conference however, we were all just one of many, and it was a welcome occasion to sit at a meal knowing every person at that table was a brother or sister survivor! Of course, some of the conference topics were very difficult, but with the friendships we quickly forged, and sense of common purpose we developed, even the most difficult session was made educational and empowering.

If you are interested in POGO or know of a youth cancer survivor, who is now in adulthood and would benefit from next year's conference, please keep an eye on the POGO website or ‘LIKE’ them on Facebook. POGO is an outstanding organization and is always looking to support more people. Thank you.