Cancer and Work: Update on research, education and practice

Dr. Christine Maheu, associate professor at McGill University's Ingram School of Nursing and researcher at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, focuses on cancer survivorship needs such as returning to work and the fear of cancer recurrence. As co-director of Cancer and Work, Canada's leading bilingual website, she provides essential resources for people affected by cancer, healthcare professionals and employers. She also directs a pilot intervention project to facilitate the return to work after cancer. Recognized as an expert in the field of fear of cancer recurrence, she co-created FORT, an evidence-based intervention for managing fear of cancer recurrence and is working with partners to introduce it into routine care, as well as providing training, and with international partners to adapt and translate it into different languages and for different groups of cancer patients. The same work is also being done in the ongoing development of content for the Cancer and Work website (www.cancerandwork.ca).

Ms. Maureen Parkinson M.Ed. C.C.R.C, Vocational and Rehabilitation Counsellor, B.C. Cancer is a prominent figure in oncology, beginning her impactful journey in 1994 after her own cancer battle. As the Provincial Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor (VRC) at BC Cancer, she pioneered support for cancer patients' employment concerns. Her supervisory role at UBC from 2004 to 2019 focused on brain tumour patients' cognitive abilities and quality of life. In academia, she co-authored "Work and Cancer: A Canadian Perspective" in 2010. Dr. Parkinson's collaboration with Dr. Christine Maheu secured funding for the pan-Canadian Cancer and Work website in 2016, aiding survivors' return to work. Leading the development of the "Supporting Cancer Survivors' Return to Work for Primary Care Providers" course in 2022 showcased her dedication. Organizing the "Cancer, Work, and Employment Symposium" for May 2024, exemplifies her commitment to shaping policies supporting cancer survivors' employment. Concurrently, she continues her role as VRC, conducting workshops to empower stakeholders in facilitating survivors' return to work. M. Parkinson's multifaceted contributions underscore her unwavering commitment to enhancing vocational rehabilitation survivorship cancer care and shaping the landscape of cancer and work.