Today would have been the 136th birthday of Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou, who invented the Pap test to help prevent cervical cancer. Women have greatly benefited from his work, and science continues to advance with newer tools for prevention such as HPV DNA screening.

I intimately understand the power of language and the related emotions when faced with a difficult diagnosis. This article echoes the words from Atul Gawande’s thoughtful book “Being Mortal”. It should be mandatory reading for every healthcare professional.

A step in the right direction. Now we need provincial commitment to fund HPV testing alongside Paps. The evidence is clear. It’s the right thing to do Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Why must bloodwork be done at 4am? I always understood vitals every few hours, but bloodwork? This was the case for both of my stays in hospital. #sleepishealing

I thought the same thing when I read the media around Alex’s “near remission”. It’s too soon to be clicking heels. I wish him the absolute best and hope he does achieve full remission for many years to come.

No words, just sadness today. #BravelikeGabe

Yes. What Gabe said...

Patients, family, caregivers. Check out this resource/tool developed by a physician to help patients understand their pathology reports. He’s looking for feedback. Feel free to share here. cc Patient Commando Patient Critical Co-op Patient Advisors Karla Van Kessel Robin McGee ++

Just saw this featured as a story on the morning news. An incredible step toward patient empowerment. Now let’s get the rest of the country on board! #patientrecords #patientempowerment #healthinformation Opal - An App to Empower Patients opalmedapps.com

This one hurts...

So this is dinner at London hospitals. It’s been 20h since I last ate and despite asking for food for more than 2h I’m told I “missed dinner”.Now I get a handful of cookies and a tuna sandwich from the stone age.Had to call family to bring food. C’mon London, you can do better.

“I felt like I was invisible all of the time," said Toprak. "I was talking, but nobody was hearing me.” One woman’s struggle to find a dx and care for her rare illness.It took a decade of searching.And she didn’t find the answers in Canada. apple.news/AEh8A4d3DS-OCU…

My Patient Almost Died From A Mistake I Made.I Apologized And It Changed My Life. “This patient taught me that admitting a mistake didn’t mean that I was a terrible doctor;in fact, it allowed me to connect in a way that actually made me better at my job.” apple.news/AhYjb1F8KTgqXF…

For the most part my cancer centre offers outstanding patient centred care, but the telephone triage line closes every day from 12pm-1pm. Why? Can we not stagger lunch breaks?! Sometimes an hour is a long time to wait for a patient in need.

Got my PICC line and checked into the all-inclusive today. The food is decent but the cocktails and weather are underwhelming. I’ll be here for a month with a mission to be cancer free in the new year. Go little T cells, go!

Where does one find an unlimited patient visitor policy as well as no patients hours?How about no parking payments for patients,family, and friends?What about a trundle bed set up in my room for times I need company?Just across the border,that’s where! This is #patientcentredcare

Guess who busted out 11 days early... #happyhappyjoyjoy #homesweethome

At: 4:18: As part of a look back at our most memorable interviews of 4:19, we'll re-air this conversation with Karla Van Kessel. #LdnOnt How regular pap testing failed this London mother | CBC News cbc.ca/news/canada/lo…

An interview I did with Global News, emphasizing women’s health advocacy and the importance of the HPV/Pap cotest. I also stressed the importance of access to personal health records and annual testing which didn’t make the cut. globalnews.ca/news/6394765/h…

Cervical cancer doesn’t have to be a thing. #CervicalCancer #HPVvaccine #cancercare #prevention