Join us on May 16th and 17th from 12-5pm EST, for our 3rd Colorectal Cancer Community Conference! By having those touched by the disease engage with healthcare professionals and other members of the community throughout every session, we hope to EDUCATE and EMPOWER.
Whether you are undergoing or beyond treatment, a loved one, caregiver and/or health professional, you are sure to find something that resonates with you!
Michael is the Senior Program Advisor, Sustainability and International Mint Liaison at the Royal Canadian Mint. Before joining the Mint, Michael worked in the forest products industry in BC and Gatineau, Quebec. He is a professional engineer and graduate of McGill University. He completed graduate studies at UBC in Vancouver and the MBA program at the University of Ottawa.
Michael is an avid Ottawa Senators fan and is proud to have completed 9 marathons. He enjoys swimming, biking, time with the family, winter hikes and warm sunny days on the dock by the lake at the cottage.
In April 2021 and only weeks prior to his 50th birthday, a colonoscopy revealed a large tumour in his sigmoid colon. Within a matter of days, surgeons developed an action plan and removed the cancer and affected lymph nodes. Due to the stage 3B diagnosis, he followed his oncologist recommendation of 6-months of chemotherapy (FOLFOX6). Michael was supported by a Cancer Coach as well as the Ottawa Colon Cancer Support Group - both extremely helpful resources for anybody recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
He is happy to report that he is back to running, swimming, and working, but also finding way of giving back by sharing his cancer journey, the importance of screening, and highlighting the incredible support available to those affected by the disease.
With a background in Social Work, Randy has dedicated most of his career in the employee health and wellness industry and most recently in suicide prevention. Since his stage 4 cancer diagnosis in March 2020, he has also volunteered much of his time in fundraising efforts for cancer in Alberta and participates on a number of committees dedicated to research into new treatments and clinical trials for cancer.
A husband and father of three, Randy has been sharing his cancer journey openly with his family, as well as friends through social media. He believes sharing his experiences will help others better understand the issues around cancer and the importance of advocating for yourself as a patient, to help maximize your potential for success.