This session brings together clinical experts and women living with ovarian cancer to explore what person-centered care looks like at every stage of the cancer journey. From initial diagnosis to recurrence, learn how collaborative care, including oncologists, social workers, nurse navigators, and occupational therapists can improve outcomes and quality of life. Hear real stories that illustrate the impact of aligning medical treatment with personal values, goals, and lived experience. The session will also highlight practical resources and support available through Ovarian Cancer Canada. Most importantly, you’ll gain insight into how speaking up, asking questions, and engaging in decisions can help you feel more in control of your care.
This session was offered as part of Ovarian Cancer Canada's 2025 National Symposium.
Speaker biographies:
Renée Saurette has been working as a Counsellor and Art Therapist since 2015. She is trained through a through a trauma informed and attachment-based lens. In her role as Psychosocial Oncology Clinician at CancerCare Manitoba Renée supports patients and family members with managing anxiety, emotional regulation, coping with the unknown, grieving (loss of self, planned future, etc.), and adapting to new roles and realities. She works primarily with patients and families who have a gynecological cancer, and French-speaking patients. Renée also facilitates the Expressive Arts and Caregiver Support Groups at CancerCare Manitoba.
Karen Dobbin has been a physiotherapist for over 30 years, graduating with a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy and a Master’s of Science at the University of Manitoba with her graduate thesis research focusing on cancer rehabilitation. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, certified acupuncture provider, myofascial release therapist, cancer exercise practitioner, and an advanced cancer rehabilitation professional providing comprehensive cancer rehabilitation. Currently, Karen is working part-time at CancerCare Manitoba with funding provided by the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. Her personal diagnosis of breast cancer in 2009 and the following treatments provided her with a first-hand experience with cancer and she now passionately provides cancer rehabilitation and lymphedema management to improve the lives of those diagnosed with cancer.
Melissa McMahon was born and raised in Montreal Quebec and knew from a very young age that she was interested in two things; playing school and pretending she was performing surgery on a teddy bear. Growing up she became interested in all things medical, her appreciation for film and television allowed her to enjoy medical dramas such as ER. However, nursing would become her second career after working in food and hospitality for over a decade. Eventually becoming a nurse and later on, a nursing instructor. Working mainly in internal medicine and orthopedics and plastic surgery Melissa’s nearly ten years of experience was not enough to spare her from a stage 3 ovarian cancer diagnosis in June of 2023. Making the vow to herself, that if she survived, she would make great efforts in her lifetime for meaningful improvement for ovarian cancer statistics. This led her here today where; with honor and pride she has joined Ovarian Cancer Canada in the quest for the cure.
Christa Slatnik is a Nurse Practitioner with over 24 years’ experience working with gyne-oncology patients. As the only Gyne-Oncology Nurse Practitioner in Manitoba, Christa has the ability to offer a standardized compassionate approach to all gyne-oncology patients throughout the province as they are transitioning in different parts of their cancer journey, helping women transitioning to new diagnosis, treatment, maintenance therapy, surveillance, and palliative care. Christa also plays a role on the national level as Director of Nursing on GOC’s Board of Directors, is the Co-Chair for GOC’s National Nursing Committee, and is the CANO representative for the National BRCA Collaborative. Christa has also volunteered for the past 23 years as Co-Chair for Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Walk of Hope, and was a member of OCC’s National Prevention Taskforce. As a daughter who lost her mom to ovarian cancer, and now a Previvor herself, Christa is dedicated to increasing awareness and access to ovarian cancer prevention, early detection, and optimal treatment regimens to ensure all women affected by this disease live longer, better lives!