The consultation to develop a national strategy for cancer staging in Canada.

The lack of uniform recording of stage is a continued barrier to the success of cancer control activities. To review the role of staging, in 1997 the Canadian Committee on Cancer Staging (CCCS) of the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) formalised a national Consultation initiative with the input of Canadian oncology leaders and international experts on staging. A document was created from prior background work by the Committee and pre-circulated for comment.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning cancer screening in Canada.

The Advisory Committee on Cancer Control funded a one-day workshop to discuss the surveillance of knowledge, attitudes/beliefs and behaviours concerning early cancer detection in Canada. Participants considered the need for such national surveillance and related methodological issues. Some exploratory work has been conducted in this regard.

Enhancing rehabilitation through mutual aid: outreach to people with recent amputations.

Social workers in a rehabilitation hospital established an outreach service through which volunteers with previous amputations visited patients with recent amputations, acting as role models and offering emotional support and information. Volunteers received in-depth training and continued with their own system of support. Patients who were visited had strong positive responses to the program.