Teresa Tiano, Chair & Co-Founder, My Gut Feeling – Stomach Cancer Foundation of Canada
Biography
Teresa Tiano is a 13 1/2-year stomach cancer survivor. Teresa’s personal journey as a patient advocate began in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Stage 2B adenocarcinoma of the stomach. She was uncomfortable with the treatment plan initially offered and immediately researched and advocated in order to ensure she would receive the best possible care. As a result, she had a laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy followed by chemo and radiation, this was her second cancer diagnosis by the age of 45. Besides being a stomach cancer survivor, Teresa also has Lynch Syndrome, which puts her at high risk for many cancers. Teresa has battled and survived 9 cancer occurrences since 2002, including stomach cancer, T3 ureter cancer, and 7 different primary cancers of the bladder. She is currently in treatment for her 10th cancer.
At the time of her diagnosis and recovery there was very little in the way of support or awareness for stomach cancer – she wanted to change that. In 2016, Teresa co-founded My Gut Feeling – Stomach Cancer Foundation of Canada (MGF) with Ekaterina Kosyachkova, another young survivor, in order to support the stomach cancer patient community. My Gut Feeling is the first and only organization in Canada dedicated to stomach cancer.
Her volunteer work as the Chair of My Gut Feeling is her life’s work, because stomach cancer changed everything in her life. The Foundation has focussed on offering one-on-one support to patients, caregivers and survivors. Through monthly peer-to-peer support groups, annual education conferences and research My Gut Feeling has provided education, awareness and advocacy for those dealing with this cancer.
My Gut Feeling was the first patient advocacy organization to present a workshop at the International Gastric Cancer Congress in 2019 in Prague. The Foundation’s campaign,“The Power of Periwinkle” on Stomach Cancer Awareness Day (November 30th) has grown from a national to an international campaign, in collaboration with patient organizations world-wide. In 2023, The Foundation was also instrumental in securing $16.5M CAD in research funding for three different projects.
With over 30 years of experience in the non-for-profit world, and 16 years of governance, strategic and administrative experience in the cancer sector directly, Teresa combines her professional experience with her personal one. Through her patient advocacy as a member of international research projects and advisory boards and committees, she has brought the patient voice to the forefront. Teresa has spoken at national and international conferences, presented educational webinars, and been an author on various scientific papers.
Most importantly, her volunteer work with My Gut Feeling for the past 9 years has allowed her to give back and support patients, survivors and caregivers so that no-one has to go through this journey alone.
Summary of presentation
A diagnosis of gastric (stomach) cancer is a life-altering diagnosis, not only for the patient but also for their caregivers.
This cancer, in many cases, specifically in Europe and North and South America, is diagnosed at later stages and therefore patients are faced with daunting prognoses of low 5-year survival rates. For those that are diagnosed at earlier stages and surgery is an option, they are faced with life-long changes and issues.
Quality of life, whether it is in the short or long term is especially important to stomach cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. This cancer affects the organ that is responsible for digesting food and moving it to the small intestine. The stomach also temporarily stores food, breaks down food particles, and produces essential enzymes to digest food.
How do you live and live well without a stomach or with a stomach that has been taken over by cancer and metastasized to other organs? What does quality of life look like from the patient perspective?
By discussing the entire stomach cancer journey from initial diagnosis, coping through treatment, to long-term survivorship and even end of life, and focussing on nutrition, psychosocial effects, and supportive care this presentation will look at what quality of life means for a patient, survivor and caregiver.