Press Releases
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SYSF APPLAUDS FAST PROGRAM: CANADA'S FIRST FAST-TRACK FOR BREAKTHROUGH CANCER DRUGS
TORONTO - October 7th, 2025
With the launch of the FAST program, Ontario becomes the first province in Canada to fast-track access to innovative, life-saving cancer drugs, cutting wait times by up to a full year.
MOVE FOR MELANOMA 2025: A MILESTONE YEAR WITH $500,000 RAISED SINCE 2019
TORONTO - September 24th, 2025
Save Your Skin Foundation is hosting the 7th annual Move for Melanoma event over the weekend of September 27 – 28, 2025.
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION TACKLES RISING SKIN CANCER RATES WITH YOUTH-FOCUSED PREVENTION CAMPAIGNS
VANCOUVER - April 30th, 2025
Initiatives include Youth Sun Safety Ambassadors, Free Public Sunscreen Dispensers, and Provincial Proclamations during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
STAGE IV MELANOMA PATIENT RAISING FUNDS FOR CANCER PATIENTS WITH 6TH ANNUAL 'A VIKING'S CHALLENGE' FROM MARCH 8 - 9, 2025
WINNIPEG - Mar 3rd, 2025
In partnership with Save Your Skin Foundation, this event invites participants to run or walk across frozen Lake Winnipeg—or locally—to raise funds for cancer patients
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION AND ALL.CAN CANADA APPLAUD THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT FOR $1.8 BILLION TO ADDRESS NEED FOR PRIMARY CARE TEAMS AND FAMILY DOCTORS
TORONTO - Jan 29th, 2025
Having access to a high performing primary care team is a key enabler for earlier cancer diagnosis and treatment as, other than emergency rooms, primary care is the entry point into more specialized parts of healthcare in Canada.
FROM CHAIR TO CARE: SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION & THE ONTARIO PROFESSIONAL HAIR STYLISTS ASSOCIATION UNITE FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL HAIR HEROES CHALLENGE TO INCREASE SKIN CANCER DETECTION
TORONTO - Jan 13th, 2025
The Hair Heroes Challenge is a social media campaign that aims to spread awareness and participation in STY-LIVES, an free program that teaches hairstylists how to check their clients’ scalps for potential skin cancer.
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SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION AND ALL.CAN CANADA APPLAUD CANADIAN PREMIERS' CALL FOR FASTER ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS FOLLOWING COF MEETING
TORONTO - Dec 26th, 2024
Save Your Skin Foundation and All.Can Canada commend the announcement by Canadian Premiers at the close of the Council of the Federation meeting on December 16th of their recognition of the urgent need to provide faster access to innovative, potentially life saving, medications for patients.
QUEBEC IS THE FIRST PROVINCE TO LIST OPDUALAG ON ITS PUBLIC DRUG PLAN FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADULT AND PEDIATRIC PATIENTS 12 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WITH UNRESECTABLE OR METASTATIC MELANOMA
OTTAWA - Sept 27th, 2024
In clinical trials OPDUALAGTM more than doubled median progression-free survival (mPFS) compared to nivolumab monotherapy, an established standard of care
MOVE FOR MELANOMA TEAMS UP WITH BLUE JAYS BASEBALL HOST JAMIE CAMPBELL TO RAISE FUNDS TO HELP CANADIAN CANCER PATIENTS REACH TREATMENT
TORONTO - Sept 23rd, 2024
Now in its 6th year, the event has raised over $425,000 for melanoma, non-melanoma and ocular melanoma patients across Canada.
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION LAUNCHES 40 FREE PUBLIC SUNSCREEN DISPENSERS ACROSS CANADA IN THIRD YEAR OF PILOT PROJECT
OTTAWA - June 5th, 2024
Sunscreen dispensers coming to 40 locations across 8 provinces to tackle rising skin cancer rates and provide equitable access to sunscreen.
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION & OPHA LAUNCH 2ND ANNUAL HAIR HEROES CHALLENGE
TORONTO - February 27th, 2024
The Hair Heroes Challenge is a social media campaign that aims to spread awareness about Sty-Lives, an initiative that teaches hairstylists and students how to check their client's scalps for skin cancer.
STAGE IV MELANOMA PATIENT RUNNING ACROSS LAKE WINNIPEG TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SKIN CANCER PATIENTS
PENTICTON - January 17th, 2024
From March 1-3, 2024, Save Your Skin Foundation will host the 5th annual A Viking's Challenge, a hybrid event where participants can pledge kilometers and run across Lake Winnipeg or participate virtually to raise money for skin cancer patients across Canada.
- 03
THE 5TH ANNUAL MOVE FOR MELANOMA AIMS TO RAISE $75,000 TO HELP CANADIAN SKIN CANCER PATIENTS REACH TREATMENT. TORONTO – September 1st, 2023 Move for Melanoma is an annual event happening on September 22-24, 2023 that encourages individuals to form teams and participate in the physical activity of their choice to help patients of melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular/uveal melanoma. This year, SYSF is proud to announce that the event is endorsed by Vancouver Canuck JT Miller. Canada-wide news release
PILOT PROJECT LAUNCHES 30 FREE PUBLIC SUNSCREEN DISPENSERS IN MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS CANADA TORONTO – June 1, 2023 This summer, 30 additional public sunscreen dispensers are coming to locations across Canada as part of a pilot project to fight skin cancer by making sunscreen more accessible. Canada-wide news release Penticton, BC press release New Westminster, BC press release Grand Bay-Westfield, AB press release New Brunswick Fairs and Exhibitions press release Riverview, NB press release Richmond, BC press release
STAGE IV MELANOMA PATIENT RUNNING ACROSS FROZEN LAKE WINNIPEG, AGAIN! WINNIPEG – Feb. 20, 2023 Save Your Skin Foundation’s ‘A Viking’s Challenge 4th Edition’ is here, and this year they’re back on the ice to raise funds for fellow melanoma and skin cancer patients once again In the very first ‘A Viking’s Challenge’ event in 2020, Chris Isfeld and his childhood friend Shawn Bjornsson completed a massive challenge. Three years after being diagnosed with late stage melanoma and becoming partially paralyzed from the waist down, Chris and Shawn raced each other 30km across frozen Lake Winnipeg and raised almost $20,000 for melanoma patients. Read more
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CANUCKS TO HOLD HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER NIGHT VANCOUVER – December 2, 2022 The Save Your Skin Foundation will receive special focus during the evening The Vancouver Canucks will host Hockey Fights Cancer night on Saturday, December 3 when the team takes on the Arizona Coyotes. This night culminates the month-long awareness campaign through the month of November that is supported by all 32 teams in the NHL and unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families. Together, we look to inspire hope and courage for those who are living with, going through, and moving past cancer. Read more
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION APPLAUDS HEALTH CANADA’S APPROVAL OF KEYTRUDA® (PEMBROLIZUMAB) AS ADJUVANT TREATMENT FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH STAGE IIB OR IIC MELANOMA FOLLOWING COMPLETE RESECTION TORONTO – Sept 13, 2022 Health Canada has granted approval for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric patients with stage IIB or IIC melanoma following complete resection. This approval is based on the results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-716 trial, which demonstrated significant improvement in recurrence-free survival. Read more
4TH ANNUAL MOVE FOR MELANOMA AIMS TO RAISE $75,000 TO HELP CANADIAN SKIN CANCER PATIENTS REACH TREATMENT VANCOUVER – Sept 6, 2022 Move For Melanoma has already reached over 30% of its 2022 goal to raise $75,000 to benefit melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and ocular melanoma patients The project has been powered by Save Your Skin Foundation and medical student Samuel Farag, with support from the municipalities of Summerside, PEI, Riverview, NB, Brooks, AB, and New Westminster, BC – as well as BC Cancer. Read more
PILOT PROJECT LAUNCHES FREE PUBLIC SUNSCREEN DISPENSERS IN MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS CANADA TORONTO – August 2, 2022 Multiple locations confirmed in the municipalities of Summerside, PEI, Riverview, NB, New Westminster, BC and Brooks, AB with more to come in other provinces this summer as part of a pilot project to fight skin cancer by making sunscreen more accessible. The project has been powered by Save Your Skin Foundation and medical student Samuel Farag, with support from the municipalities of Summerside, PEI, Riverview, NB, Brooks, AB, and New Westminster, BC – as well as BC Cancer. Canada-wide news release New Westminster, BC press release Summerside, PEI press release Riverview, NB press release
OCUMEL CANADA AND SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION APPLAUD HEALTH CANADA’S APPROVAL OF KIMMTRAK® (TEBENTAFUSP) FOR THE TREATMENT OF UNRESECTABLE OR METASTATIC UVEAL MELANOMA TORONTO – June 10, 2022 Earlier this week, Health Canada granted a Notice of Compliance (NOC) for KIMMTRAK® (tebentafusp) for the treatment of an aggressive form of ocular melanoma, closely following approvals in the United States, Australia, and the European Union. Thank you to all patients and their caregivers who shared their experience and feedback to this process. Now we hope that every province and territory will take swift steps to list this drug on their public formularies in order to make this therapy available to patients across Canada. Read more
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION RUNS LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE SKIN CANCER AWARENESS DURING MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH TORONTO – April 29, 2022 The Foundation has partnered with the Ontario Professional Hairstylist Association, 26 cities across Canada and the Global Melanoma Coalition to bring skin cancer prevention and detection campaigns to the public this year. May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. It is imperative that Canadians be reminded of the importance of sun safety as summer approaches. Read more
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MELANOMA SURVIVOR TO RUN 30KM ACROSS FROZEN LAKE WINNIPEG FOR A SECOND TIME WINNIPEG – February 9th, 2021 After raising almost $20,000 last year, Chris Isfeld is inviting friends to channel their inner Viking and join him by running any distance of their choice anywhere in Canada on March 6 – 7, 2021.
Last March, Chris Isfeld completed a massive challenge. Three years after being diagnosed with late stage melanoma and becoming partially paralyzed from the waist down, he ran 30km across frozen Lake Winnipeg and raised almost $20,000 for melanoma patients.
CANCER PATIENTS SUPPORT PREMIERS’ CALL FOR LONG OVERDUE INCREASE TO CANADA HEALTH TRANSFER
TORONTO – March 9th, 2021
Canadians can no longer afford to wait for the healthcare and services they desperately need and deserve
Cancer patients and their representatives from across Canada today applauded their provincial Premiers for calling on the Federal Government to increase Canada Health Transfer payments from the present 22% to 35% of health spending.
VANCOUVER – March 31st, 2021
Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) gathered and submitted patient feedback on the targeted therapy Braftovi™ in combination with Mektovi® for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation. SYSF also supported health care providers with their Clinician Input submissions for this treatment.
VANCOUVER – April 28th, 2021
Recent survey shows more than half of Canadians don’t realize even small amounts of sun exposure without protection can lead to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer
May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. It is imperative that Canadians be reminded of the importance of sun safety as summer approaches. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to force many Canadians to stay home, people are spending more time than usual outdoors without understanding the risks associated with sun exposure.
VANCOUVER – May 13th, 2021
Save Your Skin Foundation tackles rising skin cancer rates with Canada-wide awareness campaign during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Save Your Skin Founda;on (SYSF) has invited municipalities across the country to proclaim May ‘Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month’ to bring greater awareness to the dangerous disease.
EDMONTON – June 21st, 2021
After many years of providing support to melanoma patients and caregivers, the Alberta Society of Melanoma is merging with national organization Save Your Skin Foundation
Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) is pleased to announce the merge of Alberta Society of Melanoma with SYSF, effective June 21, 2021. The highest priority of both organizations has always been to provide support and up-to-date information to melanoma and skin cancer patients and caregivers.
MEDIA ADVISORY: SUN SAFETY TIPS FOR EXPECTED BC HEAT WAVE THIS WEEKEND
VANCOUVER – June 24th, 2021
VANCOUVER – Sept 7, 2021
Save Your Skin Foundation is hosting the 3rd annual MOVE FOR MELANOMA event with support from JT and Natalie Miller to benefit melanoma patients across Canada
Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) is hosting the 3rd annual MOVE FOR MELANOMA event over the weekend of September 25 – 26, 2021, this year with the support of Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller and his wife Natalie.
TORONTO – Nov 5th, 2021
Save Your Skin Foundation is pleased to announce that Health Canada has approved Libtayo® (cemiplimab) for patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (LaBCC), previously treated with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HHI).
TORONTO – Dec. 6, 2021
A new program has just launched to educate and support hairstylists and barbers to detect suspicious skin lesions on the ears, face, and scalp of their clients. Through the Sty-Lives program and video, participating salons and barbershops are provided with training materials and resources, and are taught how to detect suspicious spots.
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MOVE FOR MELANOMA EVENT RAISES $60,000 FOR CANADIAN MELANOMA PATIENTS VANCOUVER – Sept 30, 2020 Save Your Skin Foundation has just wrapped up 2nd annual MOVE FOR MELANOMA event with Alberta Society of Melanoma to benefit melanoma and skin cancer patients across Canada. MOVE FOR MELANOMA, which ran over the weekend of September 26 – 27, 2020, raised over $60,000, far beyond its original goal of $25,000. After meeting their initial goal early, the Foundation raised their goal to $50,000 with less than two weeks to go, and still exceeded it. Read More
MOVE FOR MELANOMA TO RAISE $25,000 FOR CANADIAN MELANOMA PATIENTS VANCOUVER – Sept 1, 2020 Save Your Skin Foundation is hosting the 2nd annual MOVE FOR MELANOMA event with Alberta Society of Melanoma to benefit melanoma and skin cancer patients across Canada.
This year, MOVE FOR MELANOMA aims to raise $25,000 by Monday, September 28. Survivors, patients, family members, friends and supporters from across Canada are helping the Foundation to reach that goal. 100% of funds raised from MOVE FOR MELANOMA will go directly to supporting melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer patients in the form of treatment costs, flights, accommodation, cab fare and other necessary but costly expenses incurred while receiving treatment. Read More
RESULTS PUBLISHED OF LONGEST AND LARGEST STUDY OF STAGE III MELANOMA PATIENTS RECEIVING TARGETED THERAPY FOR POST-SURGERY TREATMENT TORONTO, ONTARIO, June 19, 2020 Study shows five-year outcome of patients who received Canada’s only approved adjuvant treatment for stage III melanoma patients to prevent relapse after surgery. Save Your Skin Foundation is pleased to share the conclusions of a five-year study that followed 870 patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma who were treated with a combination therapy of Tafinlar (dabrafenib) plus Mekinist (trametinib) following the surgical removal of their cancer. The findings show that more than half of the patients in the study were alive and free of a relapse after five years. Read More
NEW SURVEY SHOWS 1 IN 4 CANADIANS DON’T UNDERSTAND DANGERS OF SUN EXPOSURE TORONTO – May 27, 2020 Save Your Skin Foundation urges Canadians to get informed about melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer. A recent survey shows there are serious knowledge and information gaps among Canadians about this cancer. Hayley Wickenheiser, six time Olympian and Hockey Hall of Famer, is supporting an educational campaign to bridge these gaps so that Canadians will better understand this potentially devastating skin cancer and those diagnosed will be adequately armed to make informed decisions. Melanoma should be taken very seriously, and the risks associated with melanoma should be understood by all Canadians, especially those who spend long hours outdoors, such as athletes and outdoor workers. According to results from a new survey2 more than half of Canadians (55%) do not realize a small amount of sun exposure without protection can lead to melanoma. Read More
ALL HANDS ON DECK NEEDED TO STOP DANGEROUS DISEASE TORONTO, ONTARIO, April 30, 2020 Save Your Skin Foundation is Creating a Healthier and More Sun Safe Canada During Melanoma Skin Cancer Awareness Month. As May marks both Melanoma Awareness Month and the beginning of summer, it is imperative that communities across Canada be reminded of the importance of sun safety at this time of year. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many Canadians to stay home, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t spending time outside. In fact, many have more time than usual to enjoy the outdoors, making sun safety education as relevant as ever. Read More
MISS LOWER MAINLAND TO RAISE AWARENESS OF SKIN DISORDERS AND SKIN CANCER AT MISS CANADA PAGEANT ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, February 13, 2020 Abbotsford’s Miss Lower Mainland Aman Merdha to compete in Miss Canada 2020 pageant on March 7, 2020 while raising awareness of skin cancer and sun safety Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) is pleased to announce that SYSF ambassador Aman Merdha will represent people touched by skin disorders and raise awareness of skin cancer and sun safety among youth at the Miss Canada 2020 pageant on March 7, 2020 in Laval, Quebec. After approaching SYSF to create a partnership dedicated to raising awareness of skin disorders and skin cancer, Aman won the title of Miss Lower Mainland in the Miss BC pageant in July 2019. Read More
FIRST BIOLOGIC TREATMENT FOR DEADLY TYPE OF SKIN CANCER GETS STRONG POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO BE COVERED BY PROVINCIAL HEALTH CARE TORONTO, ONTARIO, January 15, 2020 Save Your Skin Foundation Applauds the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review recommendation for Provincial Reimbursement of LibtayoTM for the treatment of Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC). When cSCC invades deeper layers of the skin or adjacent tissues, it is categorized as locally advanced. Once it spreads to other distant parts of the body, it is considered metastatic. The five-year survival rate for metastatic cSCC is just 34.4%. “As skin cancer prevalence continues to grow in Canada, patients and their loved ones need options for treatment of this potentially deadly disease,” says Kathy Barnard, skin cancer survivor and founder of Save Your Skin Foundation. “Squamous cell carcinoma is not ‘JUST’ skin cancer – it is a wake-up call to all Canadians to be vigilant about the risks of skin cancer and the serious nature of its membership to the most common type of cancer.” Read More
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255 CANADIAN CANCER PATIENTS SHARE THE MOST WASTEFUL AND INEFFICIENT PARTS OF THEIR CANCER CARE AND TREATMENT TORONTO, ONTARIO – September 20, 2019 New Canadian report breaks down patient-reported waste and inefficiency by province. The Canadian All.Can cancer initiative has this month published a major report of cancer care recommendations based on patient insights following a Canada-wide patient survey conducted last year that gathered insights from cancer patient. Of the 314 responses received, 255 of these were selected for a provincial analysis comparing results from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Read more
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION LAUNCHES INAUGURAL “MOVE FOR MELANOMA” CHALLENGE BENEFITING SKIN CANCER PATIENTS ACROSS CANADA VANCOUVER, BC – September 13, 2019 The unique physical activity challenge takes place across Canada starting today until September 16 Save Your Skin Foundation officially launches the inaugural 2019 “Move for Melanoma” Challenge today, benefiting skin cancer patients across Canada. “Skin cancer can happen to anyone. It’s caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight or tanning beds. We therefore wanted a campaign that was accessible to anyone”, explains Kathleen Barnard, President and Founder, Save Your Skin Foundation and stage four melanoma survivor. “People have come up with very creative ideas that work within their Challenge comfort zones. Read more
LAUNCH OF FREE, PUBLIC SUNSCREEN DISPENSERS IN KELOWNA BY MORGAN’S MOLE PATROL AND SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION KELOWNA, BC – August 6, 2019 Official Launch Event on Thurs, Aug 8th at 12pm at the Kelowna Visitor’s Centre with Save Your Skin Foundation, Morgan’s Mole Patrol and Kelowna City Councillor Thurs, Aug 8th will mark the official launch of two free, public sunscreen dispensers in key Kelowna hot spots. This project has been powered by Morgan’s Mole Patrol and Save Your Skin Foundation, with the support of the City of Kelowna and Tourism Kelowna, and Kelowna Golf & Country Club. Read more
NEW CANCER REPORT REVEALS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOVERNMENTS TO ‘DO THE RIGHT THING BY PATIENTS’ VANCOUVER – July 24, 2019 Canada part of 10-country survey that reveals inefficiencies in cancer care from patient perspective The international All.Can cancer initiative has today published a major report urging health officials, governments and decision-makers to ‘do the right thing by patients’ when developing cancer care plans and policies by taking patient insights into account in all aspects of treatment and care. Read more
PATIENT GROUPS CALL ON ALL FEDERAL PARTIES: STATE YOUR HEALTH COMMITMENTS FOR THE 2019 FEDERAL ELECTION OTTAWA – June 18, 2019 Patient groups are asking why Canada’s political Parties are not doing a better job at articulating a comprehensive approach to health care in the run up to the federal election. The federal Health Minister expressed support for the Hoskins Report on national pharmacare issued last week, however, while one piece of the puzzle, this report is not a comprehensive health care strategy. Read more
MAY IS MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH TORONTO – April 30, 2019 This year, for Melanoma Month, Save Your Skin Foundation will bring awareness to the following issues: • Skin cancer rates in Canada continue to rise, including melanoma, ocular melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancers. • Now is the time for increased preventative efforts and methods of early detection, particularly in the form of public education, public policy and built environments. • Too many gaps still exist in patient care, particularly around lack of resources for psychological support, lack of treatment for pre-stage IV patients and unequal access to life-saving treatments. Read more
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION APPLAUDS HEALTH CANADA’S NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE FOR LIBTAYO™ FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (CSCC) VANCOUVER – April 11, 2019 CSCC is the second most common form of skin cancer accounting for approximately one- fifth of all skin cancer cases in Canada. When CSCC invades deeper layers of the skin or adjacent tissues, it is categorized as locally advanced. Once it spreads to other distant parts of the body, it is considered metastatic. Prior to today’s announcement, in 2018 Libtayo™ received FDA approval under Priority Review and was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation status for advanced CSCC which was created to expedite the development and review of drugs that have the potential for substantial improvement in the treatment of serious or life-threatening conditions. Read more
LAUNCH OF OCUMEL CANADA OFFERS NEW HOPE FOR CANADIANS DIAGNOSED WITH RARE OCULAR MELANOMA TORONTO – January 15, 2019 Save Your Skin Foundation, a Canadian, patient-led, notfor-profit organization, is launching Ocumel Canada to increase awareness, advance treatment options, and improve patient outcomes for Canadians touched by Ocular Melanoma, a rare but aggressive form of melanoma. Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) has joined forces with ocular melanoma (OM) survivor and advocate Nigel Deacon, to create Ocumel Canada and improve OM patient care across Canada. Read more
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SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION APPLAUDS HEALTH CANADA APPROVAL OF FIRST ADJUVANT TREATMENT FOR MELANOMA TO PREVENT RELAPSE FOLLOWING SURGERY VANCOUVER – November 2, 2018 Health Canada approves Tafinlar® (dabrafenib) plus Mekinist® (trametinib) for the Adjuvant Treatment of Melanoma Patients (with BRAF V600 mutation). “Canadians with Stage III melanoma are in urgent need of access to new adjuvant therapeutic options to prevent recurrence – it’s unfair to expect them to just watch and wait for it to happen,” says Kathy Barnard, Founder of Save Your Skin Foundation. “We applaud Health Canada’s approval of this combination treatment for patients in this situation.” Read more
MAY IS MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH – AS SKIN CANCER RATES CONTINUE TO RISE ACROSS CANADA, SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION IS RAISING AWARENESS ON THE NEED FOR PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION AND PATIENT SUPPORT. TORONTO – April 30, 2018 This year, for Melanoma Month, Save Your Skin Foundation, a Canadian, patient-led, not-for-profit organization operating across Canada and internationally, is dedicating this month to the following initiatives: Raising public awareness of skin cancer, the need for preventative measures, and the importance of early detection. Supporting patients by offering assistance, providing helpful resources, and fighting for equal, timely access to treatment. Helping the emerging population of melanoma survivors to transition to life after cancer. Read more
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION APPLAUDS HEALTH CANADA’S APPROVAL OF BAVENCIO™ (AVELUMAB FOR INJECTION) FOR THE TREATMENT OF METASTATIC MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA (MCC) VANCOUVER – February 23, 2018 “Canadians living with metastatic MCC are in urgent need of access to new therapeutic options to treat their aggressive disease – they simply don’t have the luxury of time,” says Kathy Barnard, Founder of Save Your Skin Foundation. “We applaud Health Canada’s approval of BAVENCIO, which provides new hope for patients and their loved ones.” Read more
CANADIAN PATIENT GROUPS CALL ON FEDERAL HEALTH MINISTER TO HALT THE PROCESS EXAMINING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PATENTED MEDICINE REGULATIONS PENDING CONSTRUCTIVE CONSULTATIONS TORONTO – February 15, 2018 “Access, appropriate use and affordability are the pillars of our healthcare goals in Canada and we encourage comprehensive dialogue with patient organizations, industry and government to identify strategies and methods to maintain this balance,” said Louise Binder of Save Your Skin Foundation. “We can’t jeopardize our current standard of care, especially in this era of unprecedented medical innovation and breakthrough therapies.” Read more
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CONECTED WELCOMES THE ONTARIO PC PARTY’S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING HEALTHCARE FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND CALLS ON OTHER PARTIES TO MATCH THESE PLATFORM STATEMENTS TORONTO – November 30, 2017 “We recognize the importance of a sustainable, affordable health care system and also the importance of access to badly needed cancer treatments for people who would otherwise have terrible quality of life and a much shorter lifespan,” says Kathy Barnard, cancer survivor, Founder of Save Your Skin Foundation, and CONECTed steering committee member. “While innovative drugs are high priced, the provinces can negotiate risk sharing arrangements with the manufacturers that will save money in the drug budget…” Read more
DRUG PRICING POLICY SUMMIT 2017: MEASURING PROGRESS AND MAKING OUR MARK TORONTO – November 2017 Health System Transformation ~ Patients Share Vision and Engage Decision-Makers November 15 – 16, 2017 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Read more
CONECTED SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO CANCER TREATMENTS EDMONTON – October 18, 2017 With federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers meeting in Edmonton later this week, a Canadian cancer patient network is expressing its concern about the lack of transparency in the pan-Canadian review process that formalizes recommendations on the funding of cancer therapies on public drug plans. Read more
GLOBAL MELANOMA RESEARCH NETWORK, SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION AND PULSE INFOFRAME COLLABORATE TO AUGMENT COLLECTION OF PATIENT RELEVANT MELANOMA DATA VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA AND LONDON, ONTARIO – July 12, 2017 Partnership to Result in Real Time Data to Inform Policy Makers, Advance Research and Benefit Those Living with Melanoma “The ability to tap into existing innovative and broadly deployed melanoma registries is another example of how Save Your Skin Foundation is advocating for patients,” said Kathy Barnard, Save Your Skin Foundation Founder and President. “As a melanoma survivor, I know first-hand the challenges that all involved face. The Save Your Skin Foundation is committed to serving this field, in all facets, and ultimately to eliminating melanoma. Our relationship with the Global Melanoma Research Network and Pulse Infoframe supports and advances these commitments.” Read more
#CANCERCHANGED CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY ON SUNDAY, JUNE 4TH 2017 VANCOUVER – June 1, 2017 #CancerChanged is a series of documentary-style photo essays that bring to life the stories of Canadian men and women living with advanced cancers. The series aims to highlight hope and survivorship through the lens of award-winning Canadian photojournalists. The #CancerChanged campaign gives an authentic glimpse into the lives of people living longer with advanced cancers to foster hope, understanding and peer-to-peer support. It aims to drive awareness that cancer survival is changing from the time of diagnosis to the outcome of a person’s life. Read more
FEDERAL HEALTH MINISTER DR. JANE PHILPOTT’S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AT THE ECONOMIC CLUB OF CANADA ON “IMPROVING AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND APPROPRIATE USE OF DRUGS IN CANADA,” MAY WELL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON DRUG PRICES IN THE COUNTRY. OTTAWA – May 16, 2017 The many patient organizations participating in the Drug Pricing Policy Working Groups encourage relevant stakeholders to reconsider the way we measure the value of potential lifesaving drugs, enhance drug access in Canada and address high priced pharmaceuticals. Read more
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION LEADS PATIENT ADVOCACY INITIATIVE TO PUSH FOR EQUAL, TIMELY ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE NEW CANCER TREATMENTS VANCOUVER April 26, 2017 Thanks to the emergence of innovative new treatments, the last two years have marked a dramatic shift in how we look at cancer. These new treatments mean that cancer patients are not only seeing increased survival rates, but also experiencing a better quality of life while in treatment than was ever possible with standard therapies. The challenge with new treatments is ensuring that they are made accessible to patients who need them. The Save Your Skin Foundation’s advocacy initiatives are pushing for a more transparent, efficient, and agile approach to drug approval and provincial funding decisions. Read more
PATIENT ADVOCACY EXPERTS GATHER TO START A CONVERSATION ON CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY IN CANADA TORONTO – March 27, 2017 Inaugural patient summit brings together experts across oncology to collaborate on patient access to innovative cancer treatments and foster collaboration among patient groups and the medical community to improve patient outcomes Read more
JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN ACCESSING NEW LIFE-EXTENDING MEDICATION FOR ADVANCED METASTATIC LUNG, MELANOMA AND KIDNEY CANCER PATIENTS TORONTO – February 13, 2017 pCPA negotiations concluded. Provinces and Territories encouraged to quickly list. Read more
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IMPORTANT NEW CANCER TREATMENTS APPROVED BY HEALTH CANADA MARRED BY MAJOR PROVINCIAL REALITY DISCONNECT FOR PATIENTS TORONTO – November 22, 2016 Patient access to innovative new cancer treatments seriously limited by provincial funding recommendations across Canada Read more
HEALTH CANADA APPROVES FIRST-EVER COMBINATION OF TWO IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY AGENTS FOR METASTATIC MELANOMA VANCOUVER – October 31, 2016 Health Canada approves the OPDIVO® + YERVOY® regimen for previously untreated patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma Read more
ESMO (EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR MEDICAL ONCOLOGY) BREAKS RECORDS FOR ATTENDANCE AND THE QUALITY OF SCIENCE PRESENTED VANCOUVER – October 12, 2016 Save Your Skin Foundation attends ESMO 2016 in Copenhagen, Denmark, taking part in the annual congress impacting the practice of oncology across the globe Read more
CANADIANS WITH ADVANCED SKIN CANCER SHARE THEIR DISEASE JOURNEY IN EMPOWERING PHOTO SERIES: MELANOMA THROUGH MY LENS TORONTO – August 17, 2016 Campaign aims to raise awareness about different forms of the life-threatening skin cancer and its impact on patients and their families Read More
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY (SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH) WITH GREATER HOPE FOR ADVANCED MELANOMA SURVIVAL VANCOUVER – June 2, 2016 On the tenth anniversary of the Foundation, Cancer Survivors Day also marks a survivorship milestone for Save Your Skin Founder, Kathleen Barnard Read More
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION IS CREATING A HEALTHIER AND MORE SUN SAFE CANADA VANCOUVER – April 28, 2016 May is Melanoma Awareness Month and the Canadian Foundation will roll out initiatives across the country to build greater awareness of skin cancer Read More
SAVE YOUR SKIN FOUNDATION WANTS YOU TO KNOW IT’S #NOTJUSTSKINCANCER VANCOUVER – March 30, 2016 Tweets Inspired by Real Online Conversations Shed Light on Need for Greater Skin Cancer Awareness and Education Read More
TOGETHER, #WECANICAN CREATE AWARENESS OF #WORLDCANCERDAY ON FEBRUARY 4TH! VANCOUVER – February 4, 2016 Save Your Skin Foundation Participates in World Cancer Day #WeCanICan campaign, an Initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Read more
Together, we can make a difference.
Making awareness and education available is crucial. Since 2006, the Foundation has worked to raise awareness of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers focusing on education, prevention and the need for improved patient care.