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Deb Maskens

@debmaskens.bsky.social

Cancer patient advocate. Canadian. Interested in patient involvement in cancer research, evidence-based advocacy, shared decision making globally. #cansky #oncsky #kcsm #kidneycancer #shareddecisionmaking

548 Followers  |  691 Following  |  144 Posts  |  Joined: 07.11.2024
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Posts by Deb Maskens (@debmaskens.bsky.social)

That third point. Amazing that it has to be said, but yes. In an era of #shareddecisionmaking, patient preferences require a thoughtful discussion of patient goals, expectations, risk tolerances. What matters most to you? #GU26

27.02.2026 12:56 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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At the German Cancer Congress last week, Karin Kastrati presented about the CARE1 Pragmatic Clinical Trial. We’re proud to support this important work. #KidneyCancer

25.02.2026 12:16 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Really an excellent example of how country-specific data within the @ikccorg.bsky.social Global Patient Survey can identify variances, gaps, and work to address unmet needs for patients with #kidneycancer

I hear Canada made a similar presentation recently at Canadian research meeting. Good to hear

23.02.2026 23:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Especially in the US where DTC (Direct to Consumer) drug marketing is rampant... one of only 2 countries where DTC is legal. The other one, surprisingly... is NZ.

19.02.2026 19:11 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Kudos to @htaiorg.bsky.social and the Patient and Citizen Involvement group (PCIG), book editors and the many contributors. This is quite the comprehensive volume on #HTA with many global perspectives.
#patientengagement
#healthtechnologyassessment
#globalhealth

05.02.2026 20:56 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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New open access book β€œPatient Involvement in Health Technology Assessment” has just been published (Jan 2026) on link.springer.com/book/10.1007.... @htaiorg.bsky.social @ippin.bsky.social

29.01.2026 17:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Couldn't stomach listening to speech. But loved this:

β€œOur stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland, so Iceland’s already cost us a lot of money,” he said.

23.01.2026 13:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Carney claps back after Trump says "Canada lives because of the US”
YouTube video by Global News Carney claps back after Trump says "Canada lives because of the US”

"Canada thrives because We Are Canadian". 🍁 πŸ’ͺ

22.01.2026 21:14 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
PM Mark Carney speaks at World Economic Forum in Davos – January 20, 2026
YouTube video by cpac PM Mark Carney speaks at World Economic Forum in Davos – January 20, 2026

The Mark Carney Davos speech that everyone is talking about: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uStu...

The speech that rang around the world.

#MarkCarney
#Davos
#Canada

20.01.2026 19:40 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

What should I be doing?
Keep going!
One step at a time.
And definitely celebrate the wins along the way -- they balance out other moments of uncertainty.
#cansky #stage4

01.01.2026 16:03 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Brilliant. "Not bravery. Not optimism. Familiarity. Learning the terrain well enough that fear no longer had the upper hand"

Thank you for sharing.
#cansky #survivorship #oncsky

29.12.2025 12:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'd like to leave the cancer behind. Period.
#cansky
#survivorship
#hope

28.12.2025 02:13 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This is important. Please share.

"What do Ontario NDP, Liberal and Green MPPs have in common? Pharmacare...

...This morning, we sent a letter to the Premier and Minister Jones calling on our province to join the national plan for birth control and diabetes."

#OnPoli #OnHealth

04.12.2025 01:58 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Fantastic work to improve standards for Patient Reported Outcomes, QoL across #clinicaltrials for all types of #cancer. Toolkit will be welcomed by patient advocates globally.

We can and must do better for patients than "well tolerated". Two words that carry little meaning.
#oncsky #cansky

25.11.2025 15:47 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Please don't be ashamed. Some of us don't know we have hit a wall until we hit it (hard)... and then we have to step back.

You are human.
Thank you for sharing so openly.

20.11.2025 20:12 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Interesting study re reducing risk of #kidneycancer in general population and amongst higher risk groups. One more piece of prevention puzzle? So many confounding factors...dietary recall a big one IMHO.
#cansky

20.11.2025 14:39 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Laughing because I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!

End of year here is for holidays, family, charitable giving...

#cansky

20.11.2025 14:22 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We talk about survival,
Patients talk about life.
We must learn patients’ language…

20.11.2025 04:38 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

An important read from @thelancetoncol.bsky.social that will resonate with patient orgs and cancer patients and caregivers globally. Towards a more human-centred approach that allows for compassion, psychological support, dignity. Bravo!
#cansky #shareddecisionmaking
#Qol

04.11.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

They are no joke. I have tried though:

I fell over a small blind dog. I was his seeing eye human... the one who was supposed to avoid the curbs and hazards. Can't make this up. No ice. Just stumbled.

Dog was fine...

04.11.2025 14:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

All in for November as Fall Prevention Month! I tripped and fell 4 years ago, hit my head on sidewalk. Took me 6 months to drive again, $$$ in vision therapy, physiotherapy. Had no idea a simple fall could have such consequences!
#concussion

04.11.2025 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

IKCC kindly invites you to complete the survey by Friday, 7 November 2025. It takes less than three minutes. forms.office.com/Pages/Respon... @GlobalCCN_org (2/2)

03.11.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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LAST CHANCE TO PROVIDE YOUR OPINION. Following an event at #ESMO25 in Berlin, the Global Cancer Coalitions Network (GCCN) and Ipsen are running a survey on Shared Decision-Making in Oncology. (1/2)

03.11.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. Health disparities researchers fear what’s next The titles of more than 700 multi-year NIH grants have been changed this year, according to an analysis by Jeremy Berg, a former agency official

More for Dark Age 2.0...

Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...

"They are trying to make people afraid to use the word β€˜equity.’ They’re trying to make people afraid to use the term β€˜transgender.’"

29.10.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Congrats to @uiccofficial.bsky.social and 88 international authors for this new educational resource. Pleasure to join the panel today to represent cancer patients, advocates, charitable orgs. Moderated by the insightful @avisfavaro.bsky.social
#carrythefire
#princessmargaretfoundation
#Cancer

27.10.2025 22:50 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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So here's a response: use the postage-paid envelope (tape to their large envelope) and mail the whole thing back...at their expense.

If enough people did this, maybe, just maybe they would stop? Otherwise it all ends up in the landfill. Agree/disagree?

23.10.2025 21:38 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Socks, gloves, paper, pens, Christmas cards, solicitation letter

Socks, gloves, paper, pens, Christmas cards, solicitation letter

Anyone else want this unsolicited garbage to stop being sent in the mail? This from the "Cancer Research Society" in Ottawa. Huge envelope. Junk. Socks. Gloves. Returning it all. #cancer #fundraising
cancerresearchsociety.ca?gad_source=1...

23.10.2025 21:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

100% agree. And would add that helping a fellow patient is far more rewarding, more deeply meaningful than any presentation, any publication. (And yet those things are necessary to improve care for all patients, including the ones we never meet...) #cansky

17.10.2025 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Really look forward to further exploration of "intentional non-adherence" within the context of quality of life goals and RWE with oral therapies. Think we all accept that current HRQoL tools/data are not telling the full picture.
#kidneycancer

22.09.2025 19:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Beautiful post @lauraesfeller.bsky.social -- "hope when I needed it most".

100% sure you make him proud every day. Thank you for your advocacy and good work done in his memory to give others that spark of hope when they need it most. #kidneycancer #clinicaltrials

20.09.2025 21:59 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0