Finding the Support You Need

If you have just learned that you have cancer, finding emotional support might not be the first thing you think to do. Many studies have shown that this is an especially critical time to reach out and begin developing a support network to help you handle the distress you are feeling. Make sure you ask your doctor or health care provider about professional support available to you through your cancer treatment centre.

 

Links to resources recommended by our facilitators

• Nucare Manual - Living Well: Essential skills for people affected by cancer.
• Sleeping Well Manual - I-CAN SLEEP: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Individuals with Insomnia and Cancer.
• Miscellaneous resources - other resources recommended by our facilitators.

Links to Cancer Resources

• Gilda’s Club offers virtual programming throughout Ontario, including support groups for people with cancer, their caregivers, and children/ youth who have a family member with cancer.
• COVID-19 and cancer: What you need to know
• CancerConnection is the Canadian Cancer Society’s online community for people with cancer and their caregivers. It is a safe place to connect, learn, and share your experiences with cancer.
• Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Helpline is a national, toll-free service. Our information specialists are trained professionals who can provide general answers to your questions about cancer or cancer prevention. 1-888-939-3333.
• Cancer Support Community Cancer Support Community - Online support groups in the U.S.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network

For people who are in treatment

• Coping with Cancer - BC Cancer Agency
• Guides for patients: How to Manage Your Symptoms - Cancer Care Ontario
• Exercise Guide 
• Sexual Health Guide 
• Plan Well Guide

For people who have been recently diagnosed with cancer

• Canadian Cancer Society Support Services
• Rethink Young Women's Network (RYWN) - A safe space for community and conversation amongst young women experiencing breast cancer.

For young adults living with cancer

• Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) - Information and support for young adult cancer survivors.
• Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project

For teens living with cancer

• GroupLoop - A safe place for teens touched by cancer to connect to find to find support, education and hope while dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

For children and young families living with cancer

• Cancer In My Family - Helps children explore their feelings, and to help parents support and stay connected to their children as they work their way through questions, emotions and understanding of this journey the entire family is on.
• RethinkBreastCancer - Offers support for young families recovering from breast cancer.
• children and young families

For cancer survivors

• Knight's Cabin - We are a national registered charity offering health behaviour change retreats for cancer survivors and their supporters.
• Cancer & Work - Information for people on the cancer journey, and their health care professionals and employers, to help them stay at and return to work.
• Cancer Survivorship Resources - by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

• Exercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well (EXCEL) - A study evaluating the effectiveness and benefits of improving access to exercise for under-served rural and remote Canadian cancer survivors, conducted by University of Calgary.

For family and friends

• Ontario Caregiver Organization - If you’re caring for someone and you need support or have care questions, call the 24/7 Ontario Caregiver Helpline: 1-833-416-2273 or use live chat Monday - Friday 7 am to 9 pm at ontariocaregiver.ca.
• GroupLoop - For teens impacted by cancer, both teens diagnosed with cancer and teens close to someone with cancer.
• Cancer In My Family - Helps children explore their feelings, and to help parents support and stay connected to their children as they work their way through questions, emotions and understanding of this journey the entire family is on.

Palliative Care

• Canadian Virtual Hospice - Tips, educational information, peer and professional support through discussion board chats, and articles about palliative and end-of-life care, loss and grief.
• LivingMyCulture.ca – Watch videos of people from 11 cultures sharing perspectives on living with advanced illness and grief.
• Indigenous Voices: Stories of serious illness and grief – Watch videos of First Nations, Inuit and Métis share stories of caring, traditions and healing.

Bereavement

• Cancer Support Community - A virtual community offering online bereavement support groups run by professional facilitators.
• MyGrief.ca – Work through grief and loss from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace.