Cancer Care: Virtual Library

 

 While you are in treatment, please talk to a member of your care team if you are facing any challenges. This page is organized into several sections:

 

  • Cancer and Treatment Information: This part contains links to sites that have information regarding cancer types and their treatments.
  • Counseling & Wellbeing Resources: Practical information and links to find counseling, support and wellness & wellbeing resources and services. 
  • Legal & Transportation: Some helpful links to organizations that can subsidize the costs of legal fees and transportation. 
  • Medication Coverage & Income Support: Cancer diagnosis and treatment can at times be costly. Consider checking with any personal insurance policies for coverage information. Some mortgage insurance or life insurance policies may have clauses about a cancer diagnosis that could provide assistance as well. Additional information is available online at the Canadian Cancer Society's Financial Help page. 
Portrait of a woman with cancer and her doctor

Types of Cancer 

Learn about types of cancer from the Canadian Cancer Society. 

 

Treatment Information

Clinical Trials

Counselling Services

 

Employee Assistance Programs

Many employers provide their employees (and sometimes their family members) with access to counselling services. There is typically information available from Human Resources departments.

 

Workplace Benefits

Many employers offer access to social work, psychology, psychotherapy, or other services as part of their extended health benefits. These benefits may require a doctor’s referral. The details can be found in the benefits booklet.

 

Family Health Teams

For people who receive care from a family health team (such as Grandview Medical or Two Rivers Family Health Team) there is often a social worker or counselling available to provide support. Contact their office to learn more.

 

HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre

HopeSpring offers cancer care counselling to people experiencing cancer and their loved ones. Services can be requested by calling 519-742-4673 or completing a referral form that can be accessed from the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre Home Page.

 

Hospice of Waterloo Region

Individual and family counselling for people who are living with a life threatening illness. Groups and supports for bereavement are also provided.

 

Community Counseling Agencies

These agencies provide free counselling for people who receive Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program. They also offer some subsidized rates for people where the cost would be prohibitive.
 

PsychologyToday

PsychologyToday provides a listing of counsellors that offer service privately. Each will have their own rates, availability, and specializations.

 

Here 24/7

Here 24/7 (1-844-437-3247) - Crisis support and access to mental health and addiction services.

 

Bereavement Supports

Wellbeing and Support Services

 

Hopespring Cancer Support Centre

Hopespring offers cancer care counselling, peer groups, complimentary therapies (yoga, Tai Chi), educational programs, fabric caps/wigs/post-mastectomy camisoles, and many other supports to people whose lives are affected by cancer.

 

Wellspring

Wellspring (1-877-499-9904) offers informational, emotional support, meditation, workshops, practical, and other supports for people with cancer.

 

Hospice of Waterloo Region

Hospice of Waterloo Region (519-743-4114) provides a wide variety of programs and services in the community and at the Hospice Family Centre. These programs and services are designed to help and support individuals who are living with a life threatening illness, their families, and their care providers. These include volunteer visiting, day away programs, complimentary therapies, transportation, hair salon, legacy activities, counselling, and bereavement support.

 

Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society (1-888-939-3333) can help connect you to services and resources to meet your specific needs.

 

Cancer Specific Societies

 

Helpful Reading

 

Adults

Speaking with Children

Legal/Power of Attorney

 

  • Law Society Referral Service (1-855-947-5255) - The Law Society of Ontario’s referral service – connecting people looking for legal assistance to a lawyer or paralegal. Will provide the contact information for a free 30-minute consultation to help you determine your rights, options, and next steps.
  • Legal Aid Ontario (1-800-668-8258) - Support with criminal, mental health, and family legal issues.
  • Ontario Power of Attorney Kit - Instructions and forms to complete a Power of Attorney for Property and Personal Care provided by the Government of Ontario.
  • Pro Bono Ontario 1-855-255-7256 Free legal advice for people who can’t afford a lawyer for Power of Attorneys, consumer protection, housing, employment, or other civil issues.
  • Waterloo Region Community Legal Services 519-743-0254 Local community legal clinic provided support for tenancy issues, social assistance, employment, immigration, and more.

Local Transportation

 

  • MobilityPLUS (519-585-7597 x7345) - Small buses to transport people with impaired mobility within Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo. The fare is the same as Grand River Transit conventional busses.
  • Grand River Transit (519-585-7597) - Local transit system with a number of stops and routes near Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
  • Golden Triangle Taxi (519-621-1211) - Local taxi company serving Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo.
  • Kiwanis Transit - Small buses to transport people who are 65+, CNIB registered, physically disabled, developmentally disabled, or have a temporary disability that affects mobility who reside in Wellesley, Wilmot, or Woolwich townships. Tickets and monthly passes available.
  • Wheels of Hope (1-888-939-3333) - A Canadian Cancer Society program.
  • Hospice of Waterloo Region (519-743-4114) - Volunteer drivers help with transportation to medical appointments and hospice programs for palliative clients of Hospice of Waterloo Region.
  • Home at Last (519-664-1900) - Coordinating discharge from hospital inpatient or emergency department stays for older adults including transportation home, help getting settled (meals, picking up prescriptions and groceries), and connecting to further supports.
  • Medical Tax Credit – Canada Revenue Agency (1-800-959-8281) - Transportation costs to medical appointments may be eligible for a tax credit on your yearly tax return.

Medication Coverage

 

  • Innovicares - Drug discount card that works on the medications of specific manufacturers.
  • Extended Health Benefits - Your employer or that of a family member may provide coverage for prescription medications. On some occasions there are extra authorizations forms required for certain medications.
  • Trillium Drug Program - For households who spend more than about 4% of after-tax income on prescription drug costs Trillium can provide coverage of many medications.
  • Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program - For people who receive these social assistance programs drug coverage is included. Provide your pharmacy your health card.
  • OHIP+ - People 24 years and under who have OHIP coverage and are not covered by a private health plan have access to prescription drug coverage.
  • Non-Insured Health Benefits - For residents of Canada who are a First Nations person registered under the Indian Act, an Inuk recognized by an Inuit land claim organization, or a child less than 18 months whose parent is one of those may be eligible for medication coverage.
  • Medical Tax Credit – Canada Revenue Agency (1-800-959-8281) - Prescription medications and other costs associated with medical treatment (e.g., travel to appointments, etc.) may be eligible for a tax credit on your yearly tax return.

Income Support

 

 

  • Short/Long Term Disability - Many employers offer short or long-term disability benefits which can be accessed if an employee is unable to work.
  • Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits (1-800-206-7218) - Income support for people who are unable to work for medical reasons.
  • Employment Insurance Caregiver Benefits (1-800-206-7218) - Income support for people caring for someone who is critically ill or requiring end-of-life care.
  • Canada Pension Plan – Permanent Disability (1-800-277-9914) - Monthly payment for people under 65 who have contributed to CPP and have a mental or physical disability that regularly stops you from doing any type of substantially gainful work that is long-term and of indefinite duration, or likely to result in death.
  • Ontario Works (Cambridge Intake: 519-883-2100) - Income support and employment support for Ontario residents who do not have enough money to cover living expenses. Includes health benefits.
  • Ontario Disability Support Program (519-623-1230) - Income support and employment support for Ontario residents who have a disability and financial need. Includes health benefits.

Drug Access Navigator (DAN)
 

The primary goal of the drug access navigator is to remove the financial burden from the patient so they can focus on their health. DANs facilitate drug coverage by:

  • accessing government funding through programs such as the Exceptional Access Program (EAP) and Special Access Program (SAP)
  • accessing patient support programs (PAP) for compassionate drugs and assistance with private insurance co-pay coverage
  • finding other reimbursement means for unfunded drug costs

Our Oncology Program has a full-time DAN who can be reached Monday – Friday from 0730-1530h (7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) at 519-621-2333 x 2367.
 

The Medical Day Clinic is open Monday to Friday from 0900 - 1600h (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and can be reached by dialing 519-740-4940.