Practical Support During Cancer Treatment

A cancer diagnosis can greatly impact your financial situation. You can speak to a social worker to learn more about programs that can provide income replacement or help with expenses.  

For more information about some of these programs, please visit the following resources: 

• Wellspring
• Ontario Drug Benefit Program
• Trillium Drug Benefit Program provides medication coverage if you are under 65
• Employment Insurance (EI) provides sickness benefits to those who have been contributing
• Canadian Pension Plan disability benefits (CPP-D) provides a monthly payment for those unable to work because of a disability
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offers monthly payments and health benefits to those who are unable to work because of a disability 

If you have transportation challenges, the Canadian Cancer Society has two programs which may be able to help. If you are not physically able to use public transportation, you may be eligible for Wheel-trans. 

The Indigenous patient navigator is person who supports First Nation, Inuit and Metis patients coming to Toronto hospitals for cancer care.

The Indigenous patient navigator is available to:

• Support patients travelling to Toronto for cancer treatment
• Answer questions about what to expect with upcoming appointments or tests
• Introduce you to your health-care team
• Find more information about your cancer and treatment option
• Connect you with spiritual support, as well as support in the community
• Help with applications for financial and transportation services

Leonard Benoit is a nurse and the Indigenous patient navigator for cancer care in Toronto. He can be reached at [email protected] or 647-309-1794.

For an adolescent or an adult younger than 40, a cancer diagnosis can be an added stress on top of many other life stressors such as navigating school, employment, family, intimate relationships, peer groups, body image, sexuality or fertility.  

A diagnosis during this age may lead to feelings of isolation, as cancer is more common in older adulthood. As a younger person, you have unique needs and our team wants to ensure that your care needs are being managed. Our social workers can give you AYA-specific information about cancer and connect you to wellness and community programs, including peer support programs.  

If you are having difficulty with the psychological and emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, ask a member of our Cancer care team for a referral to our psychosocial team. Our psychiatrist and social worker can help you navigate concerns and process your experience.  

Social workers can help to address some of the following concerns:

• Taking time off school and work  
• Feelings of anxiety, stress, depression  
• Body image, sexuality and intimacy  
• Relationships, family and peer support  
• Talking to children about cancer  
• Parenting through cancer  
• Returning to school or work
• Finances  
• Finding community support and resources
• Caregiver support  
• Advanced care planning  
• Returning to your life after cancer treatment  

Advance care planning (ACP) is the process of planning for your future health-care. If you lose decision-making capacity, your advance care plan can guide your substitute decision maker to make treatment decisions in accordance with your wishes, values and beliefs.  

Advance care planning can involve thinking about what is important to you and what makes your life meaningful.  

Learn more about advance care planning.