Finding Support

As you know, there's a wealth of support information available through the Internet, by phone or by mail. Yet no single source can answer all of your questions, so try to contact several for information and support on the topic you're researching.

Recommended Web Sites

Canadian Cancer Society - The Canadian Cancer Society web site contains a great variety of information for patients, caregivers and medical professionals.

www.cancer.ca

Look Good Feel Better - Look Good Feel Better is a free, national program to help women living with cancer improve their appearance and self-image by teaching beauty techniques to camouflage the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Look Good Feel Better is supported by us Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA) member companies. The Look Good Feel Better Program is endorsed by the Canadian Cancer Society.

www.lgfb.ca

WELLSPRING - WELLSPRING provides a comprehensive range of cancer support programs and services with the aim of meeting the emotional, social and informational needs of people living with cancer and their families. All of WELLSPRING's programs and services are provided at no cost and without referral.

www.wellspring.ca

CancerNet - National Cancer Institute (U.S.) - Information on treatment, prevention, detection and coping with effects of cancer, including NCI's PDQ® and CANCERLIT® databases.

cancernet.nci.nih.gov

American Cancer Society (ACS) - The American Cancer Society site has vast information on cancer.

www.cancer.org

Breast Cancer Research Initiative - Information from the Breast Cancer Institute.

www.breast.cancer.ca/intro.htm

Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services - Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services is a support and resource service linked to a network of support groups. Breast cancer survivors serve as trained volunteers to listen, to answer questions and clarify treatment options and to provide support to women with breast cancer, their families and friends.

www.willow.org

Lung Cancer Canada - Lung Cancer Canda is a charitable organization established in 2002 with the aim of providing awareness, support and education in Canada with respect to lung cancer.

www.lungcancercanada.ca

The Lung Association (homepage) - The Lung Association is Canada's premiere source for respiratory health information.

www.lung.ca

The Prostate Cancer Network - The Prostate Cancer Network site offers links and information for individuals interested in prostate cancer.

www.cpcn.org

Caregiver Information

More and more cancer patients are being cared for by family members or friends. Shorter hospital stays mean that cancer patients come home sooner, bringing complicated care needs that must be addressed. Being a caregiver requires emotional strength, energy for physical tasks and knowledge of technical/medical aspects of care. In addition to often being a rewarding experience, caregiving also is a demanding one.

Caregivers' tasks can include preparing meals, transporting patients to medical appointments or taking them on errands, helping with medication, speaking with doctors and dressing and bathing the patient.

Often, caregivers are the spouse, child, parent, relative or friend of the patient. With the cancer diagnosis and caregiving responsibilities come changes to some aspects of their relationship with the patient. To deal with these changes often is a great challenge for caregivers.

Meeting this challenge begins with trying to understand the patient's perspective. Ask questions and listen, never assuming you know how they feel about having cancer. Encourage independence, self-esteem and self-help. When you need to make decisions, do so with the patient whenever possible. And always remember how important dignity is to the patient.

Sometimes, caregivers might be overwhelmed or need a place to turn for information or support. Check the Support Information page for a list of caregiver support resources available on the Internet.