Patient As Teacher Orientation For Patient Teachers

Storyteller Toolkit

An informal meet-up for women who are at risk for hereditary breast or ovarian cancer, or have a BRCA gene mutation. The group meets at Aroma Espresso Bar in the Yonge-Eglinton Centre on the last Tuesday of every month from 7-9pm.

Contact:

Farah Heron, BRCA Chat Toronto Facilitator
Email: brcasupport@live.ca
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BRCA.ChatToronto/

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation offers peer support through a free and confidential helpline that can connect people with a member of their Breast Cancer Support Information Team comprised of individuals who have had breast cancer or a high-risk diagnosis. Members of the team can also work with a Health Librarian to research one’s diagnosis, concerns and questions, and provide one with up-to-date, credible, and accurate information.

Link: http://support.cbcf.org/get-support/breast-cancer-helpline/

A national non-profit organization dedicated to funding patient-focused breast cancer research. They offer relevant and credible breast cancer health information online, links to support services and resources across Canada, and ways to get involved to support the breast cancer cause of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Link: http://www.cbcf.org/central/Pages/default.aspx

Miriam Sweet Goldstein is the former Patient Navigation Specialist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. In that role, she developed a successful program guiding hundreds of breast-cancer patients as they made their way through the healthcare system.

As both a registered nurse and registered psychotherapist, Miriam has the expertise and training needed to assist patients as they navigate treatment options. Through her own breast-cancer diagnosis and recovery, she gained a unique insight that informs her approach in helping others.

Miriam believes that person-centered care is the best—and only—approach. She knows first-hand that many primary practitioners are limited in the time they can take to fully address their patients’ questions and needs. With her professional training, knowledge and personal experience, she helps patients bridge that gap.

https://cancercounselling.ca/

The centre based at St. Michael’s Hospital offers a complete range of assessment, diagnostic, and treatment services for women of all ages. The centre is dedicated to treatment and research, but is also focused on advancing breast cancer care and prevention.

http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/programs/breastcentre/index.php

A national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of colorectal cancer, supporting patients, and advocating on their behalf. They offer relevant and credible colorectal health information online, and run a blog that showcases patient stories, updates on research, and ways to get involved in events across Canada to support the colorectal cancer cause.

Link: https://www.colorectalcancercanada.com/

This group meets on the third Sunday of every month from 1-3pm in Auditorium 2 and 3 at North York General Hospital.

Contact:

Lei Gu, Facilitator
647-669-5346
gulei.nd@gmail.com

This group meets on the third Sunday of every month from 1-3pm in the ELLICSR: Health, Wellness, and Cancer Survivorship Centre at Toronto General Hospital.

Contact:

Shaniah Leduc, Medical Oncology Nurse
1-877-502-6566
shaniah@cancerinsight.ca

A program dedicated to empowering women to manage the effects that cancer and its treatments can have on their appearance. They offer free workshops at cancer care facilities and hospitals across Canada where women facing all types of cancer and all types of treatment are welcome. Regular workshops run each month at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Link: https://lgfb.ca/en/ and http://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/PatientsFamilies/Specialized_Program_Services/Pages/look_good_feel_better.aspx

A non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to all people who have had an ostomy surgical procedure, and their families, helping them to live life to the fullest through support, education, collaboration, and advocacy. They offer relevant and credible ostomy health information online, links to support services and resources across Canada, and ways to get involved.

Link: https://www.ostomycanada.ca/

A chapter of Ostomy Canada Society that operates an Ostomy Resource Centre and organizes events throughout the year. They also organize peer support sessions that meet monthly.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OstomyToronto/

Link: http://www.ostomytoronto.com/

Offers a host of online resources including relevant and credible cancer health information, resources for patients and families, and links to Toronto-based support groups and programs.

Link: http://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/PatientsFamilies/

Supports young adults concerned about or affected by breast cancer through education and research.

Link: https://rethinkbreastcancer.com

Assists breast cancer survivors and caregivers in the Chinese community to cope with emotional challenges and empowers them with educational information. The group meets at Markham South Welcome Centre, 7220 Kennedy Road, Unit 8, on bi-weekly Saturdays from 10am-12pm.

Contact:

Jenny Pu, Founder
Phone: 416-856-0988
Email: hpbcservices@hotmail.com

Offers a variety of supportive care programs, at no cost, for cancer patients and their families. Located in the heart of the Yonge and Bloor area of downtown Toronto, this centre is part of a network of Wellspring centres that provide emotional, psychological, restorative, and educational support programs and services. This location offers a breast cancer support group.

Link: https://wellspring.ca/downtown-toronto/

Offers a variety of supportive care programs, at no cost, for cancer patients and their families. Located on the campus of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Westerkirk House is part of a network of Wellspring centres that provide emotional, psychological, restorative, and educational support programs and services. This location offers a breast cancer support group.

Link: https://wellspring.ca/westerkirk/

Offers a large selection of wigs and hair alternatives for men, women, and children with cancer. They also provide special undergarments for mastectomy patients, as well as special purses for people with lymphedema or post-surgical edema.

Link: http://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/PatientsFamilies/Specialized_Program_Services/Wig_Salon_Accessories_Boutique/