Canadian Resources

Certain sections of Canada (check the website for availability in your area)

2-1-1 is the telephone number of a call center that offers information and provides referrals to health and human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Services vary from community to community.

Examples of service referrals include:

• Health services and support
• Financial and social assistance
• Housing and utility help
• Food assistance and meal programs
• Senior services and home care
• Government program assistance
• Parenting and family programs
• Disability support services
• Volunteer organizations
• Newcomer services
• Mental health support

Financially disadvantaged children in Canada who are facing an illness or disability

To support and enhance the physical and emotional well-being of disadvantaged children by providing products and services not otherwise provided by levels of government, insurance or other organizations. Note: Children are usually referred to the organization by a health or social care professional.

• Kids Life Line program strives to provide a necessary product or service to enhance a child’s quality of life, for example: durable medical equipment; limited in-home nursing care or therapy; required short term therapies; transportation; parking permits for hospital visits; medication not covered by government or insurance; dental procedures not covered by government or insurance; specialized or needed furniture and equipment
• Angel Hair for Kids provides wigs and hair loss solutions to financially disadvantaged children in Canada who have lost their hair due to a medical condition or treatment.  Hair donations accepted; see website for specific guidelines.

Children with cancer and their families, caregivers, young adults, healthcare professionals and researchers related to childhood cancer

To change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.

• Travel For Care Program offers financial assistance to eligible families for travel for childhood cancer treatment at medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada.  Patient must be diagnosed by age 18 and be under 21 and in active oncology treatment following a relapse, or enrolling in or currently participating in a clinical trial for active oncology treatment or a treatment innovation not available at their local institution. Applications must be submitted by a social worker or medical representative. 
• Childhood Cancer Treatment Journal is a free treatment organizer for families of childhood cancer to help parents keep track of important treatment information.
• Ambassadors Program involves family members and friends of a childhood cancer hero who choose to get more involved with ALSF.
• My Childhood Cancer: Survey Series aims to better understand how childhood cancer affects families.
• SuperSibs Programs aim to comfort, encourage and empower siblings during their family’s battle against childhood cancer and has a Grief & Loss Program that sends age-appropriate support to children ages 4-18 residing in the U.S. who have experienced the death of a sibling from childhood cancer.
• Offers a free guide for education professionals to help patients, their siblings, and classmates cope with a diagnosis or death in their school community.

Residents of British Columbia and the Yukon who have been diagnosed with cancer and are referred by a physician

To cover the spectrum of cancer care, from prevention and screening, to diagnosis, treatment, and through to rehabilitation; to reduce the incidence of cancer, to reduce the mortality rate of people with cancer, and to improve the quality of life of people living with cancer

• Operates five regional cancer centres, providing assessment and diagnostic services, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and supportive care
• Communities Oncology Network - a collaborative partnership with 19 community-based cancer centres, six community-based cancer services, and 10 consultative clinics across the province, in conjunction with the BC Cancer Agency’s five regional cancer centres. Supports appropriate delivery of patient care and support in 27 other community hospitals
• Pediatric Oncology Network enhances the community care of children and families by bringing multidisciplinary teams together to diagnose, manage, and follow-up pediatric patients with malignancies and blood disorders.
• Family Practice Oncology Network assists the BC Cancer Agency in its mandate to improve cancer control in the province, by providing support and connections to family physicians
• Surgical Oncology Network brings together surgeons from across BC, along with other healthcare professionals, to improve the quality of surgical oncology care
• Hereditary Cancer Program provides information, genetic counseling, and in some cases, genetic testing for individuals and families with a strong history of cancer. The HCP team includes genetic counselors, physicians, other health care providers and researchers with expertise in cancer and medical genetics

All Canadians in need of blood or blood products, including stem cells

To manage the blood and blood products supply for Canadians in a safe, secure and cost-effective manner; is a not-for-profit, charitable organization.

• Collects, tests and manufactures blood, blood components and stem cells
• Operates the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and Cord Blood Bank
• Provides diagnostic laboratory testing in some provinces
• Conducts research in transfusion and transplantation medicine nationally and internationally.

Cancer patients and caregivers in Canada

The eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer in Canada; is a national community-based organization of volunteers. Programs vary by location although cancer information and support services are available Canada-wide.

• Provides information about cancer and its treatment
• Limited, short-term assistance towards cancer-related transportation, at times through a volunteer driver program
• Limited, short-term assistance for accommodation expenses, and/or accommodation at a Canadian Cancer Society lodge
• In some provinces/territories, partnerships may be able to assist with access to symptom management drugs
• CancerConnection connects people living with cancer and caregivers with trained volunteers who offer encouragement and share ideas for coping – all from their unique perspective as someone who’s been there
• The online community, CancerConnection.ca, helps people who have cancer, cancer survivors and caregivers share their experiences and build supportive relationships
• Community Services Locator is a searchable database of over 4,000 cancer-related services and resources Canada-wide.

People diagnosed with cancer and their families in the U.S. and Canada

To provide one-on-one support to people undergoing treatment for cancer and their families.

• Provides training to individuals who have recovered from cancer so they can be matched with cancer patients currently undergoing a similar experience.

People affected by cancer in the U.S. and Canada

To provide support, education and hope to people affected by cancer; to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.

• Offers support through a network of more than 52 local affiliates and 175 locations
• Cancer Support Helpline® - offers resources and emotional support via phone or live chat, and is staffed by licensed mental health professionals
• MyLifeLine - create a private, personal webpage to help keep family and friends stay involved and informed
• Frankly Speaking About Cancer® – education series that provides trusted information on a variety of topics important to people affected by cancer; information is available in a variety of formats
• Virtual Home - resources to connect you to education, support, and action opportunities to enhance your health and well-being from the comfort of your computer
• Open to Options – provides general information about clinical trials, helps patients identify important questions about treatment options and decisions based upon personal needs
• CancerSupportSource® - a tool that assesses distress in key areas (such as sleep, nutrition, worry about the future) and provides referral and follow-up care for all patients
• Cancer Experience Registry - a unique online community that brings people impacted by cancer together to make their voices heard, connect with each other, share experiences, learn from and help others
• Cancer Transitions – an evidence-based programs for cancer survivors who have completed their treatment (in partnership with LIVESTRONG)
   

Children with cancer and their families in Canada

To create victories for Canadian children with cancer through investment in national, collaborative, lifesaving research, empowering education and community programs.

• Provides information and support for families of newly diagnosed children plus special events.
• Offers an emergency fund to children and young adult patients and families experiencing financial hardship. 
• Provides scholarships for childhood cancer survivors.
• Offers a benevolent fund to assist with funeral expenses.
   

Anyone seeking information or support for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

To help reduce suffering and to improve the care and quality of life of CML patients; to provide support, education and information on CML, current and emerging treatments, and research initiatives, for people living with CML and their families.

• Helps patients access medical, mental health and wellness professionals
• Organizes quarterly meetings for information sharing
• Disseminates the latest information through the website, newsletters and periodic targeted emails
• Organizes seminars to share information from medical conferences

Palliative care and hospice workers

To collaborate and work to improve the quality of life of patients with advanced life-threatening conditions and their families, by advancing hospice and palliative care programs, education, research, and favorable policies around the world.

• Works with individuals and organizations in developing multiple strategies targeted to raise awareness among the affiliates of the civil society and decision makers so that palliative care is provided and available to those individuals in need, to increase access and availability to analgesics and other medications, to increase the provision of services by adequately trained professionals and caregivers.

People diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and their loved ones, worldwide

To offer mutual support and encouragement to the Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia community and others with an interest in the disease.

• Provides information and educational programs that address patients' concerns
• Promotes and supports research leading to better treatments, and ultimately, a cure
• Hosts online forum, telephone and email lifeline network
• Offers support groups for patients, caregivers and families.

Financially-disadvantaged Canadians of all ages, with a wide variety of illnesses and health issues

To arrange free flights for Canadians who are in financial need and must travel to healthcare.

Children (ages 3-18+) with serious/chronic illness, siblings, as well as children of adult cancer patients

To ease the pain and trauma of children impacted by a serious illness while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually, and emotionally, by offering evidence-based martial arts therapy to kids. 

• Offers therapeutic martial arts classes through both virtual and in-person programming.
• All martial arts are non-contact and adapted to the needs of the child.
• Classes are offered globally and in multiple languages.

Patients, caregivers and those concerned with lymphoma in Canada

To empower lymphoma patients, and the lymphoma community, through education, support and research.

• Provides education and support for individuals with lymphoma and their support network
• Funds medical research to find a cure for lymphatic cancer
• Advocates for the best treatment and care for lymphoma patients
• Promotes further research and new treatments in lymphoma and rapid access to new developments.

Children with life-threatening medical conditions in Canada between the ages of 3 and 18 years

To grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

• Grants magical wishes to children in need from coast-to-coast
• Referrals can come from family, friends, medical personnel, teachers or social workers
• Immediate family may be included in the wish experience
• The child’s doctor will be contacted for authorization that the child meets the medical criteria for a wish
• The child cannot have received a prior wish from any wish-granting organization.

People with myeloma and their caregivers in Canada

To improve the lives of Canadians impacted by myeloma through awareness-building, educational efforts, advocacy, fostering an empowered myeloma community and support of clinical research so that a cure may be found.

• Providing educational resources to patients, families and caregivers
• Increasing awareness of the disease and its effects on the lives of patients and their families
• Facilitating access to new therapies, treatment options and healthcare resources
• Advancing clinical research and promoting access to new drug trials in Canada
• Empowering patients and caregivers through community engagement.

Pediatric blood cancer patients, their caregivers, and healthcare providers specializing in pediatric catastrophic diseases worldwide

To improve the survival rates of children with catastrophic illnesses worldwide, through the transfer of knowledge, technology and organizational skills.

• Program develops partnerships with medical institutions and fund-raising organizations to facilitate the involvement of other agencies and organizations to support key programs and the education of local personnel.
• Sharing knowledge and technology with the local governments, healthcare providers, and the private sector to increase the survival rates of children all across the globe.
• Pediatric specialty committed to caring for and supporting children with cancer regardless of the family’s financial or healthcare resources.
• Clinical trials designed to provide the best available care while answering important research questions.
• Hosts visiting fellows at its campus in Memphis, Tennessee.
• Partner sites in various countries. Please see the website for more details on locations.

Children and teens with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, New Zealand; teens ages 13-20 with medical issues worldwide and their teen siblings

Partners with experts to create programs that help brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

• Partner facilities offer in-hospital programs such as parties and entertainment
• Check with your child’s treatment center to see if a Starlight Comfort Kit is available (backpack filled with toys, games, books).

Children with cancer and their families, caregivers, survivors, health professionals

To improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families worldwide.

• Provides financial and emotional support to families throughout the United States during their child’s cancer treatment. Financial assistance includes transportation fund and emergency assistance fund (See website for specific financial eligibility criteria.)
• The "Beyond the Cure" Survivorship Program (BTC) provides the most up-to-date information on survivorship to help survivors and their families adapt and celebrate life after diagnosis
• Online community provides a private network for parents, caregivers and survivors of childhood cancer to connect, share and offer support to one another
• Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program awards college scholarships to childhood cancer survivors who have demonstrated the ability to overcome the difficult challenges of cancer with determination and motivation; call or see website for details
• Provides resources to healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of childhood cancer and the many challenges associated with survivorship
• Global Outreach Program partners with pharmaceutical companies to distribute donated cancer treatment drugs and medical supplies around the world.
   

All cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, health professionals in Canada

Wellspring provides a wide range of cancer support programs and services to meet the emotional, social, psychological and informational needs of people living with cancer and those who care for them.

• Canada-wide network of community-based centres, each offering programs and services, at no charge and without referral, to anyone, with any type of cancer, at any stage in their journey
• Provides information about helpful government programs as well as programs that assist in preparing people for returning to work
• Provides support through groups, short-term counseling and peer volunteers
• Offers online programs and self-paced learning webinars.