Support Guide & Resources

This page provides information that can help you navigate some of the challenges faced by a sarcoma diagnosis, as well as contact information for support groups and counselling services.

Managing Mental Health Consequences

This section will help you understand the ways in which you can help mitigate stress and improve your mindset and quality of life.

Managing Your Treatment

This section will identify typical types of treatment for sarcoma and factors to consider when deciding where to get treatment.

How To Talk to Friends and Family

This section will help you navigate topics and mindsets you may find yourself facing when simultaneously processing your own experience and preparing to share it with others.

Self Care During Cancer

You can’t change cancer, but you can make decisions about how to care for yourself. Self-care is one way to “get back in the driver’s seat.” This section helps you learn how.

Tips & Tricks During Treatment

This section can help you deal with and mitigate the impact of chemo in your daily life, highlight what to pack for treatment, and offer some suggestions for keeping your diet as nutritious as possible.

The Flip Side: Being a Caregiver

This section highlights what to expect if you become a caregiver for a person with cancer, and tips for making sure that you take care of yourself as well.

When Someone You Know Has Cancer

You’re not alone if you don’t know what to say to someone who has cancer. This section can help you sensitively navigate these interactions.

Survivorship & Life After Treatment

This section will help describe some of the most common issues that cancer survivors may face and ways to help overcome them.

Find Support

The list below provides contact information for support groups, counselling services, and retreat locations across Canada.

Amputee Coalition of Canada - Support Programs

The Amputee Coalition of Canada currently offers two proven and copyrighted programs at no charge to Canadians who have suffered limb loss.

1-855-456-0267

info@amputes-amputee.org

It Starts With Me

Online resource introducing Canadians to clinical trials, including how to find a suitable clinical trial, what to know before applying, and what to expect as a result.

406-541-2036

Inspire.com – Soft Tissue Sarcoma Support Group

Inspire connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration. This group is specifically for those with a sarcoma diagnosis.

800-945-0381

team@inspire.com

Ability Online

Provides fee and secure monitored online support community linking children, youth and young adults with disabilities or long-term illness to other kids and adults who care. They offer monitored topical discussion threads, chat facilities, and games/activities. Based out of Etobicoke, Ontario, but open to those across Canada.

866-650-6207

information@abilityonline.org

Wellspring

Wellsprings is a network centre that provides emotional and psychological support free of charge to individuals and families living with cancer. Programs are offered across the country.

877-499-9904

Look Good… Feel Better

A free, two-hour hands-on workshop in which women whose appearance has been affected by cancer and cancer treatment learn how to look and feel a little more like themselves again. Located in over 100 hospital and cancer care facilities across Canada.

(905) 890-5161, 1-800-914-5665

Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

Connects Canadians to online services, information and resources for cancer control.

416-915-9222, 1-877-360-1665

info@partnershipagainstcancer.ca

Life Raft Group

Patient support organization for people with GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumour), as well as their family and friends.

Guelph, Ontario

1-855- LRG-GIST (1-855- 574-4478)

info@liferaftgroup.ca

Cancer Chat Canada

Professionally facilitated online group to support people affected by cancer.

Meet once per week for up to 90 minutes in a live “chat” room on the Internet. Most of the groups meet for 10-12 weeks.

Young Adult Cancer Canada

YACC’s Mission is to build a community of young adults diagnosed with cancer that provides information, support, skills and opportunity.

Based in St John’s, NFL. Second office in Halifax, NS

709-579-7325 or toll free at 1- 877-571-7325

connect@youngadultcancer.ca

Localife Edmonton - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

localifeedmonton@youngadultcancer.ca

Localife Calgary - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

localifecalgary@youngadultcancer.ca

Tom Baker Cancer Centre

The Tom Baker Cancer Centre is southern Alberta’s own tertiary cancer centre and a leader in innovative cancer research, prevention, treatment and care initiatives across the province and beyond. At this time they are offering online classes only.

1331 29 Street NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N2

403-521-3723 or toll free at 1-866-412-4222

acfonline@albertacancer.ca

Camp Quality Alberta

Camp Quality Alberta provides a week-long camping experience and year-round support program for children with cancer (receiving treatment or in remission) and their families.

When: Annually, during the summer

Camp Quality Alberta also accepts campers from British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

1-866-738-8011

info@campquality.org

Wellspring Calgary Supportive Care

Wellspring provides peer support from trained volunteers who are cancer survivors or have been caregivers to a person with cancer. A Chaplain in Residence is also available to meet with those who are interested. Wellspring supports, informs, and empowers those diagnosed with cancer by helping them address the fear, isolation, disruption, and practical problems cancer can bring to their lives.

#1404, Home Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3B 1G7

1-866-682-3135

info@wellspringcalgary.ca

British Columbia

Localife Victoria - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

Based out of Victoria, BC

localifevictoria@youngadultcancer.ca

Amputee Coalition of BC Society

The Amputee Coalition of BC Society is a not-for-profit society, originated and driven by amputees, dedicated to assisting people with limb loss along with their families and friends.

Unit 104 7728 128 St, P.O.Box 152 Surrey, BC V3W 1L3

778-800-9823

info@amputees.ca

Support Programs at BC Cancer Centre - Victoria

Support programs offer the information and support you need before treatment, during treatment and beyond.

2410 Lee Avenue Victoria, BC, V8R 6V5

250-519-5707

Support Programs at BC Cancer Centre - Prince George

Support programs offer the information and support you need before treatment, during treatment and beyond.

1215 Lethbridge Street Prince George, BC, V2M 7E9

250-645-7323 or toll free at 1-855-775-7300

Support Programs at BC Cancer Centre - Kelowna

These support programs offer the information and support you need before treatment, during treatment and beyond.

Kelowna (Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre) 399 Royal Avenue Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5L3

250-712-3900 or toll free at 1-888-563-7773

Support Programs at BC Cancer Centre - Vancouver

These support programs offer you the information and support you need before treatment, during treatment and beyond.

600 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6

1-800-663-3333

Localife Vancouver - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

Toll Free: 1-877-571-7325

localifevancouver@youngadultcancer.ca

Support Programs at BC Cancer Centre - Surrey

BC Cancer Centre - Surrey offers support programs to get the information you need, the support you need before treatment, during treatment and beyond.

13750 96th Avenue Surrey, BC, V3V 1Z2

604-930-4001

Abbotsford Cancer Centre

The Abbotsford Centre provides access to a full range of cancer services for the people of BC, including prevention, screening and early detection programs, research and education, and care and treatment. The Abbotsford Centre is integrated with the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and is able to use many of the services available at the hospital in addition to the specialized cancer services & community resources.

32900 Marshall Road Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 0C2

604-851-4710 or toll free at 1-877-547-3777

Vancouver Aboriginal Cancer Care

This program aims to build a community of support for individuals who receive a cancer diagnosis, their families and loved ones, as well as cancer survivors.

449 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1P5

604-255-9766

admin@vahs.life

Inspire Health – Integrative Cancer Care

Inspire Health’s mission is provide the best care possible for people living with a diagnosis of cancer by working together with patients, their family doctors and oncologists. No referral is required.

Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna

1-888-734-7125

Camp Goodtimes - BC

Camp Goodtimes is an internationally acclaimed and accredited summer recreation program that provides a unique summer experience for children and teens with cancer and their families.

565 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4J4

778-897-2377

Callanish

Callanish creates a healing space for people who have been irrevocably changed by cancer.

2277 West 10th Avenue Vancouver BC V6K 2J1, CANADA

604-732-0633

info@callanish.org

Localife Winnipeg - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba

localifewinnipeg@youngadultcancer.ca

Cancer Care Manitoba - Programs and Support Groups

Offers a variety of support groups and programs in and outside of Winnipeg for people with cancer and their loved ones.

675 McDermot Avenue

1-866-561-1026

pfssinquiry@cancercare.mb.ca

Camp Quality Manitoba

Camp Quality provides a week-long camping experience and year-round support program for children with cancer (receiving treatment or in remission) and their families.

1-866-738-8011

manitoba@campquality.org

Lifeart Prosthetics

Lifeart provides custom-made, silicone body prosthetics. Lifeart prostheses are made to suit an individual’s needs. They are soft, lightweight and colour-matched for maximum comfort and a natural look.

1926 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB

204-334-1206 or 1-877-607-7645

info@lifeartprosthetics.com

Get Better Together! by the Wellness Institute

Get Better Together! is a free six-week 2 ½ hour session each workshop, designed to help Manitobans with ongoing health conditions take control of their health.

1075 Leila Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba

204-632-3900

info@wellnessinstitute.ca

Camp Goodtime – New Brunswick

Camp Goodtime is a summer haven for New Brunswick children who have cancer or have had cancer. It brings them together for a week of fun, adventure and friendships in a safe, medically supervised environment. Camp Goodtime is open to children aged 9–16.

Camp Rotary on Grand Lake

1-800-639-0222

Localife St. John's - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led social activity-based program open to young adults who have received a cancer diagnosis, between the ages of 15 and 39.

Based in St John’s, Newfoundland

localifestjohns@youngadultcancer.ca

Sobeys Cancer Support Centre

As Nova Scotia’s most comprehensive cancer support facility, it offers programs and services to meet the emotional, social, and practical needs of people living with all types of cancer and those who care for them.

Halifax

Camp Goodtime – Nova Scotia

A week long summer camp for children living with, or in remission from, cancer or a brain tumour. All campers are invited to bring a buddy (sibling or friend) with them to camp.

When: Annually during the summer.

902-992-0510

campgoodtimes@ns.cancer.ca

Amputee Society of Ottawa

Group of amputees in the Ottawa region whose purpose is to visit other amputees and share information, experience, and hope and to provide other support suited to the needs of each individual.

Oncology Drug Access Navigators of Ontario (ODANO)

ODANO is a provincial organization founded to provide support, advocate for members, share resources and educate existing and new navigators in order to maximize the appropriate funding for all cancer patients.

Localife Ottawa - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

localifeottawa@youngadultcancer.ca

Localife Toronto - Young Adult Cancer Canada

Localife is a peer-led, activity-based group where young adult cancer survivors enjoy fun activities and connect with their survivor peers.

localifetoronto@youngadultcancer.ca

Wigs to Wellness

Program that creates personalized wigs for those that have been diagnosed with a medical condition or disease in which treatments will result in hair loss. Counseling and other options provided by a trained hairstylist who treats clients in a professional yet compassionate way. Also accepts wig donations.

Windsor

519-915-5696

wigstowellness@yahoo.ca

Gilda's Club Greater Toronto

Our inclusive program of support, education and social interaction for the “whole family”- adults, children and teens as well as their family and friends is offered in a home-like setting and provided FREE of charge to members.

Toronto

416-214-9898

info@gildasclubtoronto.org

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network was created by a group of Canadians concerned about cancer.

Ottawa, Ontario

613-898-1871

info@survivornet.ca

Nanny Angel Network

The Nanny Angel Network is a group of professional women comprised of professional child care providers and board members who generously volunteer their time to provide quality, compassionate relief childcare, at no cost to mothers diagnosed with cancer, in treatment or in the early stages of recovery.

Toronto and the surrounding area

416-730-0025

coordinator@nannyangelnetwork.com

Hospice Toronto

Hospice Toronto enables access to appropriate care and support for those with a serious illness and their caregivers when and where they need it, whoever they are.

416-364-1666

info@hospicetoronto.ca

Camp Quality Canada

Provides a week-long camping experience and year-round support program for children with cancer (receiving treatment or in remission) and their families.

When: Annually, during the summer

Based out of Ontario, but also provides services in Alberta and Manitoba

866-738-8011

info@campquality.org

Wellspring – Cancer Support

Programs and professional expertise will help you overcome the emotional, physical, functional and practical challenges you may be experiencing.

Downtown Toronto

1-877-499-9904

Prince Edward Island

Hope and Cope Pastoral Support Group

The guiding principal of this group is respect for one another’s individual life journey in illness.

When: First Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, March to November.

Summerside, Prince Edward Island

(902) 438-4374

Hope and Cope

Guided by professional staff, cancer-experienced volunteers provide psychosocial support and practical resources that help patients regain a sense of control and well-being, reduce isolation and restore hope.

Montreal

514-340-3616

hopecope@jgh.mcgill.ca

Cancer Fight Club

Aims to provide adolescent and young adult patients and survivors, caregivers, family and friends, instant access to resources and support services that help guide them through their cancer experience.

Ongoing

Montreal

514-340-3616 ext: 215

info@cancerfightclub.com

On the Tip of the Toes Foundation

The Mission of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation is to help young people living with cancer (aged 14-29) regain their well-being by facing the challenge of a therapeutic adventure expedition. Supervised by medical and outdoor experts, these expeditions also aim to change the image of cancer for the participants and the general public alike. It is possible to obtain information concerning application and expedition dates by phoning the organization or visit their Web site. An online application form is also available.

Ongoing

Chicoutimi

1-877-543-3048

info@tipoftoes.com

Community Oncology Program of Saskatchewan (COPS)

The primary goal of COPS is provide cancer patients with care, treatment and support in or near their home communities. COPS Centres have nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and social workers who are specially trained in providing cancer care.

1-866-577-6489

qcc@saskcancer.ca

Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan

Established in 2019, the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan (Foundation) is the fundraising partner of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (Agency). The development of an arms-length foundation allows the Agency to focus on their mandate of taking care of cancer patients.

Regina

844-735-5590

info@cancerfoundationsask.ca

Saskatoon & Regina Cancer Patient Lodge

The Regina and Saskatoon cancer patient lodges offer a home-away-from-home for patients and their companions. The lodges provide room and board in a supportive environment for out-of-town patients.

Saskatoon & Regina

639-625-2010

info@saskcancer.ca

Allan Blair Cancer Centre

Out-patient facility which provides consultation, investigation and treatment for cancer patients. The Centre provides counseling, emotional support, grief support, financial aid, nutrition education, and wigs and headwear.

Regina

639-625-2010

info@saskcancer.ca

Hope Cancer Help Centre Inc.

HOPE Cancer Help Centre Inc. is a grassroots Saskatoon registered charity that provides peer-to-peer support, and "fills the gaps" that other health or social agencies are often unable to address.

Saskatoon

306-955-4673

hopesaskatoon@sasktel.net

Synovial Sarcoma Survivors Network

Online support group for those dealing with synovial sarcoma

Smart Patients Sarcoma Group

Online support group for patients and caregivers dealing with sarcoma. Members share help, advice, and information about treatments, symptoms, and side effects.

Patients Like Me

Website that allows you to connect online with people living with sarcoma. Where: Based out of Cambridge, Mass, but open to everyone.

Ongoing

support@patientslikeme.com

Palliative Care Programs and Services Database

This website offers information on palliative care associations, drug/benefit programs, home care programs, residential hospices and other programs and services in Canada.

info@virtualhospice.ca

Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada

© Copyright Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada 2021. All rights reserved..
2 St. Clair Avenue West 18th Floor Toronto ON M4V 1L5

For more information: Telephone: 647-255-8123 Toll-Free: 1 800-487-1364
Email: info@sarcomacancer.ca