Help and support resources for people affected by cancer

Cancer is a complex disease that is distressing for the people affected. A range of services are available for people with the disease and their loved ones to:

• reduce anxiety
• improve quality of life
• live better with the experience of the cancer
• achieve better health outcomes

The experience of cancer and cancer treatments can have repercussions on many areas of life. It can be associated with distress for both the person with cancer and their loved ones.

Detecting distress makes it possible to identify the unmet needs of a person with cancer and to determine appropriate interventions. If the problems go undetected, they can progress and become more severe.

A number of tools can be used to spot the problems or concerns of people affected by cancer. Problems can be related to physical, emotional or spiritual well-being. Depending on the problems and their level of severity, a more thorough assessment can be done in order to offer the most appropriate help.

Helplines and support services are available for people affected by cancer:

• Fondation québécoise du cancer
  • Info-cancer Hotline and Telephone peer matching, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
    Free and confidential
  • Email: infocancer@fqc.qc.ca
  • Email for people age 15‑39: cancer15‑39@fqc.qc.ca
  • Virtual library (in French only)
• Canadian Cancer Society
  • Toll-free helpline: 1-888-939‑3333, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Email: info@sic.cancer.ca
  • Chat: cancer.ca
  • Online community: CancerConnection.ca

Health professionals offer consultation and follow-up services that can help people affected by cancer:

• Acupuncturists (Ordre des acupuncteurs du Québec, in French only)
• Chiropractors (Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec)
• Dietitians/nutritionists (Ordre des diététiste nutritionniste du Québec, in French only)
• Guidance counsellors (Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec, in French only)
• Kinesiologists (Fédération des kinésiologues du Québec)
• Massage therapists (Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes agréés)
• Occupational therapists (Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec, in French only)
• Osteopaths (Association québécoise des ostéopathes, in French only)
• Physiotherapists (Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec)
• Psychologists (Ordre des psychologues du Québec)
• Social workers (Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec, in French only)

Community organizations offer help for people with cancer and their loved ones:

• Alliance des communautés culturelles pour l’égalité dans la santé et les services sociaux
• Association du cancer de l’Est du Québec
• Association pulmonaire du Québec
• Association québécoise des laryngectomisés (in French only)
• Association québécoise des personnes stomisées (in French only)
• Bladder Cancer Canada
• Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
• Canadian Cancer Society
• Cancer Saguenay (in French only)
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Society of Canada
• Colorectal Cancer Canada
• Fondation de la greffe de moelle osseuse de l’Est du Québec (in French only)
• Fondation Virage (in French only)
• Hope & Cope
• HPV Global Action
• Kidney Cancer Canada
• Kidney Foundation
• La Rose des vents (in French only)
• Leucan
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
• Lymphedema Association of Québec
• Lymphoma Canada
• Mains de l’Espoir de Charlevoix (in French only)
• Myeloma Canada
• On the Tip of the Toes Foundation
• Organisation québécoise des personnes atteintes du cancer (in French only)
• Organisme gaspésien pour les personnes atteintes de cancer (in French only)
• Organisme Voué aux Personnes Atteintes de Cancer (in French only)
• Organisme de soutien pour proches aidants en oncologie du Québec (in French only)
• Ovarian Cancer Canada
• Procure Cancer – Prostate
• Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation
• Quebec Cancer Foundation
• Regroupement des organisations communautaires en oncologie (in French only)
• Testicular Cancer Canada
• Thyroid Foundation of Canada

The following reimbursement programs can help meet adaptation or rehabilitation needs:

• Accommodation in a public facility
• Accommodation via an intermediate resource
• Bandages and compression garments used to treat lymphedema
• Compression garments for lymphedema
• Domestic help
• External breastforms
• Medically assisted reproduction
• Oral and dental services in pediatric oncology
• Ostomy appliances

Support services for the bereaved are available:

• Tel‑Écoute – Ligne Le Deuil (in French only)
  Free, anonymous and confidential helpline: 1-888-LE-DEUIL (533‑3845), every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Deuil-Jeunesse (in French only)
  Helpline for people of all ages: 1-855-889‑3666
• Leucan
  Personalized follow-up during palliative care and bereavement for the loved ones of children with cancer