The focus of supportive care is to help you manage the cancer experience. From the time you are given a diagnosis, to the end of treatment, you can get support with:
The WWRCP has a team of specialized healthcare providers called the “Supportive Care Team“. By focusing on patients with the highest needs, these team members can provide the best care and support to those who need it most.
You may also see this group of healthcare workers called the psychosocial oncology (PSO) team. The following pages have information about the support these healthcare workers can offer you at WRHN Cancer Centre.
Not everyone who comes to the cancer centre will need the support of these specialized team members. Based on your needs, your healthcare team will refer you to the right support service whether that’s in the cancer centre or community.
The goal of music therapy is to improve your quality of life using music. You don’t need any special training in music to benefit from a session. These sessions focus on your musical interests.
In a music therapy session, you might:
A Music Therapist can help you to:
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose, treat and prescribe medicines for mental health problems. The WWRCP psychiatrist can help you with:
Treatment from a Psychiatrist requires you to get a referral from your Oncologist. Your first visit with the psychiatrist will involve an assessment where the psychiatrist learns more about your concerns. Part of your treatment plan may include a trial of new medicines to help support you.
Being well nourished can help your treatment and quality of life. A cancer diagnosis and treatments may make it difficult to eat and drink well. A Registered Dietitian (RD) can provide support with meeting the nutrition needs that cancer causes.
Cancer Registered Dietitians can:
Nutrition Care Outside of the Cancer Centre
The WRHN Cancer Centre RDs focus on helping people with cancer-related nutrition issues. If you have other nutrition topics you would like help with, view our RD options in the community.
Registered Social Workers (RSWs) at WRHN Cancer Centre can offer support for you, your significant other (partner, husband, wife), and/or your family for cancer related issues. You must be over the age of 18 to access these services.
Social Workers help you to:
WRHN Cancer Centre Social Worker Urgent Line
Patients can self-refer to social work by calling 519-749-4380 ext. 6857.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) focuses on assessing and treating issues with your swallowing, speech, language and voice.
SLP support can include:
Spiritual care is about connecting with you at a time of great need and going on that journey with you. Many people think that Spiritual Care is ‘religious care’, but it’s much more than that.
Spiritual Care supports a whole-person approach to health care that includes:
Our Spiritual Care providers can help through: