Local

Rethink Breast Cancer is a charity helping young people who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer through innovative breast cancer education, research and support programs. Rethink’s national and local support programs are for women in their 20s, 30s and early 40s who are living with and recovering from breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation (Calgary) offers services from a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals who specialize in breast cancer care for women living with and recovering from breast cancer.

Compassionate Beauty (Calgary) provides women and their family & friends support, knowledge and services needed to best maintain their comfort, body image and self esteem during the months of treatment and through survivorship.  Services include prostheses fittings, wigs & wig alternatives and a range of spa services suited to those undergoing cancer treatments.

Couplelinks (Ontario, British Columbia & Nova Scotia) is an online education program geared to the practical and emotional needs of young couples coping with breast cancer (such as communication and intimacy, fertility concerns, communication with young children). The six-week online program is facilitated by a clinical psychologist. For information, contact the Project Coordinator, Dr. Jennifer Lewin, at (416) 480-6100 ext. 81447 or jennifer.lewin@sunnybrook.ca

Gilda’s Club (Toronto) provides a meeting place where men, women, teens and children living with cancer, as well as their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support by participating in support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events.

Hope and Cope (Montreal) helps people cope with cancer. 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.

Kate’s Kitchen (Toronto) is FoodShare’s monthly free evening community kitchen for women who have experienced breast cancer. In this supportive environment, breast cancer survivors gather to cook, eat, laugh and spend a wonderful evening sharing resources, nutritional advice and cooking tips that promote healthy eating. For information, contact the program’s coordinator, Chandra Deen, at Foodsharecommunitykitchen@gmail.com or Alvin Rebick at alvin@foodshare.net or (416) 363-6441 ext. 251.

Nanny Angel Network is a volunteer service of professionally trained nannies who generously volunteer their time to provide quality compassionate relief child care – at no cost – to mothers diagnosed with breast cancer who are in treatment or in the early stages of recovery. This service is currently available in the Greater Toronto Area.

The Olive Branch of Hope Breast Cancer Support Services (Toronto) provides social, emotional and spiritual support for all women diagnosed with breast cancer, with a focus on women of colour and other immigrant women.

PYNK Young Women with Breast Cancer Program (Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre) (Toronto) is aimed at addressing the special clinical and research needs of younger women with breast cancer. Patients and families receive a continuum of care from the time of diagnosis through treatment and long-term follow-up with the support of a nurse navigator.

Venturing Out Beyond Our Cancer (VOBOC) (Montreal) is a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides ancillary oncology services to the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer population. VOBOC provides newly diagnosed AYA oncology patients (ages 15-39) with free diversions, resources and tools to help ease their cancer journey.

You Can Connect (Toronto) is a new a program for young adults between the ages of 18 and 39 who have been diagnosed with cancer. The program provides a space for conversation, networking and education, in a relaxed, social environment. Young adults can connect on any aspect of life, or cancer. On occasion, guest experts will be invited to speak on topics of specific interest to young adults with cancer.  This program runs on the last Thursday of every month, from 6:00-8:00pm. Pizza and beverages will be served, and childcare is available. To register, or for more information, please contact Wellspring Westerkirk House at Sunnybrook at 416-480-4440.