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Leukemia Education Package and Your Care Needs During Treatment
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Emotional Support and Well-being

A cancer diagnosis and treatment may make you feel sad, angry, nervous, afraid, or many other emotions. It is normal to feel this way.

Your health care team has people who can help. Please speak with your health care team about your needs so that they can help you and your family. Their job is to support you at this time.

You can get support for your emotional, social and spiritual needs from:

  • Nurses or doctors
  • Patient and Family Support
    • Social Workers
    • Spiritual Care Providers
    • Registered Dietitian
    • Psychology and psychiatry
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Drug Reimbursement Specialist

What support can you get from nurses and doctors?

Nurses and doctors help patients and families cope with the impact of their diagnosis. They have the knowledge and expertise to care for your physical, social, psychological and emotional needs.

Nurses and doctors work closely with other members of your health care team to plan your care. Nurses and doctors can help you with health care needs, such as:

  • Setting up health care for patients (for example, diagnostic tests, procedures)
  • Physical comfort (for example helping with pain, nausea)
  • Linking how you feel to your cancer and treatment (for example, feeling tired because your hemoglobin is low)
  • Social, emotional and mental health support

What support can you get from social workers?

Social workers help patients and families deal with cancer diagnoses and treatment. They are part of the Patient and Family Support Program at the Odette Cancer Centre.

Social Workers help you with social, emotional and practical needs, such as:

  • The emotional stress of diagnosis and treatment (such as, feelings of fear, sadness, loss, anger)
  • Financial issues (such as, income help, disability pensions)
  • Drug coverage issues
  • Transportation issues
  • Home care concerns
  • Community resources available to you
  • Advanced Care Planning

Social workers can meet with you one-on-one or with your caregivers to talk about:

  • How you feel after being diagnosed with cancer
  • The impact of your diagnosis on your family
  • Treatment-related choices and decisions
  • Coping at home
  • Physical changes to your body
  • Your hospital experience

If you would like to meet with a Social Worker, please visit the patient and Family Support Offices (Odette Cancer Centre- T-wing ground floor TG-230), open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm or call 416-480-4623.

If you are admitted to hospital you can ask any member of your health care team to arrange an inpatient social work referral.

What support can you get from Spiritual Care Practitioners?

Spiritual Care Practitioners (Chaplains) support the spiritual, emotional, and existential well-being of patients and families. They provide a safe space for patients and families to process their emotions and experiences. They support patients and families from a multi-faith context as well as a non-religious background.

  • Helping people discover and explore what has meaning in their lives
  • Grief support
  • One on one counseling
  • Prayer, meditation and reflection
  • Requests for religious and spiritual rituals