Advanced Cancer
On this page you will find resources to help support you in your journey with advanced cancer.
AYA Supportive Care Clinic
Supportive care is an area of health care that focuses on providing the best quality of life for people with advanced illness. People of every age and at any point in their illness can get supportive care. It can be given when a cure is possible, in advanced disease, and at the end of life.
How can the Supportive Care Clinic help me?
The supportive care team provides a support system for many people. The team will work with you to suggest care plans to help with:
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Symptom management:
Improve your quality of life by addressing symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and sleep. -
Advanced care planning:
This is a process of reflection and communication. It allows you to take time to reflect on your values and wishes. This process is also to let others know what kind of health and personal care you would want in the future if you become incapable of consenting to or refusing treatment or other care. -
Connecting with hospital and community resources and services:
These services can include occupational therapy, physical therapy, the psychosocial oncology team, and home care teams.
How can I access the AYA Supportive Care Clinic?
Contact us at
aya@uhn.ca if you are interested in learning more.
Online Resources
Melanie’s Way
Melanie’s way is an organization that grants wishes to young women under 45 diagnosed with a metastatic or relapsed cancer. If you know anyone who could benefit from this, please share this with them!
Learn about Melanie's Way [opens in new window] »
Rethink Breast Cancer: Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is often misunderstood or silenced by those who fear it due to lack of knowledge, information and education.
Learn about metastatic breast cancer with Rethink Breast Cancer [opens in new window] »
Living Out Loud.Life Digital Health Tool
LivingOutLoud.Life is a new, free international digital health tool to support young adults living with advanced illness.
"My friends don't want to talk about the fact that I'm scared that I'm going to die, they don't want to hear about it, it's not going to happen but it is going to happen and I want to talk about it." - Jayda Kelsall
Young adults and teens with advanced illness have been virtually invisible in health care systems and online - until now, with the launch of LivingOutLoud.Life, the world's first online platform dedicated to supporting and empowering young adults and teens living with advanced illness. Fourteen young adults share deeply personal stories about living day-to-day with advanced illness and with end of life. Their stories are unscripted, unfiltered and unforgettable, offering help when it is needed most. Leading health experts from Canada and the US have also contributed content to the site.
The young people share their experiences of pursuing education and careers, navigating impacts on sexuality and fertility, managing relationships, decisions about their care or treatments, dealing with symptoms and confronting end of life. Families, friends and health providers can gain a better understanding by viewing their stories.
The site is also an excellent resource for families, friends, and health providers seeking a better understanding of what it is like to be young and to navigate issues that arise when living with limited time.
LivingOutLoud.Life is the result of a collaboration between The Canadian Virtual Hospice, young Canadians living with advanced illness, The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, The Thomas Sill Foundation, Young Adult Cancer Canada, and Team Shan Breast Cancer Awareness for Young Women.
For more information, email
Marissa@virtualhospice.ca
Visit
LivingOutLoud.Life [opens in new window] »
Visit
VivreAFond.ca [opens in new window] for the French version of the site.
Young Adults with Cancer - Short Documentary Series
The following three videos are part of a six-part documentary series about the experience of younger adults whose lives have been affected by cancer.
To view all videos in this series, visit AYA Educational Resources »
Part 4: What Palliative Care Really Is
Learn about some of the misconceptions surrounding palliative care, and what it really means to receive palliative support.
Watch Part 4: What Palliative Care Really Is [opens in new window] »
Part 5: Talking About Death
Anne Marie and Ananth share their experiences with the topic of death and the importance of opening up with your loved ones.
Watch Part 5: Talking About Death [opens in new window] »
Part 6: Grief and Loss
Angela, Anne Marie, Marcia and Ananth share their unique experiences with grief and loss as young adults touched by cancer.
Watch Part 6: Grief and Loss [opens in new window] »
Understanding Grief - Short Lecture Series
Grief is the psychological response to any loss. In this five-part lecture series, learn more about grief from Dr. Pamela Mosher, Psychiatrist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Lecture 1: Why Grief Is Not Just About Death
Grief comes in many forms. Learn more about the underlying reasons for why we grieve.
Watch Lecture 1: Why Grief Is Not Just About Death [opens in new window] »
Lecture 2: Anticipatory Grief
Anticipatory grief is the grief we feel from losses to come. Learn what makes it different from grief after death.
Watch Lecture 2: Anticipatory Grief [opens in new window] »
Lecture 3: Disenfranchised Grief
Disenfranchised grief is when grief is not socially acknowledged or recognized. Learn more about this lesser known type of grief.
Watch Lecture 3: Disenfranchised Grief [opens in new window] »
Lecture 4: Grief After Death
Learn about how understanding grief can help us prepare to experience grief after a death of a loved one.
Watch Lecture 4: Grief After Death [opens in new window] »
Lecture 5: Grieving Is Not a Linear or Stage-Based Process
Learn about the grieving process and how it is no longer considered a linear or stage-based process.
Watch Lecture 5: Grieving Is Not a Linear or Stage-Based Process [opens in new window] »
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