Cancer Rehab and Survivorship Program

What We Do

The Cancer Rehab and Survivorship (CRS) program provides many services to address the many side effects of cancer. The goal of these services is to improve your function and health and to help people get back to their life roles and activities. You will access the CRS program as an outpatient. "Outpatient" means you will not stay in the hospital to access the program.

• See also: Department of Supportive Care

Your doctor can suggest the CRS program for many reasons. Your reason for referral must be cancer-related.

The CRS program services can help you:

• manage and decrease cancer side effects
  
• improve your function
• improve your health and quality of life
• get better with help from a large rehab team​
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What to Expect

Your First Appointment

Your first appointment will be a complete assessment of your cancer-related concerns and rehab needs. This appointment takes about 2 hours. We will ask you to complete surveys, which help the Cancer Rehab and Survivorship (CRS) team understand your concerns and needs. The surveys also assess your goals for the program. 

For your assessment, you will first meet with a CRS physiotherapist or occupational therapist and/or a rehabilitation physician (physiatrist). Together with the CRS team, you will create a personalized rehab care plan to reach your goals.

Your CRS team consists of a physiatrist (medical doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation), occupational therapists, physiotherapists, kinesiologists (exercise professionals), a social worker, a neuropsychologist, dietitians, a wellness chef, and administrative assistants.

During your first appointment, the CRS team assesses the type of care you need.

The CRS team provides 3 different types of care:

• Cancer Rehab and Exercise Program (CaRE)
• Specialized Rehab
• Community and Wellness Programs​​
  

​CRS Patient Education

Virtual Patient Education Classes​

The CRS Program can help you find the right virtual group education classes, such as:​

• Fear of Cancer Recurrence
• Cancer Related Fatigue
• What You Can Do About Brain Fog
• Prepare to Return to Work
  
• Lymphedema Management
• Talking Lymphedema​
  
• Cooking for Vitality
  

​View a list of current virtual group education classes »

E-Learning Modules

The CRS Program has also developed several education e-modules that you can access online. 

To access the classes, visit the Princess Margaret Cancer Classes website and search by class title.

reach

reach is an online tool for cancer rehabilitation, designed by clinicians, researchers and patients that empowers you to manage your side effects from treatment. Learn more about reach » ​​​​​

The Team

Leadership

CaRE Program

The Cancer Rehab and Exercise (CaRE) Program is an 8-week program that can be done at ELLICSR (a health and wellness space in Toronto General Hospital) or in your own home.

Both programs include:

• A physical fitness test and personal exercise program (1.5 hours)
• Support through in-person or online education is provided once a week. Resource topics include fatigue, managing emotions, mindfulness and relaxation, diet and nutrition, mindful eating and brain health and the importance of being connected.
• Follow-up physical fitness tests to review your progress and adapt your exercise. These follow-up tests happen 3 and 6 months after your 8-week program.

CaRE at ELLICSR

CaRE at ELLICSR has weekly group exercise and education sessions. All sessions and appointments are at ELLICSR. You will also be doing your exercises at home to make sure you get the most out of the program.

The group-based format provides a supportive setting to connect and to share your experiences.

CaRE at Home

CaRE at Home offers a number of education resources. Education resources include e-learning modules, pamphlets, YouTube videos, websites and books. You can use your education resources at times that work for you.

You will be doing your exercises at your home. Doing the program at home allows you to be more flexible with your schedule. Your follow-up appointments will be at ELLICSR.​

​​Specialized Rehab

​The supports offered through the CRS program can also focus on specific issues. Individual appointments with the CRS team can teach you how to care for yourself at home and help with the following:

P​atients who need specialized therapy may also be referred to other programs within UHN. When you are done your specialized program, you will have access to the CRS program again. You may need a new referral and assessment. 

Below is a list of specialized rehab programs that you may be referred to.

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

• Older Adults with Cancer Clinic
  
• Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology ​Clinic​
  
• Psychosocial Oncology Clinic
• Palliative Care Clinic
  

Toronto Rehabilita​tion Institute (TRI)

• Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Multi-System Outpatient Program​
  
• High Intensity Rehab Oncology (HIRO) Program
• Reducing Effects on the Shoulder Through Oncology Rehab and Education (RESTORE) Program​
  
• Health, Exercise, Active Living and Therapeutic Lifestyle (HEALTh) Program
• Falls Prevention Program

Toronto General Hospital

• Cancer Pain Clinic

Mount Sinai Hospital

• Taking Charge Program
  

ELLISCR Kitchen

​The CRS Program offers an excellent cooking and nutrition resource through the ELLICSR Kitchen.

ELLICSR Kitchen supports cancer survivors with culinary and nutrition resources to support healthier eating and to help manage some of the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment that make it hard to eat well.

Join ELLICSR's Registered Dietitian and Wellness Chef for a live online cooking and nutrition demonstration, or search through the archive of easy, nutritious and delicious recipes.

For More Information

Website: ELLICSRKitchen.ca

YouTube: YouTube.com/ELLICSRKitchen

Twitter: @ELLICSRKitchen

Instagram: @ELLICSRKitchen​​