Going beyond for cancer patients and their families
Cancer knows no bounds. It strikes and in a blink of an eye a healthy person becomes a patient. Playgrounds, classrooms, workplaces, family dinner tables, dreams… the dynamics change, but hope remains a potent adversary in the power between human and disease. That is why Cedars is Going Beyond for cancer patients and their families.
With compassion, innovation and inspiration driving its model for excellence, Cedars aims to assure that the population it serves benefits from best-in-class clinical and supportive care, research and education. It also aims to empower patients and families with the guidance they need to cope better throughout the cancer journey.
After all, healing involves more than physical health. The emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of one’s well-being are equally important. The Cedars Oncology Supportive Care Centre will thus be a welcome complement to the state-of-the-art Cedars Cancer Centre.
Integrative services for every stage of the cancer journey
Cedars supports and helps deliver a host of integrative programs and services that are evidence-based and complementary to the complex medical care provided to cancer patients in the academic health centre setting. Some are unique in Quebec, such as a lymphedema clinic and pain clinic, while all tackle the various needs of patients, young and old, before, during and after treatment thanks to the Cancer Rehabilitation Program (CAREPRO), Psychosocial Oncology Program, Cancer Survivorship Program, and Cedars CanSupport services.
Everyone—interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, researchers, other professionals and volunteers— Go Beyond together with one overarching goal: improve the health and well-being of patients and their families, helping them cope while empowering them through education and personalized programs. These teams also train the healthcare professionals and scientists of tomorrow, and conduct life-changing research.
Before treatment
CAREPRO Pre-habilitation Program
Aims to improve the outcomes of cancer treatments such as surgery by using research evidence to inform and tailor a personalized approach to each patient’s preparation.
The Psychosocial Oncology Program
Offers professional psychosocial services to oncology patients and family members who are identified by their cancer teams as needing counselling or support for distress and stress, for example.
During treatment
CAREPRO Supportive Stream
Aims to empower patients to preserve their physical, nutritional, and functional well-being by minimizing the impact of secondary problems related to cancer or its treatment (e.g., fatigue, weakness, nutritional, and digestive problems).
CAREPRO Cachexia Stream
Aims to reverse the weight loss, as well as nutritional and functional decline of patients with advanced cancer by identifying and minimizing metabolic abnormalities associated with cachexia. Complex symptoms and issues that would otherwise cause a trip to the ER are tackled.
CAREPRO McGill Nutritional and Performance Laboratory
Aims to ensure that patients benefit from the highest possible quality of life. The highly specialized clinical research facility brings together a broad group of specialists who leverage their research knowledge and expertise to meet patients’ needs.
Psychosocial Oncology Program
Offers professional psychosocial services to oncology patients and family members who are identified by their cancer teams as needing counselling or support for distress and stress, for example.
After treatment
CAREPRO Restorative Stream
Aims to restore nutritional and functional well-being of patients post-treatment, thus enabling a return to usual activity and minimizing the impact of cognitive dysfunction in daily living for patients who are cancer free after completing their treatments.
CAREPRO Lymphedema Clinic
Unique in Quebec, serves all cancer-related lymphedema patients from cancer centres across the province, as well as complex patients from Ontario and Atlantic Canada. It also serves as a research and teaching site for medical residents and other health professionals involved in lymphedema.
Psychosocial Oncology Program
Offers professional psychosocial services to oncology patients and family members who are identified by their cancer teams as needing counselling or support for distress and stress, for example.
Cancer Survivorship Program
The only program of its kind in Quebec, aims to improve the health and well-being of cancer patients at the end of active treatment or living with cancer as a chronic disease. A multi-disciplinary team works with patients to maximize their physical, psychological, vocational and social functioning through clinical and educational services, as well as outreach.