Cancer Patient Navigation

This service supports clients and their families by:

• providing accurate information for patients so they can make informed decisions about their next steps
• helping patients prepare for tests and cancer treatments by explaining test results and treatment choices or by referring patients to other resources or services
• improving coordination of care by working with other healthcare providers
• helping patients prepare for medical visits by explaining ahead of time what to expect
• helping patients access financial resources and community supports

Cancer Treatment and Care - Cancer Care Centres

Cancer centres are located within local regional hospitals / health centres. They deliver a range of treatments and care options to cancer patients as close to home as possible, including outpatient chemotherapy, education, and support.

Contact a centre for information or educational material related to cancer.

Chemotherapy / Systemic Cancer Locations

This service uses systemic treatment (anti-cancer medicine) to treat cancer. This may include:

• immunotherapy
• chemotherapy
• targeted therapy
• hormonal therapy
• radiation therapy

Classes and / or resources are available.

Energize

Clients will learn:

• about factors relating to cancer-related fatigue
• how important health eating is
• ways to manage your time and energy on a day to day basis
• why exercise and movement are so important in helping manage fatigue

Nutrition Counselling - Cancer

Nutrition plays a key role in providing the best care to cancer patients for prevention, symptom control, treatment and quality of life. Registered Dietitians provide patients and their families with expertise in the field of nutrition care including:

• nutrition assessment
• counselling and education available in individual and group formats
• nutrition classes

Outpatient Cancer Drug Benefit Program

Cancer drugs are provided, without charge, to registered Alberta cancer patients through specific locations in the province.

Please refer to the Alberta Health Services Cancer Drug Benefit Program.

Power of Nutrition

This class teaches people with cancer about eating healthy to help them stay strong during their treatment.

The class includes information about:

• staying at a healthy body weight during cancer treatments
• how foods can help manage the side effects of cancer treatments

You’ll also be given nutrition handouts and be able to speak with a dietitian

Psychosocial Oncology

This service provides help for patients and their family with coping with the stress that often comes with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Taking care of your emotional, social, spiritual and practical well-being is an important part of your treatment plan and coping.
We are a part of your oncology treatment team. We offer different types of programs and services to support your wellbeing;

• Individual, couple and family counselling
• Professionally-led support groups
• Practical support for your finances and other basic needs
• Classes and programs

Availability of programs and services changes depending on the cancer centre.

Services may be available via telephone / video online.

Radiation Therapy

Provides radiation therapy for treating tumours.

Rehabilitation Oncology - Physiotherapy

Rehabilitation has many benefits: It can help manage various cancer-related symptoms and side effects such as pain, lymphedema, fatigue and changes in thinking, memory, speech, language, voice quality and mobility.

The Rehabilitation Oncology program consists of a team of rehabilitation specialists including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, a physiatrist and speech and language therapists. Services vary per location, however many services may be accessed through virtual care (e.g. phone, Zoom, Telehealth):

• Cross Cancer Institute (CCI) in Edmonton: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech & Language Therapy
• Grande Prairie Cancer Centre: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Language Pathology
• Holy Cross Centre in Calgary: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Physiatry. Physiatrists are medical doctors specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Jack Ady Cancer Centre in Lethbridge: Physiotherapy
• Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC): Speech & Language Therapy

Assessment and treatments are offered in in-person, group settings and virtually (through phone and online platforms like Zoom and Telehealth).

Your doctor will get a written report after your assessment.

For more information, please visit:

Cancer Care Alberta: Rehabilitation Oncology

Rehabilitation Oncology - Speech Language Pathology

Rehabilitation has many benefits: It can help manage various cancer-related symptoms and side effects such as pain, lymphedema, fatigue and changes in thinking, memory, speech, language, voice quality and mobility.

The Rehabilitation Oncology program consists of a team of rehabilitation specialists including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, a physiatrist and speech and language therapists. Services vary per location, however many services may be accessed through virtual care (e.g. phone, Zoom, Telehealth):

• Cross Cancer Institute (CCI) in Edmonton: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech & Language Therapy
• Grande Prairie Cancer Centre: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Language Pathology
• Holy Cross Centre in Calgary: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Physiatry. Physiatrists are medical doctors specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Jack Ady Cancer Centre in Lethbridge: Physiotherapy
• Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC): Speech & Language Therapy

The Speech and Language Pathologists/ Therapists provide assessment and treatment of issues and changes caused by cancer treatment including:

• swallowing
• speech
• language
• voice

Assessments may include instrumental assessments (may include Modified Barium Swallowing Studies, Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies or Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing).

Assessment and treatments are offered in in-person, groups settings and virtually (through phone and online platforms like Zoom and Telehealth).

Depending on the site/ location, SLP services are provided in/ out of the hospital centre (inpatient/outpatient), and in the community (ambulatory/ outpatient care).

Your doctor will get a written report after your assessment.

For more information, please visit: Cancer Care Alberta: Rehabilitation Oncology

Switchboard

These services include:

• answering incoming telephone calls
• transferring telephone calls and
• giving out authorized telephone numbers