The way Canadians consume health information has evolved over the years.
Twenty years ago, when the Canadian Cancer Society launched its Cancer Information Service inquires came via phone call. Nowadays, the service also fields emails and people access the Society’s website, cancer.ca which is jam-packed with anything you ever wanted to know about cancer.
Today, nearly half of all Canadians have sought out information about cancer, with 85 per cent first turning to the internet. Two-thirds said their online searches left them feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. “Facing cancer is hard. People have many worries and questions during what may be the most stressful time in their lives or the lives of a loved one,” says Laura Burnett, Director of the Canadian Cancer Society’s information and support programs. “It’s easy to become overwhelmed. Don’t face cancer alone. Instead, we urge people to contact our free Cancer Information Service.”
No matter where they live in the country, the Cancer Information Service can help people with their questions about more than 200 different types of cancer, treatment, diagnosis, care, services and much more. In addition, the service can connect patients and family caregivers to local community support programs and services if needed.
Since 1996, the Canadian Cancer Society has answered more than 1.2 million questions. Flynn deHamilton of Oakville is one of these people. She called the Cancer Information Service after a close friend’s mother was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
“My friend really needed support and I personally didn’t know how to give her the support she needed. The Cancer Information Specialist answered all my questions and even referred me to some helpful services right in our community.”
Jennifer Wiernikowski also knows the value of the service and has recommended it to many of her patients. Wiernikowski is a nurse practitioner at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton and member of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology.
“I encourage all my patients and their families to call the Cancer Information Service,” says Wiernikowski. “This service is a trusted source of information and support. The staff take as much time as needed to make sure people get all of their questions answered, even the ones they didn’t even know they should ask.”
To contact the Cancer Information Service, call 1 888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca. Help is available in more than 100 languages.
The top five cancer inquiry topics received at the Cancer Information Service:
- Supportive care and services
- Treatment
- Cancer prevention, risks and screening
- Diagnosis
- Cancer symptoms
While the Cancer Information Service can field questions on 200+ types of cancer, below are the most commonly asked about types of cancer
- Breast
- Lung
- Prostate
- Colorectal
- Cervical