Supportive and Palliative Care

Our multidisciplinary team of health care professionals help improve quality of life for cancer patients. The care we offer starts with diagnosis and continues until the end of cancer treatment.  Our teams include: 

•    palliative care doctors
•    palliative care nurses
•    anesthesiologists
•    clinicians with expertise in the use of medical cannabis
•    physiotherapists
•    occupational therapists
•    kinesiologists
•    nutritionists

We provide “whole person” care. We recognize the needs of patients, and their caregivers, are multidimensional and include physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. 

The clinics and programs listed below are some of the services provided by Supportive Services and Palliative Ambulatory Care at the MUHC.
 

This clinic:

• Offers individual tailored assessments of the physical, psychological, and social impacts following a cancer diagnosis.
• Helps manage pain and other symptoms and gives guidance about living with serious illness.
• Makes connections with community services so that patients can stay at home for as long as possible.
• Provides end-of-life care planning. 

This program offers specialized treatments to patients to help them deal with the emotional challenges that come while living and coping with cancer. Find out more.

This program provides comprehensive support for young cancer patients aged 15-39. They face unique life challenges related to their physical, psychological and social well-being during and after cancer diagnosis. 

An AYA Nurse Navigator works closely with other AYA dedicated healthcare providers to offer one-on-one support and guidance. Areas of a young person's life that can be affected by a cancer diagnosis include school, work, relationships, fertility, finances, body image, sexual health, spiritual beliefs.

This program develops specialized treatment plans to help patients feel their best. Managing cancer-related symptoms, eating well, and exercise are some of the ways this is accomplished.     

Patients in this program receive detailed medical evaluation and assessment for function, mobility and psychosocial issues.  They are offered one-on-one instruction in risk reduction behaviour, therapeutic exercise, the lymphatic system and how to manage their condition.