You are here:
Support & services
/
Support and services
/
When your child has cancer
When your child has cancer
When your child is diagnosed with cancer, it can cause a crisis within your family. A life-threatening illness in a child may cause stress, grief, anger and an overwhelming sense of helplessness and loss of control.
The Canadian Cancer Society is here to help. We understand that childhood cancer differs from adult cancer, so we’ve contributed to a broad range of information and services that respond to your family’s unique needs.
To learn more about our services, contact your local Canadian Cancer Society office, call an information specialist toll-free at 1-888-939-3333 or email us.
We provide clear, accurate information to help you understand your child’s cancer. Information about tests, treatment and managing symptoms can help you prepare questions to ask your doctor and help you know how to talk to your child and how to cope as a family.
Talking to someone who’s been there
During the course of a child’s illness, many families will look for people they can talk to about their child’s health. The most effective support often comes from peers – other parents and families in the same situation. Some peer support relationships develop naturally when parents meet one another at the hospital or clinic.
The Canadian Cancer Society can also connect a parent of a child with cancer to a volunteer who has had a similar experience. Find out more about our Peer Support Service.
Help with travel to treatments
Sometimes simply getting your child to treatment can be a difficult task, especially if your family is also dealing with physical or financial challenges or if the treatment centre is far from home. If you need help getting to your child’s cancer-related care, we can work with you to find the best way to get you there.
A volunteer driver with our service can take you and your child to and from the treatment centre and offer you a friendly, supportive environment along the way.
If a volunteer driver is not available, or if you would rather get your family there yourself, we may be able to offer you financial support to help cover some of your expenses. For more information on these services, contact your local community office of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Other resources
The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) partners with specialized centres and satellite hospitals to deliver care to children with cancer and their families. Centres provide access to services as well as some financial assistance.
Pediatric cancer treatment centres in Ontario
The POGO Oncology Financial Assistance Program (POFAP) may help your family with some of the costs related to accommodation, food and babysitting while your child is receiving treatment. The Canadian Cancer Society helped to establish this program, which is now fully operated by POGO.
To learn more about this support program, contact a social worker in the pediatric oncology department at any of the following hospitals:
- Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)
- Children's Hospital of Western Ontario (London)
- McMaster Children's Hospital (Hamilton Health Sciences)
- Kingston General Hospital
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa)
Want to help?