Download Social Work at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Social Work at Princess Margaret
Cancer Centre
Information for patients and families
Read this information to learn how social workers can help you and your family cope
with cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Psychosocial Oncology Clinic
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre – 16th floor
Phone: 416 946 4525
Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: www.uhnpatienteducation.ca
© 2015 University Health Network. All rights reserved.
This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific
medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only.
Author: Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Team
Revised: 01/2015
Form: D-5644
Social workers at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre are part of the Psychosocial
Oncology and Palliative Care Program. They can help you and your family cope
with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Social workers can help you or your family member:
• cope with emotions like fear, anxiety, sadness, sense of loss, and anger
• make decisions about treatment
• find financial help such as income support programs, drug coverage and
disability pensions
• refer you to other community resources such as driving services, home
supports and other programs
How else do social workers help?
Health care teams provide cancer care at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. These
teams include:
• doctors
• nurses
• other allied health professionals
• students and fellows
• your family doctor
• Community Care Access Centre
Your social worker is also a member of your health care team.
Keeping records
To provide care to you and your family, all members of your health care team,
including your social worker:
• write in patients' medical charts about the contact and help provided to
patients and families
• communicate health care information about patients and families to other
members of the health care team
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Keeping your information private
Keeping your personal health information private is very important to your health
care team.
It’s important to tell your social worker which friends or family members they can
share health information with.
Sometimes to provide help, your social worker may need to contact people who
are not members of your health care team (for example, a home help agency or an
income support program). Your social worker will ask for your permission before
making these contacts.
Your social worker will share your information without your permission
only when:
• they have to by law (for example, if there is a warrant)
• there is a risk of someone harming themselves or others
Individual counselling
Individual counselling can help you deal with many emotions you may be
feeling, including anxiety, depression, stress and loss of control. Counselling may
include helping you identify your fears, deal with uncertainty and learn new ways
to cope.
Reducing stress
Stress can make coping with cancer and recovering more difficult. We can help you
identify causes of stress and teach you skills to help you manage your stress more
effectively.
Resource counselling
Our social workers can help guide you through important decisions and practical
concerns. We can help you find and arrange the services you need in the hospital
and the community.
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Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care
Dealing with a serious illness such as cancer can be stressful. You and your family
may be stressed or confused. You may not know about the help, support and
treatment that is available at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Our team of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and palliative doctors and
nurses can provide:
• counselling and therapies in different settings
• expert help to relieve pain and other symptoms
• other supports in the hospital or in your community during or after your
treatment
The Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Program provides support to help
you and your family adjust to the illness, reduce stress and improve your emotional
well being.
Your social worker:
Name:
Phone:
Please let your social worker know the best way to contact you by home phone,
cell phone, fax, mail or email.
Notes:
The development of patient education resources is supported by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
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