Resources

While cancer affects your body, it also affects your emotional and mental well-being. A cancer diagnosis along with cancer treatments can take a huge emotional toll, especially on Black women, who face additional stressors as a result of their race and gender. Along with gaining a sense of relief, addressing your mental well-being can improve your overall quality of life.

Black Centered:

Canada:

• Black Therapist List – Professional Canadian counsellors, psychotherapists, life coaches, psychiatrists and psychologists
• Liberate – a subscription-based meditation app designed to support Black folks on their path to healing.
• Mindfulness and Belly Breathing Video with Patrice de Peiza

Ontario:

• Across Boundaries-Leaders in providing equitable and holistic mental health services, provides services in multiple African/ Caribbean languages
• Women’s Health in Women’s Hands– Feminists and woman-centered approach to short-term counselling, group sessions and workshops
• https://blackmentalhealth.ca/ Mississauga-based organization providing low-income at-risk individuals access to affordable evidence based mental health services

Community-based resources recommended by TOBOH:

• Natasha Williams:
  Award Winning Radical Self Care and Leadership Expert, Clinical Psychologist – Best Selling Author – International Speaker.
  Web: www.drnatashawilliams.com
• Donnaree Nairn-Tucker
  Life, Health and Wealth Advisor
  Phone: 289-200-9125
  Email: donna.nairn-tucker@rbc.com
• Denise Stern-Evans – Life Coach Living Loving Wholly
  Web: www.livinglovingwholly.com

General:

• Wellspring offers a number of yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions for cancer patients, caregivers and families in Ontario and Alberta. These are also offered virtually and require you to register and commit to all sessions.
• Sutherland Chan Massage School Breast Clinic– Offering massages for various stages of the breast cancer journey for those seeking treatment for pain and reduced mobility

Living an active lifestyle can be helpful before, during and after cancer treatment. The resources below are not all breast cancer-specific, so please remember to consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any fitness program on treatment.

Black-Centered:

Canada-Wide

• Yoga by Biola– Accessible yoga and enlightenment practices.

Ontario:

Community-based resources recommended by TOBOH

• Brenda Chung
  Certified Group Fitness Instructor Specialist – CanfitPro, Certified Personal Trainer Specialist – CanfitPro ,Certified Yoga Exercise Specialist – East to West Yoga, Licensed Zumba & Zumba Tone Instructor – Zumba Fitness , Certified Nutrition and Wellness Specialist – CanfitPro
  Email: brenda.chung@rogers.com
  Instagram: @konfidant1
  Phone: 416-454-5969

General:

Canada-wide

• LiveWell After Breast Cancer- YouTube series for breast cancer survivors, created by The John Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centre. Consists of low impact, low intensity yoga, cardio, strength, core and chair workouts.
• Active Match- Free service to help Canadian women who have been diagnosed with cancer connect with similar women looking for support and guidance in their exercise journey

Ontario:

• Beth Fanjoy Yoga and Art– Toronto based Yoga sessions for lymphedema, for older bodies, bone health led by a Breast Cancer survivor. Sessions combine art, yoga and meditation
• Pilates beyond Breast Cancer– Classes at Hamilton YMCA designed to help build stamina, improve posture, increase shoulder range of motion, regain function and release neck tension
• UW WELL-FIT– portfolio of exercise programs for those who have previously or are going through treatment. Offered in Kitchener Waterloo, with remote program options.
• CaRE at ELISCIR– An 8-week cancer rehab and exercise program done through a health and wellness space at Toronto General Hospital. The program includes personal exercise programs and in person or online educational support

Art and music therapy are great outlets for self-expression. Although the resources below are not all cancer-specific, they can be helpful in establishing coping mechanisms for patients and family members. With an emphasis on the creative process, no previous art or music experience is necessary.

Black-Centered:

• Black Creative Healing – a podcast discussing creative approaches to healing, centering the Black Communities
• Djembe Drumming Instructor and Performer, Negus (Ras) Medhin
  Phone: 647-465-9490
  email: irasmedhin@yahoo.ca

General:

Canada-Wide

• Wellspring offers a number of art therapy classes (drumming, knitting, art) for cancer patients, caregivers and families in Oshawa. These are also offered virtually and require you to register and commit to all sessions.
• The Music Therapy Centre- affordable, accessible music therapy sessions, delivered by accessible music therapist.
• Canadian Art Therapist Directory– A Directory of registered art therapists

Ontario

• Full Circle – Toronto based Art Therapy clinic, provide safe space for people in need of mental health support

A breast cancer diagnosis can be detrimental financially. From travel expenses to loss of income, costs of treatments and childcare, breast cancer can have a huge impact on your financial stability. Fortunately, there are resources available to help cover some of these major out of pocket expenses.

Financial Support
A breast cancer diagnosis can be detrimental financially. From travel expenses to loss of income, costs of treatments and childcare, breast cancer can have a huge impact on your financial stability. Fortunately, there are resources available to help cover some of these major out of pocket expenses.

Black-Centered:

High Heal Diaries survivor financial support – Natalie Wilson is the creative owner of High heal Diaries. She is a breast cancer survivor, who is a certified coach practitioner, motivational speaker, author, talk show host, body positive model and advocate. She offers financial support for needs such as utility expenses, medical expenses, transportation to treatment, children’s activities, care packages or a day at the spa for mental rejuvenation.

Community-based -resources recommended by TOBOH

• Jacqueline Porter CFP
  Award Winning Financial Confidante Carte Wealth Management
  Phone: 905 238 3535 x 234
  Fax: 905 238 8197
  Email: askjackie@cartewm.com
  Web: askjackie.ca

General:

Canada-wide

• Canadian Cancer Society’s resources for financial help for people with cancer, survivors and caregivers (EI ,tax deductions, drug benefits)
• Canadian Breast Cancer Network– Sources for financial assistance and supports within Canada
• Critical Illness Insurance– Ratehub compares insurance policies based on your individual needs, and provide you with verified insurance brokers.

Ontario

• Wellspring – Money Matters program can help you navigate income support and drug reimbursement programs. Returning to Work is a support program designed to assist in an easy transition back to work after absence due to cancer.
• Financial resources for those facing breast cancer from ReThink Breast Cancer
• Shine Through the Rain – Provides emergency payment fund payed directly to utility companies and landlords for those suffering from chronic diseases.

*None of these services are offered by Women’s College Hospital.

In many cases, a lot of time is spent travelling for breast cancer care and appointments. This can vary from local locations to more long-distance destinations. Access and accessibility can create travel challenges. Travel assistance programs exist to help address some of these challenges and relieve some of the stress associated with breast cancer care.

General:

Ontario

• Drive and Ride Program– Free transportation program serving the Hamilton region, offers safe door to door driving service to all cancer related medical appointments.

Canada-wide

• Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels on Hope program and Travel Treatment Funds help you access free transportation to and from your appointments.
  Canadian Cancer Society’s Community Services Locator helps you location transportation services near you.
  BCCancer Transportation Assistance– List of resources for patients who require transportation to BC Cancer Sites for medical treatment.

The decision to talk about your breast cancer diagnosis is a difficult one. It may be helpful to confide in those closest to you. Conversations with your loved ones may be difficult, but it is important to have these once you are emotionally ready. Resources are available that can help you navigate and prepare for some of these conversations when you are ready.

General:

Ontario

• Free Wills Month– offers people aged 55 and older the opportunity to have simple wills made or updated by participating lawyers.
• Peoples Law School-providing educational booklets for life’s legal problems, it provides information on how someone can be granted power of attorney, and what to do when there is a death in your family
• The Canadian Breast Cancer Network provides a script for how to tell your children you have cancer
• The Kids Guide to Mommy’s Breast Cancer – a Children’s Book to provide explanations to your children

Maintaining self-confidence and the opportunities to feel beautiful can have a direct effect on your emotional and mental well-being. See some resources below that you can access during a breast cancer diagnosis.

Black-Centered :

• Beauty services from High Heal Diaries – Makeup application and skin care services provided on-site or in-studio to support people’s desire to express their outer beauty. Natalie also offers wardrobe consultation (for special events or every day).

Community-based resources recommended by TOBOH

• Love Beauty Supply Store – Hair & Wigs
  Phone: 416-386-1842
  Web: https://lovebeautysupplies.ca/
• Kaks Beauty – Hair Wigs
  4502 Kingston Road, Toronto
  Phone: 416-283-8303

Black-centered stories and blogs:

• Breast of Us: beauty blog posts by women of colour who have experienced or are experiencing breast cancer.
• Four Black women share their stories and experience with losing their hair during their breast cancer journey.

General:

• Look Good Feel Better offers in-person and online workshops across Canada for women with breast cancer

It is normal for women to experience changes in their sex life during and after treatment. You should not be afraid to express your emotions or have questions about the effects of cancer treatment on your sexual health. Below are some resources that may help you with some of your questions as well as stories of women who have shared their experiences of sex and cancer.

Black-Centered :

• High Heal Diaries – Youtube Video on Your Body & Intimacy, Falling In Love Again
• Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project by ReThink focusing on the breast cancer experiences of Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour.

General:

Ontario

• Rethink Real Talk: Sex & Body Image After Cancer panel
• ELLICSR Sex and Intimacy Classes– a class with a sex therapist on the topic of sex and intimacy. Content includes effects of treatment, coping with changes, and navigating conversations with your partner.

Canada-wide

• Canadian Cancer Society’s guide to Sex, Intimacy and Cancer.

Faith and Spirituality can be a source of comfort along the breast cancer journey. A person’s spiritual well-being plays a role in a holistic form of treatment, and faith can be a source of renewed strength. It can help to be an outlet and great coping mechanism.

Black-Centered:

• The Olive Branch of Hope offers spiritual support sharing information and resources on various faith groups.

General:

Canada-wide

• Tigerlily and Unity provide 24/7 prayer/spirituality line (816-969-2000) or online prayer form for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Unity prays with people of all faiths or no faith tradition.
• The Muslim Cancer Support Group is community-based group of volunteers and cancer survivors whose mission is to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to all who are touched by cancer.

Eating well and getting nutrients are vital for good health. There is a misconception that Black ethnic foods lack nutritional value. It is possible to build a healthy meal plan incorporating culturally ethnic food.

*These are not a substitute for medical advice

Black-Centered :

• Every three months, the Olive Branch of Hope hosts Educational Seminars to deliver evidence-based information from specialists regarding nutrition and overall health
• African Heritage Diet Pyramid created as a culturally relevant alternative to national Canada’s Food Guide
• Idilsworld is a holistic nutritionist who advocates for ways of healing with cultural foods and recipes.

Community-based resources recommended by TOBOH:

• Maggie Millwood, CNP (Hons.), NNCP
  Holistic Nutritionist, Health Educator & Wellness Consultant, Perfect Health Solutions

General:

Canada-wide

• ELLICSR Kitchen Program is a YouTube live series created to support people with cancer by teaching skills to help manage their diet

Thinking of expanding your family or getting pregnant after a breast cancer diagnosis can complicate medical decisions. However, there are a number of resources that can give some general guidance on what your options might be. Remember to also discuss your fertility options with your health care provider.

General:

• A woman who has experienced breast cancer shares her experience advocating for a “Fertility Talk”.
• BEFORE– ReThink Breast Cancer and St. Michael’s Hospital have created a fertility aid tool for young breast cancer patients in Canada to learn more about fertility options before and after treatment.

Caregivers provide physical and emotional support during a very difficult time. Supporting our caregivers is important. There are some resources that can help provide a community and support the caregiver role.

Black-Centered:

• African Cancer Support Group – Free cancer support group aimed at sharing stories, information and coping strategies. Members have access to a place to receive and give emotional and practical support

General:

Canadian-Wide

• CancerConnection offers forums and community support groups that provide guidance and advice for cancer care givers in Canada.
• You may be eligible for financial compensation as a caregiver. The Government of Canada provides benefits to eligible caregivers.
• Cancer Chat Canada provides professionally led support groups for Canadians affected by cancer

Peer support can offer comfort by sharing your experience with others who understand your journey. It can be helpful to ask questions, share experiences, and get information from those who understand your circumstances.

Black-Centered:

Ontario

• The Olive Branch of Hope Circle of Friends monthly group meetings, provides a space for women to freely discuss their disease in a caring judgement free manner.
• The Olive Branch of Hope Ambassador Program monthly survivor support group
• High Heal Diaries survivor counselling– Natalie Wilson offers counselling sessions to survivors as one-on-one sessions, or with their families in order to get a better handle on the emotional struggles that accompany a diagnosis. Programs to be determined during initial consultation. Survivors may take 2 complementary coaching sessions in lieu of financial support offering.
• African Cancer Support Group– Free cancer support group based in Alberta aimed at sharing stories, information and coping strategies. Members have access to a place to receive and give emotional and practical support

General:

Canada-wide

• CancerConnection online safe space to connect, and share experiences about cancer in Canada
• Cancer Chat Canada provides professionally led support groups for Canadians affected by cancer