Cancer Patient Services Corp: Providing confidential support and free transportation in Mount Forest, Ontario and area.

	If you are a cancer patient in Mount Forest or the surrounding area, we offer you transportation, free of charge, to treatment centres in Toronto, Kitchener, Hamilton and Southwestern Ontario. Our team of volunteer drivers are ready, willing, and able! They drive over at total of 12,000 km each month.

	For transportation, please phone 519-509-2300.

	The Cancer Care Coordinator at the Clare Stewart Medical Centre in Mount Forest can help you with other services. She will work with patients, family physicians, Family Health Team care providers, and other health, social service, and government agencies to improve access to services, community supports and resources. The Cancer Care Coordinator's position is fully funded by Cancer Patient Services Corp.

	To contact the Cancer Care Coordinator, please phone 519 323-0255.

	Emotional support can help you and your family as you deal with cancer diagnosis and treatment. (519-509-2300) offers small group sessions, free of charge. These can help you
		understand cancer as a challenge to be overcome
		learn from other cancer patients that you’re not alone
		talk about your fears and your triumphs

	Any information about you, your diagnosis, and your treatment will be kept confidential. It will be shared only with those whose services will address your needs and concerns.

	Read Carmelle’s Story!

Carmelle’s Story

A few years ago a few caring and concerned citizens made a brave decision to start a new charitable organization that would provide a variety of services and support to cancer patients in their community and surrounding areas. Most importantly, Cancer Patient Services would be managed by a group of volunteers who live in and know our communities and understand our way of life.

In May 2007 I was given my cancer diagnosis and a treatment plan that would include surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments. I had a lot to learn — and quickly — if I was going to understand and fight this cancer. I was referred to the Grand River Cancer Centre in Kitchener which is manned by caring volunteers and very knowledgeable health care teams. They all helped me cope during a difficult and scary time. I was quickly reassured that I would not have to travel to Kitchener for my chemotherapy treatments but that I could have them done at our own Louise Marshall Hospital cancer clinic. I am forever grateful to the local family who made that clinic a reality.

After the chemotherapy, radiation therapy was next. For that I had no choice but to travel to Kitchener, five days a week for 5 weeks in the middle of a very stormy winter. The thought of the daily drives made me anxious. Sometimes getting to a treatment centre which is far from home can be very difficult, especially when patients are dealing with physical and sometimes financial challenges. Then I was told that once again our community had a new organization that helped people get to their treatment centres.

Cancer Patient Services has a large group of volunteer drivers available to take patients to any of the major cancer centres in southern Ontario. Needless to say I was very relieved and once again so grateful. The drivers are all so friendly and very understanding and supportive. I also shared the drives with other cancer patients from the area. Although we were all going through a difficult time, the drives were filled with good stories, local history and, best of all, laughter.

Cancer Patient Services is one of the jewels of our community and the envy of so many other towns and cities. The overwhelming community support and financial generosity will make it possible for Cancer Patient Services to grow and will allow its dedicated volunteers to continue to offer those of us whose lives are affected by a cancer diagnosis, services and programs within our own community.

I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the all of the volunteers who helped me during a difficult time and especially to the dedicated people who made the decision to create Cancer Patient Services and who continue to work on improving the services and programs for all of us.

Carmelle
Cancer survivor!