The West Island Cancer Wellness Centre is proud to announce that Health Canada has approved its application to declare June 26th National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day. The first edition will be held this year and the goal is to encourage Canadians to learn how cancer wellness helps people with cancer to live well through or with the illness. One in two Canadians is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime. Yet the majority are not aware of the importance of cancer wellness, also known as psychosocial care.
Cancer wellness is not about the disease. It’s about hope, education and experiences, says Debbie Magwood, Founder and Executive Director of the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre. It empowers people living with cancer – whether they have it or are caring for someone who does – to make behavioural, spiritual and physical changes so they can live well.”
Cancer wellness is a whole-person approach that complements traditional medicine. While medicine treats the disease, cancer wellness focuses on treating the person by addressing their emotional, spiritual and physical needs. Research shows that when it is an integrated part of the oncology treatment plan, it improves the effects of cancer like fatigue, depression or anxiety, weight and appetite loss and more.
On May 27th, representatives of the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre partnered with Hope and Cope Montreal, Venturing Out Beyond Our Cancer (VOBOC) and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation to hold a lobby day in Ottawa. They met with more than 25 Members of Parliament and Senators to solicit their support in promoting National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day. On June 10th, Senator Diane Griffin made a statement at the opening of the Senate meeting on the importance of cancer wellness.
On June 4th, the city of Kirkland proclaimed June 26th National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day and, at the provincial level, Monsef Derraji, Deputy for Nelligan, made a statement at the National Assembly about the first edition of the day.
It’s our hope that through National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day people will learn about cancer wellness and seek out resources in their community. I encourage anyone seeking information, regardless of the type of cancer they have or where they live or are being treated, to call our Living Well with Cancer Network at (514) 695-9355 or toll-free at 1-833-274-9355, added Ms. Magwood.
ABOUT THE WEST ISLAND CANCER WELLNESS CENTRE
The West Island Cancer Wellness Centre (WICWC) is a registered charity dedicated to offering compassionate care and support to anyone experiencing cancer – either having it themselves or supporting someone with cancer. The Centre exists in response to the demand for a whole-person integrated approach to wellness that focuses on improving the health and well-being of people living with cancer by addressing their emotional, physical and spiritual needs. The Centre’s programs and services are created to fulfill the need for psychosocial cancer care and to complement traditional medical practices. Thanks to the Centre’s fundraising efforts and generous donors, the programs are free to anyone living with cancer. For more information, visit www.wicwc.org.
