Internet

Site launched for Canadian breast cancer survivors

TORONTO – A new website called Caring Voices (www.caringvoices.ca) offers Canadian women with breast cancer on-line access to medical experts, peers, and a resource library. Regardless of their geographical location, visitors can log on to the site and join professionally facilitated online discussion groups, be matched up with peer survivors who share similar interests and life situation, and obtain medical information prepared by experts in patient education.

Princess Margaret Hospital’s award-winning Patient Education Program and Breast Cancer Survivorship Program staff manage the website. They produced the website’s information resources and are moderating the discussion groups. PMH created the website in collaboration with Klick Communications, while cancer survivors provided input into its development and testing.

“I wish this site existed when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer,”
says Karen Portelli, breast cancer survivor and PMH peer support volunteer. “It’s great to find reliable information and resources in one easily accessible place and to know you can connect with someone in the middle of the night without leaving your home.”

“This online initiative expands the support available for patients at the hospital’s Survivorship Program,” says Dr. Pam Catton, Director of Education and Medical Director, Breast Cancer Survivorship Program at PMH. “With the new website, more people can benefit from the program no matter where they live in the country. We’re delighted to have worked with Klick Communications, who has the talent and expertise for developing appealing and easy-to-use on-line tools.”

“Caring Voices provides cancer survivors, their families and friends access to a wealth of information relevant to their situation and a safe environment to participate in online discussions,” says David Wiljer, PMH’s Director of Knowledge Management and Innovation. Development of the website is supported by The Quilt, The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, and Klick Communications.

Caring Voices is part of the integrated support initiatives of The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Survivorship Program, which started in 2005 and focuses on three goals: empowerment through education, enhancing the clinical experience, and enabling community connections. For more information, visit www.survivorship.ca.

Klick Communications builds business solutions using proven and practical technologies. The company takes an innovative and creative approach in order to deliver remarkable results on-time and on-budget. With offices in Toronto and Montreal, Klick has established long-term relationships with leading healthcare companies. For more information visit, www.klickit.com.

Princess Margaret Hospital and its research arm, Ontario Cancer Institute, have achieved an international reputation as global leaders in the fight against cancer. Princess Margaret Hospital is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital. All three are teaching hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto.