The diagnosis of cancer is a jarring experience. Patients face a battery of diagnostic tests, clinic visits, specialist consultations and intense treatments that drastically affect their quality of life. Oncology healthcare professionals work tirelessly to meet the growing demands of cancer, but often gaps exist in the social aspects of cancer care.

Addressing this gap is a passionate, specially trained group of volunteers involved in the Healing Beyond the Body Program (HBB) at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). Their role is to connect with the patients in the various clinics and provide support and information by sharing practical treatment tips, helping to prepare for clinic visits and just by being there in the waiting room before a chemotherapy session.

Duke Chen is an undergraduate life science student at the University of Toronto who enjoys spending time with patients and is pursuing a career in health care as a result of his time spent in the HBB program

“It’s my job to make patients feel at home while they wait for an appointment,” says Duke who has volunteered with PMH for over a year. “It’s not just about providing resource information, it’s about sharing conversations about treatments and future plans.”

The response has been overwhelming and both patients and staff have commented on the fact that the very presence of the HBB volunteers helps to relieve some of the anxiety and stress that may be associated with treatment.

There are over 150 volunteers currently involved in the HBB program and each one is focused on helping patients and their families connect with the supports they may need to address the psychosocial aspects of a cancer diagnosis.

Healing Beyond the Body volunteers are members of the health care team at PMH and their specialized contributions to the patient experience is truly unique.

About the Healing Beyond the Body Program:
The Princess Margaret Hospital of the University Health Network developed an innovative volunteer program called Healing Beyond the Body (HBB) in order to address the gaps in psychosocial service commonly found in cancer care. HBB significantly expands the traditional role of volunteers in hospital settings by enabling them to provide more extensive and intensive psychosocial support to patients and their families. Within this Program, volunteers provide targeted intervention focusing on meeting the emotional, informational and capacity building needs of the patient, and assisting with the identification of patients requiring professional service.

About Volunteer Resources at Princess Margaret Hospital:
Princess Margaret Hospital recognizes that practicing exceptional medicine means having exceptional people. Each year approximately 450 dedicated volunteers covering over 60 placement areas help us achieve our goal of transforming healthcare for our patients, community and the world. Patient Centred-Care remains our first priority and is reflected in a wide variety of our volunteer opportunities.

About Princess Margaret Hospital:
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 University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital. All three are research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Source: University Health Network (UHN)