Sarah P.

The oncology community has a special place in my heart. My sister was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma in 2000. After six months of intense chemotherapy treatment, she was declared cancer-free and has been in remission for almost 19 years. Throughout her cancer journey, my family experienced support from the community, our church and from other families affected by cancer. This was the beginning of what led me to where I am today. I didn’t even realize that the job of an oncology social worker existed until I did my second-year master’s internship at CancerCare.

CancerCare is incredibly unique thanks to the spectrum of our services. A diagnosis of cancer completely upends an individual’s life, and we support clients through the entire cancer experience whether they’re a patient, a caregiver or a loved one. We also have support services specific to different age groups; counseling is available to children as young as five and there is no age maximum! Having supportive services available to those affected by cancer, especially services personalized for specific groups like young adults, caregivers and the bereaved, decreases feelings of isolation and fosters community and emotional growth.

It is a privilege to support individuals and families as they cope with the cancer experience. There are many challenges faced by children, teens and families that often fly under the radar. Being able to not only provide emotional support, but also practical support through our Back-to-School and Winter Warmth programs, allows me to positively impact families affected by cancer throughout the year.