Preparing for your Transfer to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Transitioning from pediatric to adult cancer care is a big step and can feel very overpowering for some. Your team at SickKids and the Adolescent and Young Adult program at Princess Margaret are available to support you to ease some discomfort you may feel during this time.
Your Care Team
Until the day of your first appointment at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, your team at SickKids remain your primary point of contact.
Your team at SickKids will refer you to the appropriate team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. This team will provide information of where your clinic visits will occur. On your first visit, please ask for a contact sheet and the business card of your medical provider in clinic. Please review with your team who to call if you are: feeling unwell, requiring medical assessment or other medical concerns.
With your new team, you will not have a contact nurse equivalent. Instead, your team will provide you with the "nursing triage team" phone number that you will be encouraged to call. This team of nurses will rotate. Please anticipate that you may speak with a different nurse each time that you phone. If you are unable to reach a nurse from the "nursing triage" team immediately, they will return your call within 4 hours.
Please note, the "nursing triage team" is only available on Monday to Friday, 9am-430pm. On evenings, weekends and holidays, you will be encouraged to call CAREpath to speak with a Specialized Oncology Nurse. You can reach CAREpath at 1 877 681 3057. If you prefer, you may also call your primary care provider's office (your primary care provider is your family doctor or nurse practitioner).
Accessing Emergency Care
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre does not have an emergency department. If you require emergency care, please access your nearest emergency department.
If you live near the downtown core, Toronto General, Toronto Western and Mount Sinai have emergency departments. You may visit one of their emergency departments if travelling there is safe to do so.
When you Receive your First Appointment Information
Ask for your medical record number (MRN) and ask for the link to your "Mychart" at UHN to be sent to you either by text or by email. This link needs to be yours and not your parents for medical and legal reasons.
Please prepare for your healthcare team to speak to you directly, and to have your parents be there to support you. This may be a change from how your care was managed at SickKids, and there are many supports available to help you advocate for your needs.
Clinic Days
Most providers have one clinic day per week. When you get your appointment, the day you receive is generally the only day the provider is in clinic (could be am or pm spot). Ensure you ask where the clinic is located in Princess Margaret.
Preparing for your First Visit
Before your first visit to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, you will need a primary health care provider (Physician, Nurse Practitioner Clinic), not a pediatrician. This is top priority. Bring your OHIP card, the name and address of your pharmacy, your primary care provider information, any medicines you are on and your allergies.
Prepare to wait. Bring your phone charger, snacks, and hydration. You will be able to access UHN Wi-Fi as a guest.
Important note: When you transition to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, your specialist appointments and many tests (except for bloodwork) will likely happen on a separate day, and may occur in a separate hospital. Many people wonder why can things no longer be coordinated. There are a couple reasons:
- The government will not fund multiple specialists in multiple hospitals, so that hospitals have grown into specialty centres. For example, Toronto General Hospital is known for its expertise in heart and lungs (Echo and PFTs testing). Toronto Western is known for Neurosurgery expertise.
- The other reason is the sheer volume of new patients seen at each adult centre per year.
- You can ask your medical provider on potential timing of tests (like ask if your echo can be booked in the summer or after May so you do not interfere with school).
Bloodwork and Chemotherapy
You can get your bloodwork done on the main floor of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. You will be required to take a number and wait in queue until your number is called. There is a patient library directly across from the lab, and you can access many of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's resources.
Chemotherapy is often administered on the 4th floor. You will be required to take a number and wait in queue until your number is called. You will then check in at the desk, and will receive a (/buzzer." This buzzer does have excellent range, so you are welcome to go downstairs to get a snack or warm beverage in the waiting period. Once your buzzer goes off, please return to the desk on the 4th floor, and one of the staff will direct you to your "pod."
The pods are colour coded, like at SickKids. The staff in the pods rotate, so you may not see the same individuals at every visit. Regardless, you will receive excellent treatment. You may bring any comfort items with you, snacks and water. There are bathrooms in each pod, and your team may provide you with blankets upon request.
Within each pod, you will likely be assigned to an infusion chair. These are recliner chairs with curtains to allow for privacy between patients. There are few rooms in each pod, and those are typically reserved for patients who are in isolation, or require long treatment days.
Where to Park
Discounted parking passes are available to purchase Monday - Friday: Visit the information desk at Toronto General (Elizabeth Street entrance). When exiting the hospital, pick up your pass from the parking office.
Additionally, you may choose to park using the Green P parking behind Mount Sinai (outdoors) or using underground paid parking at the MaRS building.
Where to Eat/Drink
At Princess Margaret: Starbucks, Tim Horton's, Pinto's
At the Ontario Power Generator (OPG)/ Hydro Building: Tim Horton's, Mr. Souvlaki, Est West, Manchu Wok, Subway, The Poke Box, Swiss Chalet
There are also many options at Mount Sinai, Toronto General and along University Avenue.
Supports Available to You
We understand that this transition may cause some anxiety and we are here to support you however we can. Please discuss with your team at SickKids which option may be best for you:
- A referral can be made to the adolescent and young adult (AYA) program. This program provides personalized, supportive care related to concerns common to young adults with cancer. These concerns include fertility, sexual health, school and work concerns, peer support, and wellness. The AYA program's clinical nurse specialist will work with you to identify your individual needs, provide education and support, help connect you to other patients, and link you to other community and hospital services and resources. You can also reach out to the AVA program any time at
aya@uhn.ca to request an appointment.
- A referral can be made to the psychosocial oncology (PSO) department. This department is made up of social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. These providers are able to offer (typically) a maximum of 5 sessions due to the large volume of patients they see. If you feel as though you would require more than 5 sessions, please ask your primary care provider for a referral to a local therapist for support.
