Your doctor can suggest the CRS program for many reasons. Your reason for referral must be cancer-related.
- Loss of range of motion
- Weakness
- Feelings of pain, tingling, numbness
- Balance issues and falls
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Lymphedema (swelling)
- Changes in appetite and diet concerns
- Troubles with activities of daily living (dressing, eating, ambulating, toileting, performing personal hygiene)
- Help with returning to work or school
- Sexual health (less interest in sex, vaginal dryness, pain with sex, body image issues)
- Psychosocial help (emotions and coping, relationship changes, fear of cancer recurrence)
- "Brain fog" (poor memory, attention, or focus)
- Nutrition advice to help manage cancer-related side effects
To access the Cancer Rehab and Survivorship (CRS) program, you must:
- have had treatment at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- have a cancer-related problem
You must be referred to the CRS program by a doctor. Your referring doctor can be any doctor caring for you.
Your referral is reviewed by the CRS team. Once approved, you will be booked for an appointment to be assessed by our team. If you do not see your appointment in the myUHN Patient Portal and do not hear from the CRS program in 2 weeks, please call us at 416 946 4501 ext. 2363.
Your first appointment will include a complete assessment of your cancer-related concerns and rehab needs. This appointment takes about 2 hours. We will ask you to complete surveys that help the Cancer Rehab and Survivorship (CRS) team understand your concerns and needs, as well as assess your goals for the program.
You will first meet with a CRS physiotherapist or occupational therapist and/or a rehabilitation physician (physiatrist). Together with the CRS team, you will create a personalized rehab care plan to reach your goals.
Your CRS team consists of a physiatrist (medical doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation), occupational therapists, physiotherapists, kinesiologists (exercise professionals), a social worker, a neuropsychologist, dietitians, a wellness chef, and administrative assistants.
During your first appointment, the CRS team will assess the type of care you need.
The CRS team provides 3 different types of care: