Patients and Families

Program Leads: Christopher Longo and Arminee Kazanjian

Society is facing an increasing incidence of patients undergoing active cancer treatment, living with cancer or surviving with late effects of treatment. Societal expectations continue to increase regarding the provision of comprehensive care throughout the disease trajectory. Psychosocial care is a key feature of a comprehensive cancer approach but is typically neglected. Many of the psychosocial (and other) impacts of cancer continue through into the “survivorship” phase. The impact on family members and family caregivers will be more profound as the expectations placed on families to look after loved ones increase. The formal cancer care system typically offers little to families in educating and supporting them for this role.

Our Patients and Families Program examines how issues related to person-centered cancer care – for example, patient navigation, supportive care, financial burden, psychosocial care and palliative care – affect the health and well-being of cancer patients, survivors and their families. In addition to the examination of these issues, this research program also encompasses the associated policy and implementation strategies that often follow.

Past projects

Here are some of the past projects our investigators and research personnel have been involved with: