National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day in Canada Date in the current year: June 26, 2024

Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis that severely affects not only one’s physical health, which is to be expected, but also their emotional and mental well-being. Common mental and emotional challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis include anxiety, emotional distress, depression, and difficulty maintaining social relationships. Cancer also affects one’s ability to perform daily tasks and everyday life in general.

While addressing the physical needs of cancer patients is arguably the most important part of their treatment, their emotional, spiritual, and other needs must not be neglected. This is where the concept of cancer wellness comes in. The term “cancer wellness” refers to a whole-person approach that meets all cancer patients’ needs and improves their overall well-being.

Cancer wellness is supposed to empower people diagnosed with cancer by actively involving them in their care, encouraging them to make informed decisions, and giving them a sense of control over their lives. It complements traditional medicine and puts an emphasis on self-care. Cancer wellness includes developing positive coping strategies and stress management skills, maintaining healthy relationships, managing side effects of cancer treatments, and improving overall physical and emotional health.

According to statistics, one in two Canadians is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, but most are not prepared for such a diagnosis and know nothing about cancer wellness programs that can help them cope with the diagnosis and maintain a good quality of life while getting treatment. This is why it is important to make sure cancer patients and their families know about the resources available to them to help manage the challenges posed by cancer and its treatment.

National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day was conceived in 2018 by the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre (WICWC), a registered charity that offers compassionate care and support to anyone affected by cancer, either experiencing it themselves or supporting a cancer patient. The WICWC successfully petitioned Health Canada to designate June 26 as National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day, and the first event took place on June 26, 2019.

NCWAD is supported and promoted by multiple cancer organizations across Canada, including the WICWC (naturally), the Quebec Cancer Foundation, Wellspring Cancer Support, Hope & Cope, the Canadian Cancer Society, Cedars CanSupport, Fondation Virage, VOBOC Founcation, ROCO (Regroupement des organisations communautaires en oncologie), the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence, and others.

A number of cities and municipalities in Quebec have officially proclaimed NCWAD; they include Beaconsfield, Kirkland, La Pocatière, Pointe-Claire, Saint-Bruno-de-Kamouraska, Saint-Pacôme, and Saint-Pascal.