Canadian Partnership Against Cancer welcomes introduction of National Advance Care Planning Day on April 12

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is pleased to be a partner in the national Speak Up campaign, which marks the launch of National Advance Care Planning Day.

Championed by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, National Advance Care Planning Day raises awareness of the need for advance care planning: the process of reflecting on and communicating one’s personal care preferences in the event that one becomes incapable of consenting to, or refusing, treatment or other care. The Speak Up campaign encourages Canadians to have conversations with family, friends and health care professionals about their wishes for end-of-life care.

While more Canadians are surviving cancer, it continues to be a leading cause of death: an estimated 76,200 Canadians died of the disease in 2010.^[1]

“Thousands of Canadians and their families affected by cancer have needs that focus on reducing pain and increasing comfort as the disease progresses,” said Jessica Hill, CEO of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. “That’s why advance care planning is so important – it enables people to let others know how they want to be cared for, and reduces added stress on the family during a difficult time.”

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s work across the cancer continuum includes improving the cancer experience for those most affected whether they are entering, navigating or moving beyond the cancer system. In addition to supporting National Advance Care Planning Day, the Partnership is supporting clinicians in palliative and end-of-life care education and training, and is improving access to information and support in palliative and end-of-life care through resources such as Canadian Virtual Hospice. Other Partnership initiatives to improve the cancer experience include supporting the development and implementation of local, provincial and territorial navigation programs and the development and dissemination of resources and programs needed to support Canada’s growing population of cancer survivors.

For more information on advance care planning and the Speak Up campaign, visit advancecareplanning.ca. For more information on the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, visit www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca

Media contact

Lisa Marchitto
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
(416) 915-9222

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Notes

^[1] Canadian Cancer Society’s Steering Committee: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2010. Toronto: Canadian Cancer Society, 2010.