‘No one faces cancer alone’: Support centre opens for Fredericton-area patients, caretakers

A new cancer support centre is helping patients in Fredericton.

Fredericton is now home to a cancer care and support centre that helps survivors and their loved ones navigate the diagnosis and life during and after treatment.

The centre, with a full kitchen, yoga studio and therapy rooms, was funded entirely by local businesses and donors through the Chalmers Foundation.

It’s operating with 85 cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones accessing several different support programs.

The Chalmers Foundation already had support programs in place – but didn’t have a single place to host them all – which is why they felt a central space was necessary.

“You’ve given more than just bricks and mortar, you’ve given hope,” said Charles A. Diab, Chalmers Foundation CEO.

Premier Susan Holt was at the grand opening of the centre and said the best health care happens “when you have a team in place.”

Holt launched her government’s provincial health-care plan Tuesday and said there’s a specific focus on oncology.

“Something that hasn’t been done before, that calls out how prevalent cancer is in our system and how we need to be putting solutions in place,” she said.

Cancer rates are generally higher in Atlantic Canada and Quebec than in western Canada.

The Canadian Cancer Society’s projections show that in 2024, about 5,700 New Brunswickers were expected to be diagnosed with cancer, 7,500 Nova Scotians and 1,070 Prince Edward Islanders.

Family physician and member of the Chalmers Foundation board, Dr. Ann Collins says most primary care providers have to deliver the news of a new diagnosis, or manage ongoing treatment for a cancer patient, nearly every day.

“It’s a gut wrenching, heartbreaking feeling. Oftentimes, you’ve had a long-standing relationship with these people, and you know that they’re going to want answers that you don’t necessarily hold at that moment in time. And I would often say to them on your, this is the beginning of a journey. It’s not a journey that you wanted to be on… So that’s why this centre, this cancer care and support center is so critically important to have in our community,” she said.

Noortje Kunnen is currently undergoing treatment for stage four metastatic breast cancer.

Her normally active lifestyle was changed drastically, with numerous appointments and treatments which brought on a level of fatigue she was far from used to.

She says it brought on a number of questions and emotions that were difficult navigate.

“What is my life going to be like? Am I going to die? When am I going to die? That’s more the question that I have. When am I going to die?” she said. “And then, once you’re settled into a rhythm of treatments or you know what the plan is, you kind of fall in this abyss where you’re kind of left to deal with all the emotional stuff that comes up from having a cancer diagnosis.”

Kunnen says the medical care she’s received is great, but “you miss the emotional support.”

Which is why she’s now involved in the programming provided at the centre.

“You know that you when you arrive here, you’re home. And it doesn’t matter how you show up, they’re just happy that you show up. I feel it’s always a very good use of my time and energy to come here, I’ve never regretted it,” she said. “Sometimes, I don’t feel well at all. And I come here and I just feel the warmth and the energy from the people that are here to support us and our fellow cancer patients.”

From how to make meals that are more appetizing when you don’t feel like eating, to yoga and therapeutic classes and group chats – they’ll all take place in the newly renovated building.

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