Cancer changes far more than a person's health, and The Ottawa Cancer Foundation wants Ottawa residents to know that support exists for the rest of it. In a piece published by the Ottawa Business Journal on October 1, 2026, and credited to the foundation itself, the organization describes what it says people face after a diagnosis and what it offers locally.
A diagnosis that touches many families
The piece opens with a national figure: nearly one in two Canadians is expected to be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime.
The part that comes after treatment
According to the piece, treatment is not where the difficulty ends. It says emotional distress, financial strain, family pressures and the complexity of navigating care can continue long after treatment ends. Those are the pressures the foundation says sit alongside the medical side of cancer, and the reason it frames its work around "everything else" that cancer changes.
What the foundation offers
The Ottawa Cancer Foundation describes itself as the region's only community cancer hub. It says it provides free support to people living with cancer, caregivers and family members. That support includes:
- Cancer System Navigators
- Cancer-focused counselling
- Peer support
- Exercise and wellness programs
- Connections to community resources
Because the piece was written by the foundation, this list is the organization's own description of its services. The article does not say how to register for any of them, whether there are waiting lists, or where the programs are held.
In their words
Deborah Lehmann, president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, said: "Medical treatment is only one part of the cancer experience. People also need trusted guidance, emotional support and a community that understands what they are going through."
The piece also includes the experience of a client identified only as Jay. "Through The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, I found mental-health support, peer connection and programs that gave me the tools to steady myself and move forward," he said of the period after his diagnosis.
The Aurora Ball returns on November 21
The piece also points to a date on the calendar. On November 21, the Aurora Ball returns to The Westin Ottawa, bringing together approximately 500 business and community leaders to support local cancer care.
The piece does not say what tickets cost, how to attend, what the evening will include or how much money the event aims to raise. Those details have not been announced in the material we reviewed, so anyone interested in the ball will need to check with the foundation directly.
Why it matters for Ottawa readers
For anyone in the region facing a diagnosis, or supporting someone who is, the practical takeaway is that free navigation, counselling and peer support are described as available locally, not only through the hospital system. For businesses and community leaders, the Aurora Ball is the foundation's stated opportunity to back that work in person.
Sources: Ottawa Business Journal (authored by The Ottawa Cancer Foundation)
