Treatment, income & navigation
Cancer Treatment & Recovery Guide
A practical map of federal income support, national navigation services, charitable travel help, and provincial cancer-system entry points. This guide is for information only and does not replace your oncology team or emergency care.
How to stack supports during treatment
Most households coordinate three layers: income while you cannot work, help reaching the right provincial cancer program, and travel or drug coverage when treatment is far from home. Start with what protects cash flow this month, then layer navigation and provincial programs.
1. Income while off work
EI sickness benefits replace part of your pay when illness stops you from working. Apply early through Service Canada and keep medical certificates current.
2. Navigation & provincial care
Use the Canadian Cancer Society and your province's cancer agency for referrals, drug coverage rules, and regional program entry points.
3. Travel & longer-term tax relief
Hope Air may cover flights to treatment when you qualify. If impairment lasts, review the Disability Tax Credit and RDSP after your care team confirms lasting effects.
Programs people often check first
- Federal (EI)Income replacement
EI sickness benefits
Short-term income support when illness, including cancer treatment, prevents you from working.
- Up to 26 weeks at 55% of average insurable weekly earnings
- Requires medical certificate and enough insurable hours in the qualifying period
- Apply as soon as you stop working; waiting can delay the first payment
- National (NGO)Navigation & peers
Canadian Cancer Society
National helpline, peer support, and plain-language navigation on cancer.ca. Complements your hospital team; does not authorize treatment.
- Information on treatment types, side effects, and financial questions
- Peer support and regional programs vary by province
- Charity programs change; confirm current offers before planning on them
- Charity (travel)Far-from-home care
Hope Air travel assistance
Registered charity that may arrange flights or other travel when you must reach specialized cancer care away from home.
- Not a government program; eligibility depends on distance, income, and medical need
- Requires documentation from your care team and Hope Air intake review
- Availability shifts with donor and airline partner capacity
- Provincial healthRegional pathways
Provincial cancer care & drugs
BC Cancer, Cancer Care Ontario, Cancer Care Alberta, and other agencies coordinate referrals, take-home drug rules, and regional programs.
- Drug coverage often uses separate provincial plans (Trillium, Fair PharmaCare, outpatient oncology lists)
- Confirm take-home vs hospital-administered drug funding with your oncology clinic
- Use our timeline map for province-specific cancer and drug program links
- Federal (CRA)Lasting impairment
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
Non-refundable tax credit when cancer or its treatment causes severe, prolonged impairment in daily functioning.
- Requires a qualified practitioner to certify duration and impact on daily life
- Can unlock RDSP grants and bonds for eligible individuals under 60
- Not automatic after diagnosis; lasting functional limits must be documented
See what else your household may qualify for
Our quiz surfaces provincial drug programs, caregiver leave, and disability tax credits based on your province and situation.