1) What is InspireHealth? InspireHealth is Canada's only government funded integrated cancer care centre. Our well-established program has served over 5,000 cancer patients since 1997. We work with and inspire cancer patients to live healthy, happy and passionate lives. By helping them to fully engage body, mind and spirit, we assist in creating the conditions for healing to occur. How do we do this? By offering classes on joy, passion, nutrition, the importance of emotional support, exercise and meditation, along with personal medical consultations to help patients create an individualized Life Enhancing Health Plan.

2) What do you do? Our medical doctors "guide" patients in creating an individualized Life Enhancing Health Plan. Our integrated medical model, which engages people in their own care, improves quality of life and helps to reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence.

3) What is different about InspireHealth? We encourage empowerment and inspiration. We promote simple, inexpensive lifestyle changes and activities that cancer patients can easily adopt. Well-researched information and practical suggestions are offered to enable people to sustain a healthy lifestyle and to support healing.

4) Are the doctors at InspireHealth general practitioners or oncologists? The InspireHealth doctors are trained as family doctors and have a special interest in integrated cancer care. The InspireHealth doctors are an addition to the patient's own general practitioner and oncologist, not replacements.

5)What does InspireHealth think of chemotherapy, radiation and other conventional treatments? Our services are complementary to treatments that patients may already be receiving. Personal choice and autonomy are encouraged, supported and honoured and patients are encouraged to play an active role in their own treatment choices and recovery program.

6) Is there communication between oncologists and other medical doctors and my InspireHealth physician? Yes. Upon request, we send an initial letter to your physicians and we are happy to connect with other MDs as needed.

7) Who can participate in InspireHealth's programs? Anyone who has had a conventional diagnosis of cancer, currently or in the past. The programs are designed for adults age 16 and older. No referral necessary Canadian residents in or out of province.

8) How do I make an appointment to see one of the doctors? Seeing a doctor is easy! Simply call 604-734-7125 to book an appointment today.

9) What is the LIFE Program and how can I sign up? This innovative, two-day educational and experiential program is facilitated by InspireHealth medical doctors and staff. The program teaches approaches for integrating mind, body and spirit into cancer care to promote optimal health and healing. Our Foundations of Health and Healing explore fitness, rest, relaxation, healthy nutrition and stress reduction. Patients and their families engage in an integrated whole person approach to cancer care empowering them to make choices that inspire new levels of self-care and greatly improve quality of life. The LIFE Program runs every two weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Program costs $375 for cancer patients and $75 for support people. Please call 604-734-7125 to register. Click here for more information.

10) What can I do if I do not have the energy to attend the program? We try to make our patients as comfortable as possible during the program by providing mats, blankets and pillows. Many of our patients attend the program with a support person to assist them or to take notes, etc. In the event that a patient is unable to attend the program, a support person is more than welcome to attend the program on their behalf. If sections of the program are missed due to illness or conflicting appointments, please ask our Administrative Support Staff for details regarding covering the missed information by calling 604-734-7125(extension 221) Please note: If you have a cold or the flu on the program days, please re-book for a later date as we may have participants with compromised immune systems attending.

11) Can I become a patient at InspireHealth without going through the LIFE Program? Yes.

12) Do I need a referral to participate and what is the fee for seeing the doctor? No referral is necessary to see a medical doctor and InspireHealth is free of charge to those with a valid Provincial Health Card.

13) How do I access the services of the Associate Practitioners? Inspirehealth Associate Practitioners are private practitioners, and are fee-for-service. They are accessible to patients and family members and friends.

14) I want to get started with my self-care now. Can I attend classes and see an Associate Practitioner before I do the LIFE Program and see a doctor? Absolutely, once you have registered for the LIFE Program, you are welcome to attend both our Inspirational Core Health Classes and our fee-based classes. Appointments with our Associate Practitioners can be arranged anytime.

15) I'm from out-of-town or out of province, how do I stay in touch? We offer In-Review Medical follow-ups with your InspireHealth physician over the phone and you are welcome to participate in our programs in person when you are in town. In fact, some of our patients book extra time for themselves to come to Vancouver and participate in our classes, follow up with their physician and see one of our Associate Practitioners Many of our patients stay in touch with each other.

16) Are support people welcome to attend InspireHealth's programs? Yes! Support people may attend the LIFE Program, In Support (Support Persons' Group), meditation classes and all of our fee-based classes. For all other InspireHealth classes, priority is given to cancer patients. Please call ahead for space availability.

17) What's new? Our free monthly Research Updates. Our Research Updates are created from our Research Information System, which searches medical databases world-wide for the latest in integrative cancer care research - it is the only one like it in the world. Please contact our Clinical Librarian at (604) 734-7125 (ext 228) to sign up. If your questions are not answered by the information provided on our website, please feel free to call our Administrative Healing Support Staff 604-734-7125 Extension 221.