Topic outline

  • People having treatment need to live in a clean place. Clean places help reduce the risk of infection. This section explains how to prevent infections at home.

    URLs: 8
    • Hand Hygiene – How to Help Prevent Infection While You Are in the Hospital  URL

      Infections can happen in hospitals too. Learn how to prevent infections during your visit to the hospital.

      Format: Video - Time to Complete: 4 minutes
    • Cleaning Your Skin Before Your Surgery at University Health Network (UHN) URL

      Skin can have germs. To reduce the chance of infection, people must shower before having surgery. This brochure explains how to clean the skin before surgery.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 5 minutes
    • Food Safety for People with Weakened Immune Systems URL

      Food can be a source of infection. These videos explain how to make food safe.

      Format: Video Series - Time to Complete: 4 minutes per video
    • Caregiving: Reducing Germs and Infection in the Home URL

      Germs can be present at any place in a home. This website has cleaning tips that you can try at home.

      Format: Website - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • Prevent Getting Sick from Visitors URL

      This brochure explains what a respiratory virus is and how visitors can be harmful if they have one. It will also teach you how viruses are spread and what you can do to prevent getting sick.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 4 minutes
    • Preventing the Spread of Infections URL

      Read this brochure to learn more about what steps you can take to keep yourself and other patients or staff safe when you visit the hospital.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 4 minutes
    • Cleaning Your Mouth During Your Stay in Hospital URL

      Read this brochure to learn more about what steps you can take to keep your mouth clean and who to talk to if you are concerned about your oral health. 

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • Influenza (the Flu) URL

      Read this brochure to learn more about how the flu spreads and how it is prevented. 

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 4 minutes

  • After a surgery, a person will need care. This section talks about how to manage surgery pain and how to take baths.

    URLs: 3
    • Managing Your Pain After Day Surgery URL

      People can feel pain after surgery. This brochure is designed for patients, but it can help you learn how to reduce pain after surgery.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 5 minutes
    • My Surgery: Pain Management URL

      People feel pain in different ways. When a person is feeling pain after surgery, they must tell their healthcare team. These videos show a patient and doctor talking. You can learn what the healthcare team will ask, and how to describe pain.

      Format: Video Series - Time to Complete: 7 minutes
    • Help Skin Heal with Saline Soaks URL

      Some treatments can cause sore, dry, and itchy skin. Doing saline soaks can help keep skin clean and help it heal. Learn more about how to do a saline soak at home using this brochure.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 4 minutes

  • Some people may need injections as part of their treatment. This section explains how to give an injection and how to practise needle safety at home.

    URLs: 2
    • Needle Safety at Home URL

      Used needles need to be thrown out safely. This brochure explains how and where to throw away used needles.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 2 minutes
    • How to Give Yourself a Subcutaneous Injection Using a Prefilled Syringe URL

      Some medicines come in a pre-filled syringe. This website is made for patients, but you can learn how to give a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.

      Format: Website - Time to Complete: 10 minutes

  • Moving around can be hard for some people. This section explains how to support a person that cannot move. You can also find information about funding for mobility aids.

    URLs: 5
    • Physiotherapy  URL

      If a person has difficulty moving, physiotherapists can help. This website explains how to contact physiotherapists at Princess Margaret and what they can do for you.

      Format: Website - Time to Complete: 1 minute
    • Outpatient Physiotherapy for Cancer Rehabilitation URL

      You can get physiotherapy outside of the hospital. This brochure lists physiotherapy programs, who can attend, and how to contact them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 4 minutes
    • Funding for Mobility Aids from the Assistive Devices Program URL

      People who need a walker or a wheelchair may wonder how they can afford to buy one. The Ontario government has a program called the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) to help you with some of these costs. Use this brochure to learn more about how to apply for the ADP.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • How to Choose an Equipment Vendor URL

      ​If your health care team has recommended some equipment to help you manage safely at home, you’ll need to choose a supplier or ‟vendor”.

      Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • Where to Find Home Healthcare Equipment and Supplies URL

      Information on common healthcare equipment and where to find them.

      Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes

  • Central lines are tubes that are put into the vein to insert medicine. This section explains how to use and care for central lines.

    URLs: 3File: 1
    • Know About Your Tunnelled Central Venous Catheter (CVC)  URL

      This brochure explains what a tunnelled central venous catheter (CVC) is. It also explains how to take care of a CVC and who to call if you have questions.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 30 minutes
    • Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter (PICC)  URL

      This brochure explains what a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) is. It also explains how to take care of a PICC and who to call if you have questions.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 12 minutes
    • How to Flush and Lock your Central Venous Catheter (CVC) File

      How to Flush and Lock your Central Venous Catheter (CVC)

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 25 minutes
    • Flushing and Locking Your Central Venous Catheter (CVC) URL

      "Flushing Your CVC" means putting a small amount of saline into each lumen to clear it out. In this video you will learn the following: 1) What is flushing and locking your CVC 2) When to flush and lock your CVC 3) How to flush and lock your CVC

      Format: Video - Time to Complete: 12 minutes

  • During treatment, some people feel weak and can fall easily. This section explains what you can do at home to prevent falls.

    URLs: 4
    • Preventing Falls at Home URL

      There are simple ways to adapt at home to prevent falls. This brochure explains who is at risk of falling and what you can do to prevent falls.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 7 minutes
    • Preventing Falls When You Come for an Appointment URL

      You can ask for help during your appointments to prevent falls. This brochure explains what you can do before leaving your home and after you get to the hospital.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • Preventing Falls When Staying Overnight in the Hospital URL

      This brochure explains ways to prevent falls at the hospital.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 5 minutes
    • Preventing Falls for Patients with Cancer URL

      This brochure explains the risk of falls for cancer patients and how to prevent them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes

  • Ostomy is a hole made during surgery to allow stool or urine to leave your body. An ostomy pouch needs care to be kept clean. This section explains how to care for different kinds of ostomy pouch.

    URLs: 3
    • Ostomy (stoma) Assistance URL

      A Clinical Nurse Specialist can teach you how to manage your ostomy pouch system. This website explains how to ask for a Clinical Nurse's assistance at Princess Margaret.

      Format: Website - Time to Complete: 1 minute
    • Eating After Your Ileostomy URL

      It is important to watch what you eat and drink after an ileostomy to keep your stoma from blocking, and to make sure your body is hydrated (getting enough fluids). Read this brochure to learn more about how and what to eat and drink after your ileostomy surgery.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 9 minutes
    • Abdominal Perineal Resection (APR) With Colostomy URL

      Before your surgery, it is important to understand what an Abdominal Perineal Resection (APR) With Colostomy is and the care that is needed after surgery. Learn more about how to care for yourself when you get home using this brochure.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 12 minutes

  • A tracheostomy is a hole in the throat that helps people breathe better. This section explains how to prepare for a tracheostomy and how to care for it.

    URLs: 2
    • Tracheostomy URL

      Some people need a tracheostomy to breathe better. This brochure explains what to expect when getting a tracheostomy, how to prepare for the surgery, and how to clean the tracheostomy tube.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 20 minutes
    • Caring for Your Tracheostomy URL

      Caring for a tracheostomy can be very stressful. These videos explain how to care for a tracheostomy to reduce the risk of infection.

      Ads (advertisements) may appear before this video plays. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre does not control or endorse the content of these ads.

      Format: Video Series - Time to Complete: 3 minutes per video

  • A feeding tube is a plastic tube in the stomach that is used to insert food and medicine. This section explains what to expect when getting a feeding tube and how to use it.

    URLs: 11
    • G-Tube Feeding by Syringe URL

      A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is put in the stomach to give the body nutrients and fluids. This brochure explains how to care for a G-tube, how to deal with problems, and how to ask for help.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 45 minutes
    • Know What to Expect When Having a Feeding Tube Inserted as an Outpatient URL

      Some people get a G-tube and go home the same day. This brochure explains how to prepare for having a G-tube inserted, and how to take care of the G-tube when the patient goes home.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 15 minutes
    • Know What to Expect When Having a Feeding Tube Inserted as an Inpatient URL

      Some people get a G-tube and stay in the hospital while they recover. This brochure explains how to prepare for having a G-tube inserted, and how to take care of the G-tube when the patient goes home.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 15 minutes
    • How to Care for Your Feeding Tube URL

      This brochure explains the parts of the feeding tube, and how to take care of the G-tube and check for problems.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 10 minutes
    • How to Care for Your PEG-J Tube and Site URL

      This brochure explains how to keep the PEG-J site clean and dry and check for complications. It will also explain how to drain it and move the internal bumper.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 7 minutes
    • Nasogastric (NG) Tube Feeding by Syringe URL

      This brochure explains what an NG tube is and how to use it. It will also explain how to care for it and troubleshooting information.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 17 minutes
    • Tube Feeding by Gravity URL

      This brochure explains how to use and clean a feeding tube. It will also walk you through common problems and how to handle them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 11 minutes
    • Tube Feeding by Pump URL

      This brochure explains how to use and clean a feeding tube. It will also walk you through common problems and how to handle them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 11 minutes
    • What to Expect During Your Gastrostomy (G) Tube Removal at Princess Margaret Hospital URL

      This brochure explains what to expect when getting a G tube removal. It will also walk you through common problems and how to handle them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • What to Expect When Your Gastrostomy-Jejunostomy (GJ) Tube is Removed URL

      This brochure explains what to expect when getting a G tube removal. It will also walk you through common problems and how to handle them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes
    • Your MIC‑KEY Low-Profile Feeding Tube URL

      This brochure explains what to expect when getting a MIC-KEY feeding tube. It will also walk you through common problems and how to handle them.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 3 minutes

  • After breast cancer surgery, it can take a few weeks to recover. This section explains what care a person will need to recover safely.

    URLs: 7
    • Going Home After Breast Surgery Without Drains URL

      After breast surgery, a patient needs care for a few days. This brochure explains how to take care of the wound, and what to do while healing.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 4 minutes
    • Going Home After Breast Surgery With Drains URL

      Patients getting breast surgery with drains need care after leaving the hospital. This brochure explains how to care for the drains, how to drain them and when to ask for help.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 15 minutes
    • Functional Rehab After Breast Reconstruction Surgery URL

      There are many types of breast reconstruction surgeries. This brochures explains what to do after each type of surgery, how to care for the wounds, and what activities are safe.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 15 minutes
    • Going Home After Breast Reconstruction With a Tissue Expander or Implant  URL

      Going home after breast reconstruction surgery can be stressful. This brochure explains how to care for a person after breast reconstruction, and when to ask for help.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 7 minutes
    • Your Guide to: Bras and Breast Prostheses After Breast Surgery URL

      Some people use breast prostheses after breast surgery. This brochure explains what a breast prosthesis is, how to choose the right breast prosthesis and where to look for more information.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 10 minutes
    • Your Guide to: Bras and Breast Prostheses After Breast Surgery With Drains URL

      Getting a breast prosthesis can be hard when a person has drains. This brochure explains which bras and prostheses to use after breast surgery with drains.

      Format: Brochure - Time to Complete: 20 minutes
    • Breast Care, Forms & Garments URL

      There are many types of bras and breast prostheses. This website explains different bra types, forms, and how to prepare for a fitting.

      Format: Website - Time to Complete: 6 minutes