CAPO News

"Belonging to CAPO gives me a sense of professional home within psychosocial oncology. As a social worker and junior Global Health researcher working at the intersection of cancer care, psychosocial well-being and global health, I feel connected to a community that values both scientific rigour and human experience."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

I am writing with great excitement to invite you to take part in the 2026 World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD), taking place on April 9th, and to do so as members of a community with a truly extraordinary legacy to celebrate.

This initiative is led by our IPOS colleagues and represents one of our most important annual opportunities to elevate the visibility and impact of psychosocial oncology globally. At its heart, WPOD honours the extraordinary legacy of the late Dr. Jimmie Holland, whose pioneering work laid the very foundation of our field. But as we mark this day, I also want to take a moment to recognize how profoundly Canada has shaped psycho-oncology, not just at home, but around the world.

Canada's contributions to this field are remarkable. It was Canadian researchers and clinicians who championed distress as the sixth vital sign, fundamentally shifting how cancer care systems worldwide think about screening and responding to psychological distress. It was Canadian scientists and clinicians who developed and rigorously tested some of most widely disseminated psychosocial interventions in oncology. CAPO members have co-led international clinical practice guideline panels, shaped global standards of care, and produced research that has improved the lives of people with cancer far beyond our borders. We have punched well above our weight and WPOD is an occasion to stand tall in that legacy.

WPOD affirms what every person in this community knows to be true: that holistic care for people with cancer must place mental and emotional wellbeing alongside physical health, not as an afterthought, but as a cornerstone. It calls on all of us, researchers, clinicians, educators, advocates, and trainees, to raise awareness, engage policymakers, and push for the integration of psychosocial care into cancer care systems at every level.

This year, IPOS has launched a multilingual promotional video titled Make It Visible to support awareness-raising efforts worldwide. I encourage you to watch and share it, and to use the campaign hashtags #WPOD2026 and #maketheinvisiblevisible across your social media channels on April 9th.

There are many ways to get involved:

• Share information with your networks and post on social media using #WPOD2026
• Organize an activity at your institution — a symposium, awareness talk, support group, patient information session, or media outreach
• Submit your event or initiative for potential promotion on the IPOS website and social media
• Download the WPOD Logo Toolkit for use in your local promotions

Please note that you do not need to be an IPOS member to submit or participate, this is a truly open, global invitation.

I hope each of you will find a meaningful way to mark April 9th. Whether you organize a public event, post on social media, or simply take a moment to reflect on why this work matters, you will be contributing to a worldwide movement — one that Canada has helped lead, and one that CAPO will continue to champion.

For more details, please visit the website.

Let's make April 9, 2026 a day of inspiration, education, and action — for our field, for our patients, and for the remarkable legacy Canada has built in psychosocial oncology.

With gratitude and pride,

Dr. Sheila Garland

President, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO).

"Belonging to CAPO has given me the opportunity to share my story, my daughter Shan’s story, and the work of Team Shan Breast Cancer Awareness for Young Women. CAPO connections have opened the door to both provincial and national AYA cancer initiatives allowing me to make a difference for AYA across Canada. My most meaningful experience was the 2019 conference in Banff. I was honoured to be selected as one of the recipients of the Patients Included award for my family advocacy work. I continue to share Team Shan efforts to address disparities in young women with breast cancer, and reduce help seeking barriers to an earlier diagnosis. I speak for young women not yet diagnosed and voices that can no longer be heard."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

"Belonging to CAPO strengthens my sense of professional identity and solidarity. It allows me to deeply connect and collaborate, with highly committed experts in clinical, research, education, advocacy areas of cancer patient care. My most meaningful CAPO experience relates to joined efforts in heightening resources and developing recommendations relevant to interventions in patients’ care, education, body of research and scholarly information. It is gratifying to share experience and engage in promoting excellence in clinical capacity building, training curricula, research studies - in the service of enhancing care for everyone impacted by cancer."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

"Belonging to CAPO allows me to learn from an engaged community dedicated to improving outcomes for every person diagnosed with and impacted by cancer in Canada."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

"Belonging to CAPO allows me to share the pediatric caregiver perspective and connect to a vibrant community dedicated to advancing psychosocial oncology."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

On this International Childhood Cancer Day, I’m thinking about what it takes for a child to heal from cancer. The ICCD mission is to advance equality in access to care for every child with cancer, everywhere. But what should be included in that care?

When my daughter was diagnosed with leukemia at three years old, I was laser-focused on the medical treatment that would save her life. What I didn’t know then was that she needed more than medicine. She needed support for her whole, unique, complicated self as she navigated a life-changing disease.

That’s why I advocate for improved access to psychosocial care in childhood cancer as a board member of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO).

Based on my experience, I believe that psychosocial care should be available to the whole family. A child’s cancer diagnosis profoundly affects the health and wellbeing of parents, caregivers, and siblings from the moment of diagnosis long past the end of treatment.

Too many children and families struggle to receive cancer care that looks beyond the disease to see the needs of the whole person. CAPO is working to change that, and I’m proud to be part of that mission.

"Belonging to CAPO allows me to learn from/collaborate with peers and leaders across psychosocial oncology in ways that support my growth as a trainee and enable real-world impact."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Today is World Cancer Day. The theme "United by Unique" reminds us that behind every cancer diagnosis lies a unique human story.

As President of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO), I see daily why people-centred care matters. Cancer touches millions of lives in countless ways, but it doesn't define who we are. Every person's experience is unique – yet we're united in our belief that quality cancer care must look beyond the disease to see the person before the patient.

Psychosocial oncology ensures that care fully integrates each individual's unique needs with compassion and empathy. From the shock of diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care, people navigate profound emotional, social, and existential challenges alongside physical ones.

Too many Canadians still lack access to evidence-based psychosocial support. CAPO is committed to changing this through innovation, advocacy, and education – from digital health interventions to community-based programs.

This June, join us in St. John's for CAPO 2026: "A New Horizon: Expanding the Access and Impact of Psychosocial Oncology." Together, let's rewrite the future of cancer care – one where the unique needs of people and communities come first.

In solidarity,

Dr. Sheila Garland

President, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology

Full Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland

"What I bring to CAPO is the patient voice and experience."

Who is CAPO?

The CAPO Communications committee is seeking video or quote submissions from our members in support of the “Who is CAPO?” campaign.

Members of all disciplines, areas of expertise and those with lived experience are encouraged to share a memory or highlight from their time with CAPO. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered. Simply finish one or more of the following sentences:

1. Belonging to CAPO gives me ____.
2. Belonging to CAPO allows me to ___.
3. My most meaningful CAPO experience was ____.
4. CAPO has connected me to ____.
5. What I bring to CAPO is ____.

Regardless of whether you would like to submit a video or text message, you will be required to complete the following form and submit your files electronically.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY