This June, Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation was proud to present two initiatives at the annual conference for the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO), one of Canada’s leading gatherings focused on improving supportive care for people affected by cancer.
Amanda Smart, Wellspring’s Chief Mission Officer, presented From Research to Community: Delivering Fear of Recurrence Therapy at Wellspring. Fear of cancer recurrence is one of the most common concerns experienced by cancer survivors and can significantly impact emotional well-being and quality of life.
In 2025, Wellspring partnered with leading Canadian researchers, Drs. Sophie Lebel and Christine Maheu, to pilot Fear of Recurrence Therapy (FORT), an evidence-based six-week group program. Early evaluations showed strong participant satisfaction, with members reporting increased confidence, practical coping strategies, and a greater ability to manage fear and uncertainty. The presentation highlighted how evidence-based programs can successfully move from research settings into community organizations, making specialized support more accessible.
Wellspring also presented A Co-Designed Nutritional Supportive Care Program for Inuit Cancer Patients and Their Families, a collaborative project involving Wellspring, the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Inuit Elders, community members, and healthcare professionals.
Funded through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s Models of Care Initiative, the project adapts Wellspring’s Nourish program to better reflect Inuit culture, traditions, and community priorities. The program emphasizes the importance of traditional foods, cultural identity, and community connection as part of healing and supportive cancer care.
These two presentations demonstrate Wellspring’s commitment to innovation, evidence-informed programming, health equity, and collaboration. By sharing our work with healthcare professionals, researchers, and community organizations from across Canada, we continue to help advance supportive cancer care for people living with cancer and their families.