Amelie CameronWhen my dear friend was diagnosed with cancer, our world turned upside down. The fear, uncertainty, and emotional toll were overwhelming.
However, amidst the darkness, there was a beacon of hope—an exceptional oncologist who played a pivotal role in my friend’s journey to recovery.
You or someone you know can win the fight against cancer too by getting the proper treatment and assistance from Toronto’s best oncologists!
| How much is cancer treatment in Toronto? While cancer treatment is generally covered by the publicly funded healthcare system in Toronto, there are still some out-of-pocket costs one must consider. On average, expect to pay $400 per month to cover costs like medications not covered by insurance, travel to and from treatment centres, and other related costs. |
How We Chose
1. The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Address: 610 University Ave
Phone number: +1 416-946-4501
Business hours: Available 24/7
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, established in 1952, is one of the largest and most comprehensive cancer treatment facilities globally. It offers a wide range of services, including medical, radiation, and surgical oncology, as well as stem cell transplantation.
As an esteemed institution, it staffs many renowned oncologists, like Dr. Aaron Hansen, who specialises in gastrointestinal cancers. Working alongside him and his fellow oncologists are over 3,000 staff members who deal with more than 400,000 patient visits annually.
Beyond their world-class care, I’m also a huge fan of the support services they offer to patients, most notably their Look Good, Feel Better program. It offers free workshops that teach patients how to regain control over their appearance while battling cancer.
Sadly, they still have some kinks to work out, like their tendency to reschedule appointments at the last minute.
Pros
- More than 70 years of experience
- Wide range of cancer treatments
- World-class facilities and staff
- Free workshops to help patients improve appearance
Cons
- Sometimes reschedules appointments abruptly
- Sometimes forgets to respond to enquiries
What an amazing team of professionals!
“Wow! What an amazing team of professionals! Shout outs and top praise to the staff on the 17th floor. You know who you are.
I’m not sure what we did to deserve doctors and nurses, they are the world’s best people.”
-Kyle Francey, Google Reviews
Best cancer hospital in Ontario
“Best cancer hospital in Ontario. They take really good care of you and the best team work who have taken care of me since 2013 and have been cancer free for 10 yrs now.”
-Carolyn Prevost, Google Reviews
2. Mount Sinai Hospital
Address: 600 University Ave
Phone number: +1 416-596-4200
Business hours: Available 24/7
Another renowned cancer treatment facility you can visit is the Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health. It is renowned for its comprehensive cancer care, particularly through the Chris Hugh Sharp Cancer Centre, which offers advanced treatments for various cancers, including breast, colon, and bone cancers.
Some notable treatments one will find here are immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. They also offer specialised treatments, like hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), to treat specific cancer cases in the abdomen.
Another great thing about Mount Sinai Hospital is that it employs several highly skilled oncologists. One such example is Dr. Christine Brezden-Masley, who’s currently the president of the Canadian Cardio-Oncology Network.
However, it should be noted that, as one of Toronto’s top cancer treatment centres, they tend to face a large number of patients every day. You may encounter long waiting lines here.
Pros
- More than a century of experience
- Wide range of cancer treatments
- Has specialised treatments like HIPEC
- Highly skilled oncologists
Cons
- Long waiting lines
- Some rude staff
Mt Sinai is without a doubt the best hospital
“Mt Sinai is without a doubt the best hospital experience I have ever had. They are so organized & work together for the best patient outcome. The doctors, nurses & staff are kind, caring & have a wealth of knowledge. The food was good as well. Kudos”
-Laura Roberge, Google Reviews
I am extremely impressed with the delivery of service from Mount Sinai
“I am extremely impressed with the delivery of service from Mount Sinai. From the initial phone call to the day of my husband’s surgery Dr. Safir and his team took care of us and were exceptional. They gave my husband his quality of life back and we are forever thankful. Special thanks to all the nurses on floor 11 as well, especially nurse Ron who went above and beyond to make my husband feel comfortable and cared for.”
-Feda Yeh, Google Reviews
3. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Address: 2075 Bayview Ave, North York
Phone number: +1 416-480-6100
Business hours: Available 24/7
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, founded in 1948, has grown into one of Canada’s most innovative hospitals. Its Odette Cancer Centre is a leading facility offering comprehensive cancer treatment services, including chemotherapy and surgical oncology.
Of course, this hospital’s fame won’t be as pronounced as it is today without the help of its top oncologists, like Dr. Arjun Sahgal, who’s an expert in stereotactic radiosurgery for brain and spine tumours.
Aside from their skilled staff, it’s also worth noting that Sunnybrook has launched Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics in 2021. This care program uses advanced molecular and minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose diseases and create custom-tailored treatments for their patients.
Sadly, having such an excellent reputation leads to them having to treat a huge number of patients daily. You might have to wait hours just to see an oncologist here.
Pros
- 76 years of experience
- Has an advanced diagnostics program
- Wide range of cancer treatments
- State-of-the-art facilities
Cons
- Long waiting lines
- Sometimes cancels appointments abruptly
They are taking health care to the next level
“Sunnybrook is the best of the best hospitals in Toronto. My friend suffered from Throat Cancer and I was there next to him. I am so proud of this hospital and its sensitive staff! Very proud of the Sunnybrook community. They are taking health care to the next level. We all must support Sunnybrook!”
-Gary Singh, Google Reviews
Sunnybrook is keeping me alive so that I can enjoy time with my family
“I’m 46 years old and I’m battling brain cancer. I have God’s gift of a super intelligent wife and 2 angelic daughters. Sunnybrook is keeping me alive so that I can enjoy time with my family. I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone but all the naysayers need to spend a day in my shoes and I promise they’ll have a different opinion about the amazing staff at Sunnybrook.”
-Ed Caruso, Google Reviews
4. North York General Hospital
Address: 4001 Leslie St
Phone number: +1 416-756-6000
Business hours: Available 24/7
North York General Hospital (NYGH), established in 1968, is a leading community academic hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. It offers comprehensive cancer treatment services, including those designed to treat ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.
Based on my findings, I can say that NYGH is great at treating gastrointestinal cancer. That’s because they have Dr. Peter Stotland, a skilled surgical oncologist who can perform laparoscopic gastrectomy, a highly specialised procedure.
This hospital is also a godsend for women who are at high risk of contracting breast cancer. That’s because NYGH is one of the few hospitals that utilises advanced digital mammography with tomosynthesis to enhance breast cancer detection.
If there’s one thing I dislike about this hospital, it’s that some of the staff can be rude. Their parking facilities are also lacking, which can be a serious concern given the large number of patients they see every day.
Pros
- 56 years of experience
- Wide range of cancer treatments
- Can perform laparoscopic gastrectomy
- Has advanced digital mammography with tomosynthesis
Cons
- Some rude staff
- Small parking space
This hospital saved my wife’s life
“From the volunteers to all the staff, a huge thank you. The people in the breast cancer clinic are so kind and caring. Dr. Down and Dr. Fishman simply the best. This hospital saved my wife’s life once and now has come through again.
We moved 90 minutes out of the area but came here for health issues because everyone and everything is just right.
Thank you and keep up the great work”
-Wayne Symonds, Google Reviews
North York General Hospital is an exceptional healthcare institution!
“North York General Hospital is an exceptional healthcare institution! Their commitment to patient care is evident in every interaction, with compassionate staff members who go above and beyond to ensure comfort and well-being. The hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology contribute to top-notch medical services across a range of specialties. Whether it’s emergency care, surgery, or ongoing treatment, patients can trust in the expertise and dedication of the healthcare professionals at North York General. It’s a cornerstone of the community, providing outstanding healthcare services with integrity and compassion.”
-Karl, Google Reviews
5. Humber River Health
Address: 1235 Wilson Ave, North York
Phone number: +1 416-242-1000
Business hours: Available 24/7
Humber River Health, established in 1997 through the amalgamation of three hospitals, is renowned for being one of North America’s first fully digital hospitals. As a digital hospital, they use AI and machine learning to better monitor and treat their patients.
They even have a dedicated radiation isolation room that uses high-powered beams of energy to kill cancer cells. Overall, they’re equipped to treat common cancers such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer, as well as more specialised types like thyroid cancer.
While their high-tech facility is already a worthwhile trait, HRH is made even better thanks to its skilled oncologists like Dr. Carmen Chung and Dr. Vignesh Bharath. Most of their oncologists speak other languages, like Tamil, Cantonese, and Czech.
Sadly, despite their investment in technology, they’re still unable to properly address their long waiting times.
Pros
- 27 years of experience
- Fully digital hospital
- Has a dedicated radiation isolation room
- Multilingual staff
- Has a peer-to-peer support program
Cons
- Long waiting lines
- Sometimes forgets to respond to enquiries
This is an excellent hospital!
“This is an excellent hospital! I don’t understand how they get low star ratings. People should really stop & think about how fortunate we are to have such an amazing facility and their amazing staff! I had Breast cancer and the quality of care I received was way amazing and I honestly couldn’t ask for more. They far exceeded my expectations!”
-Tina T, Google Reviews
I am very proud of this hospital
“I am very proud of this hospital. I have been blessed to have great doctors who care about their patients. I’ve never had a bad experience. I am just grateful that there are Doctors and Nurses available to take care of us even if we have to wait for a little while. These are trying times for every hospital due to the staff shortage. Patience is the key.”
-Rosemarie Blake, Google Reviews
