Updated on: Feb 07, 2025

Cco Mys — Patient filling out YSM on a kiosk

About Your Symptoms Matter

When your health care team knows about your symptoms they can give you advice to help manage them.

Your Symptoms Matter (YSM) is a tool used by Cancer Care Ontario and our health care team to assess the 12 most common symptoms that cancer patients go through.

When you fill out YSM you are tracking your symptoms each and every time you have a visit. Over time, you can start to see trends or patterns in your symptoms.

Filling out YSM can help you and your health care team to:

Notice and treat symptoms early on
Talk about symptoms that matter to your
Track your symptoms
Choose the best treatment for your symptoms

Words That Help Describe Symptoms

Some symptoms can be difficult to describe or rate. Here are some other ways to say:

Depression – sad or blue
Anxiety – nervousness or restlessness
Tiredness – lower energy level (but not necessarily sleepy)
Drowsiness – sleepiness
Well-being – overall comfort, both physical and otherwise; truthfully answering the question “How are you?”

When to Complete Your Symptoms Matter

Patients visiting a cancer centre – Patients are encouraged to complete Your Symptoms Matter – General Symptoms before each of their visits to the cancer centre, or as otherwise suggested by their healthcare team. Ultimately, the tool helps patients express how they are feeling and the symptoms that are most important to them at any given time.
At home before cancer centre visit – Some centres offer patients the option to complete Your Symptoms Matter – General Symptoms from home. Patients can access their symptom screening tools by visiting the Your Symptoms MatterOpens in a new window.

Translation

In addition to English and French, you can now electronically share your symptoms and experiences with your care team in:

Arabic (العربية )
Tamil (தமிழ்)
Chinese (Simplified) (中文(简体))
Oji-Cree (Ojᐃ-Cᕃᐁ)
Inuktitut (ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ)

More languages will be added in the future.

To complete 'Your Symptoms Matter' or 'Your Voice Matters' in any of these languages, you can select it in the top right-hand corner of the ISAAC patient portal.

Filling Out Your Symptoms Matter Online

Ontario Health - Cancer Care Ontario has an online version of Your Symptoms Matter. You can fill it out the day before you are booked to see your health care team.

When you fill out YSM online your answers are sent right away electronically (via the internet) to your health care team.

Fill out Your Symptoms Matter online now!

Please note that your health care team will be looking at your YSM results just before your booked appointment. If you have any serious symptom related issues to discuss or urgent health care needs please:

- Contact your health care team

- Go to the closest Emergency Department

Filling Out Your Symptoms Matter In Person

Patient Reported Outcomes - Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

Transcript for: Patient Reported Outcomes - Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you know it changes your life. The challenges can be unexpected and the symptoms are not just physical. Worry and stress are common too. But you are not alone. It is important to your healthcare team to understand every part of your cancer experience including how you feel physically. Things like pain, tiredness and nausea. Emotionally, things like fear, sadness and frustration. As well as your practical concerns, things like getting to appointments, finances and your ability to do basic daily tasks. Together we can build a care plan that treats your cancer and gives you the support you need along the way. But we need your help. Each time you visit the cancer centre, you may be asked to complete questionnaires to gather information about your symptoms and other concerns. You may be asked to complete them electronically at a computer station, on a mobile device or with a paper and pencil. The questions, which may vary from one visit to the next, are important as they help your team understand how you are doing and build a care plan that is tailored just for you. After you complete the questionnaire, you and your healthcare team will discuss your symptoms and concerns. Your answers help your healthcare team make the most of each visit, find problems early, ensure you receive the right care at the right time, and learn how to better care for you. The information you provide will help you talk to your team about a treatment plan that is best to reduce and manage your symptoms. Your voice is important. Your experiences are important. Be an active part of your cancer care by completing your questionnaires as completely and honestly as you can. We look forward to working together with you.