Research has shown that additional support treatments and therapies are highly beneficial to patients on their journey to recovery. The Cancer Center is committed to fostering a sense of comfort and encouragement for its patients, ensuring that all areas of need are being met. Support services include: nutrition, pain managment, psychosocial support and social work.
Nutrition Support
Nutrition plays a vital role in the way cancer treatments are tolerated. Appropriate nutrition can help patients tolerate therapy, easing the side effects and strengthening the immune system to fight off infection. The diagnosis of cancer alone can affect patients' eating habits. In addition, the disease itself and subsequent treatments modify nutritional needs. Nutritional programs must be tailored to each patient's treatment, type of cancer and any other health concerns the patient may have. The Cancer Center provides ongoing nutritional counseling throughout patients' treatments, guided by Registered Dieticians.
Pain Management
About one-third of patients being treated for cancer have pain, and each patient's pain is unique. Therefore, each patient's pain management plan must be carefully designed and monitored. The Cancer Center considers pain the fifth vital sign and reviews all patients' pain management needs as often as pulse rate or body temperature. A pain management physician can help find the best combination of pain-controlling treatments, ensuring that all patients experience the best possible quality of life. The Cancer Center has a pain management specialist available to assist those patients in need.
Psychosocial Support
Comprehensive psychosocial services and programs are provided to cancer survivors and their loved ones through all phases of the cancer experience.
An oncology social worker is available to:
- Support survivors, caregivers and families, providing help in coping with cancer and its effects in an effort to maintain or improve quality of life;
- Mobilize new or existing family systems and community resources to provide social and emotional support;
- Provide assistance or referral to additional resources in meeting financial, transportation, lodging and other needs; and
- Assist in communication and navigation through the health care system.
A range of therapeutic and other interventions are available including; supportive one-on-one counseling, group work and education to address issues in each phase of the illness.
Support Groups
The Cancer Center offers the following support groups and supportive programs for patients, friends and their families:
- Breast Cancer Support Group
- Eat Well, Live Well
- General Support Group
- Leukemia/Lymphoma Support Group
- Look Good, Feel Better
- Mind Body Skills
- Prostate Cancer Support Group
- Skills Group
For more information or to register for the class, please call the ResourceLink toll-free 1.877.728.5414, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You may also leave a message during after hours and someone will return your call during the next business day.
