Supportive Care
At the Merle M. Mahr Cancer Center, we know that the healing process is as much an emotional journey as a physical one. Our cancer care focuses on much more than the disease. We are here to provide comprehensive educational, emotional, and spiritual support through our counseling and educational services for patients.
Emotional and Spiritual Wellbeing
Emotional and Health Equity Care
A licensed certified social worker is part of our oncology team to assist patients and caregivers with emotional support. This support is to assist with distress and barriers related to your cancer care. Professional counseling is also available at no charge.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual support is available to patients and caregivers from dedicated hospital chaplains, who can help find comfort in times of uncertainty.
Chemo Buddies
Chemo Buddies are volunteers who give hope and encouragement to those who are going through cancer treatment. Their vision is to make Chemotherapy more life-giving experience where patients are able to continue life as fully as they can during the time they are in the treatment room.
Nutritional Services
Nutrition plays a very important role in the fight against cancer. For this reason, a registered dietitian is part of your cancer care team to help manage side effects and symptoms of treatment and cancer.
Oncology Rehabilitation Services
Oncology rehabilitation can actually start before your treatment starts. This allows us to get to know how you function and what your goals for recovery look like. We can then devise a plan to keep your strength and function while you are undergoing treatment.
Baptist Health Deaconess has trained professionals in Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy who are specially trained to work with cancer patients and their unique needs. Plans may address cancer related fatigue, pain, balance, as well as other physical quality of life concerns.
We also work closely with Deaconess High Point to manage lymphedema.
Integrative Therapy
We fight cancer on two fronts: conventional treatments to attack the disease and special evidence-based therapies that combat side effects of cancer and its treatment. We offer a range of integrative therapies specially designed to complement your medical treatment for cancer. These therapies are not a replacement for traditional cancer care. Rather, they address the needs of your mind, body and spirit for better quality of life.
Massage
Oncology massage has been shown to relieve symptoms for cancer patients — improving mood and decreasing anxiety, depression and pain.
Typically, oncology massage involves manipulation of soft tissue using light-touch massage. Light touch massage includes hands, feet, neck, shoulders and back. Patients may prefer a hand and/or foot massage while getting an infusion, or a massage chair is available in a quiet and more private area. The level of pressure applied by the oncology massage therapist is guided by your comfort. Caregivers of cancer patients also may be eligible for massage.
Our licensed massage therapist has special training and can safely provide care that considers the complications of cancer and its treatments. Oncology focused massage therapy is personalized to every patient and their goals.
Studies have shown the following benefits of massage:
- Strengthens the immune system
- Decreases pain
- Relieves anxiety
- Increases blood circulation and lymph flow
- Relaxes muscles
- Improves range of motion
- Elevates mood
- Aids in relaxation
- Fosters a feeling of well-being
- Increases awareness of the mind-body connection
Music
We are blessed to have a massage therapist who also has exceptional music talent and often brings one of many stringed instruments to provide patients with music of their choice.
Getting radiation treatment? Pandora music is available to help take your mind away for the time you are in the treatment room. You can choose your genre, even.
Pet Therapy
Living with cancer and going through treatments can be stressful. Studies have shown that when cancer patients spent time with a therapy dog during chemotherapy and radiation treatment, their emotional well-being and quality of life showed measurable improvement.
Therapy dogs can also help with physical therapy. Did you know petting a dog can help improve your sensory and fine motor skills? It may even help you get out of bed. Walking or playing games with a dog can also help your balance and coordination. It can also boost levels of feel-good hormones (endorphins), which can help ease pain and discomfort.
Benefits of pet therapy can include:
- Decreased pain levels
- Improvements with anxiety and depression
- Less fatigue
- Improved mood
- Help fighting loneliness and social isolation
- Restoring a sense of emotional connection
Our cancer program utilizes certified dogs and handlers to achieve physical, social, cognitive and emotional goals with patients.
Dez, one of our Pet Therapy dogs
Huey, one of our Pet Therapy dogs
Survivor Events
Other activities and events are available throughout the year, such as our Survivor Day event, where we bring survivors and caregivers together for a time to focus on fun instead of cancer. Throughout the year, we offer various other activities to shift focus to something besides treatment.
Support Groups
Support groups provide a safe place for cancer patients to express their feelings and thoughts with those who are experiencing similar challenges. We can help you find one that fits your preference. There are a variety of options available, some in person, and some virtually.
Shelley Coffman Resource Services
Head Coverings
Hair loss can be detrimental to many patients undergoing chemotherapy, and many patients cannot afford to purchase a wig. The Merle M. Mahr Cancer Center is fortunate to be able to provide wigs to patients at no cost. These are made available from various donors. Students from the local beauty college volunteer their time to wash and style the wigs. Turbans are also available and donated from various community members and churches. Many are even handmade.
Bras and other prosthetics
Prostheses and accessories can be expensive. We are fortunate have an array of breast prosthesis and bras available at no charge, thanks to donations from various community members.
Survivorship
Thanks to early detection and new treatments, more people are living longer with cancer. Cancer survivorship emphasizes the health, well-being and quality of life of people living with cancer. In cancer survivorship, healthcare providers monitor and manage the changes that people with cancer experience, from cancer diagnoses and treatment to end of life.
What is cancer survivorship?
Some patients are cancer-free after their initial treatment but don’t feel free from cancer. Other patients are focused on becoming cancer free, but cancer keeps coming. For other patients, what they hoped for and expected is much different than what they experience.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), survivorship starts the day someone receives a cancer diagnosis. It continues during and after treatment and on through the end of life.
Most of the time, cancer patients are relieved to complete treatment. Some patients though, got used to planning their days around treatment and having regular contact with their healthcare providers. They’re thrilled to finish that last treatment, but become lost without their routine.
Many patients and caregivers assume the end of cancer treatment means the end of cancer-related concerns. Understandably, they and their families want to move on from cancer. More than anything, they want to get back to the lives they had before cancer.
Unfortunately, studies show people with cancer often can’t leave it behind. In general, people who are cancer survivors cope with a range of physical, emotional or psychological issues and social issues.
Our Survivorship Coordinator or your oncologist may see you after your last treatment to provide you with a Survivorship Care Plan and discuss life after cancer treatment. Resources are provided to assist patients with chronic issues or late effects from treatment. A survivorship care plan includes important information about your cancer and treatment, which helps you and your doctors understand each other.