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Cancer Support Services

Ostomy Support

If you have an ostomy we can provide answers to your questions.

Providing Answers

If you have an ostomy or are preparing for one, the Ostomy Multidisciplinary Center at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute can provide answers to your questions. We provide professional assistance, guidance and emotional support before surgery, after recent surgery, and even if years have passed since your ostomy surgery.

The Ostomy Multidisciplinary Center welcomes patients with any type of ostomy, including those that are not cancer-related. Even if you did not have your surgery at a ChristianaCare facility, you can take advantage of this special service.

At the Ostomy Multidisciplinary Center, you’ll find one-on-one guidance from a wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nurse who is specially trained to work with ostomy patients. The WOC nurse will speak with you in a private setting, allowing you to discuss sensitive issues and ask questions freely. If you are seeing other medical professionals at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Center, your WOC nurse will work closely with them as part of your team of professionals.

Ostomy Education

Before surgery, your WOC nurse will help you learn what you need to know about an ostomy lifestyle. Your nurse will teach you how to care for your ostomy effectively. Prior to surgery, your WOC nurse will determine a good location for your ostomy, taking into account the uniqueness of your body and your situation. And if you have any special developments that require attention after surgery, the WOC nurse can help you manage them.

Emotional Support

As a person new to ostomy, you may wish to talk to others in similar circumstances. The Ostomy Multidisciplinary Center maintains information about independently-run support groups, such as those for Crohn’s disease and colitis, ostomies and cancer.

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