Helen F. Graham Cancer Center
|
Survivorship Multidisciplinary Center
Completing cancer treatment can be a time for celebration, but many people also describe mixed feelings. After cancer treatment, it is common for survivors to experience dramatic changes in many areas of their lives. What's more, they often report a renewed interest in taking control and improving their lives after cancer.
The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center's Survivorship Multidisciplinary Center will help you better understand and prepare for some of the potential challenges of life after treatment, including:
- Fatigue.
- Pain.
- Poor appetite or difficulty eating.
- Neuropathy.
- Memory/concentration difficulties.
- Bladder or bowel control problems.
- Menopausal symptoms.
- Fear that your cancer might return.
- Depression.
- Anger or irritability.
- Confusion.
- Changes in physical appearance.
- Problems with sexual functioning.
- Worry about returning to work or other activities.
What to expect from the Survivorship MDC
The members of the Survivorship MDC team will work with you to identify areas where you can make positive changes in your life. Among other benefits, you can expect to receive caring support and real solutions to help you:
- Deal with the fear that your cancer may come back.
- Learn to live fully and grow from your experience.
- Adjust to changes in your memory and concentration.
- Get your weight to a healthy level.
- Regain your strength and flexibility and live as actively as possible.
- Make positive changes in your diet.
- Manage side effects of cancer treatment that have not gone away.
- Alleviate concerns about returning to work.
- Promote your interest in being as healthy as possible.
You'll meet with professionals who specialize in cancer survivorship: a health psychologist, a clinical nurse specialist and a licensed clinical social worker. Each will work with you to assessing your needs and help you to develop your personal survivorship plan. They will also provide you with knowledge and tools to support you on your journey.
A survivorship team member will call you two weeks after your visit and offer support as you set out to meet your goals. You will return six weeks after your first visit to determine if your goals have been met, if further support is needed or if goals should be revised.
Are you ready to start your survivorship plan?
If you have been treated for cancer at any point in your lifetime and are ready to take action and make your life better, we may be able to help. Most patients wait until four weeks after their final cancer treatment to meet with the Survivorship team. However, if you are expecting to take cancer medications for a long time this may still be the right time for you, so please call us to discuss.
Survivorship Multidisciplinary Center
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center
4701 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19713 directions
302-623-4500
