Whatever your cancer diagnosis is, it is important that you have the information and resources you need to make critical decisions in your care.
The University of Colorado Cancer Center offers the following servicse to assist you before, during and after your cancer treatment.
SOCIAL WORK
Oncology social workers are available in the outpatient clinics and in the hospital to help patients and families manage the stresses that are associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Your healthcare team or the Cancer Resource Center can connect you to the social worker assigned to your physician.
Stresses include:
- Financial and insurance issues
- Emotional distress, relationship issues, and parenting concerns
- Transportation, housing, and lodging issues
- Terminal illness and planning advanced directives
- Need for increased support at home; i.e home care, caregiver relief, etc.
Services provided by our Social Workers include:
Counseling:
- Brief individual, group, marital, and family counseling
- Financial counseling
- Grief and bereavement
- Crisis intervention
- Referrals to community resources and support groups
- Patient and family conferences
- Help with advance directives
- Hospice and home care coordination, including durable medical equipment
NUTRITION COUNSELING
COUNSELING
Many people find that a diagnosis of cancer either for themselves or a loved one brings up many emotions including stress, sadness, anger and isolation. Often counseling can help with managing these feelings and coping with cancer. Below are some resources for coping:
Reading materials for coping with emotional issues:
- Emotions and Cancer
- Psychosocial Resources and Providers for You and Your Loved Ones
- Talking to Your Friends and Family
- Talking to Your Children About Cancer
- After Treatment is Complete
The University of Colorado Hospital provides counseling services through:
National Resources
CancerCare: www.cancercare.org
The Cancer Support Community: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/
CANCER REHABILITATION
Cancer treatments produce physiological changes to normal tissue and body functions. These changes include:
- Fatigue
- Loss of energy
- A change in body fat mass
- Decreased levels of normal physical activity
Physical Therapy can promote recovery from these changes. We have specialists trained in cancer rehabilitation available to assist you.
For more information, please contact the UCH Physical Therapy Department at (720) 848-2000.
CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
University of Colorado Hospital's Center for Integrative Medicine offers physician-managed care that emphasizes the wellness and healing of the entire person, drawing on both conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Please call (720) 848-1090 for more information.
People with cancer may use complementary therapies for:
- Managing side effects, including nausea, pain and fatigue
- Managing and relieving stress
- Emotional wellness
The National Cancer Institute has a brochure that may help you understand and make it easier to decide whether CAM is right for you: Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine
FERTILITY / REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
Your cancer treatment may affect your ability to have a child naturally. The University of Colorado Advanced Reproductive Medicine Center provides comprehensive information, and support for those seeking options for preserving fertility or for those seeking assistance post cancer treatment.
Call (720) 848-1690 for appointment information.
National Resources
Fertile Hope
Fertile Hope is a national LIVESTRONG® initiative that provides reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments may increase the risk of infertility.
Fertile Action
Fertile Action is working to ensure that every woman touched by cancer realizes her dream of motherhood and also provides information and financial system regarding fertility preservation and treatment.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care is a specialty of medicine that focuses on relieving (not curing) symptoms of an illness. Palliative care can be an integral part of a patient’s cancer treatment.
The Palliative Care team at UCH works in conjunction with the Oncology team to ensure the best care and symptom management possible.
The goals of Palliative care include:
- Help for patients and their families through all phases of illness
- Relief of patient and family suffering
- Assistance for the physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families
- Patient dignity
- Help for patients and families in making important health care and personal goals
- Guidance about advanced directives, living wills, and disease management
- Assistance with the transition to hospice care if the patient and/or family choose to stop treatments that would otherwise prolong life or when care becomes entirely comfort based.
The University of Colorado Hospital Palliative Care Consult Services provides care and support to patients and families facing a serious or life-threatening illness. The Palliative Care Team works directly with the patient’s primary physician(s) to help ease pain and other symptoms. The team addresses psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual needs associated with end of life as well.
For more information or to request a consult, please speak with your health care provider or call (720) 848-6799.
National Resources
Palliative Care
Grief and Loss Resources
Heartlight Center (grief support)
Judi’s House (for children)
Hospice
SPIRITUAL CARE
Spiritual Care Services are available to support you, your family and those close to you as you find and use strength within your personal system of faith, culture and belief.
A chaplain is here to support you spiritually and emotionally with a listening and accepting presence. A chaplain is available 24-hours a day, every day.
For more information or to request a consult, please call (720) 848-6799.
GENETIC COUNSELING
The Hereditary Cancer Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital provides a variety of genetic services including genetic counseling, family history analysis, and genetic testing.
For more information, please call (720) 848-1030
National Resources
National Cancer Institute
SMOKING CESSATION
Quitting smoking is a difficult task for anyone. The University of Colorado Cancer Center offers a smoking cessation program for patients. Contact 303-724-7848 for more information and registration.
The group sessions provide information on:
- Managing withdrawal symptoms
- Recognizing triggers for smoking
- Breaking smoking habits
- Changing your lifestyle
There is no cost for the program and smoking cessation products are available at a reduced cost. Contact the hospital at (303) 724-7848 for details.
Resources
Colorado Quitline
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
PATIENT FAMILY CENTERED CARE (PFCC)
The University of Colorado Hospital is beginning the process of organizing a Patient and Family Center Care Council (PFCC) for our cancer clinic. The PFCC is a partnership of staff, patients, and family members. The Council's role is to work together with healthcare teams to promote the principles of patient and family centered care, to collaborate in improving the quality of care provided, and to offer suggestions to management for planning and evaluating services, programs, policies, and teaching materials.
The PFCC is looking for volunteers who have had any hospital experience and feel passionate about improving the care that the University of Colorado Hospital provides. If you are interested in participating, please contact Kelly Adams at kelly.adams@uch.edu or 720-848-0395.