Roswell Park's End of Life and Bereavement program provides compassionate support for patients who have received a terminal diagnosis, as well as their families.
Psychosocial Oncology
If you are a cancer patient, telling your friends, family and coworkers that you have cancer, talking about treatment and its challenges, and asking for help can be difficult, but research suggests that having a good support system during treatment can be extremely helpful and even improve cancer outcomes.
No one is ever prepared to hear, “It’s cancer.” After adjusting to the shock of this news, it’s normal to have questions—and some anxiety—about how it will impact your life. Social workers are here to guide you through these challenging moments.
It probably comes as no surprise to hear that alcohol and cancer do not make for a happy or healthy couple. But what if you or someone you know already had a preexisting relationship with large amounts of alcohol, before they were diagnosed with cancer?
It's easy to assume that CT scans, MRIs and X-rays are a painless part of the cancer treatment process. But as scan day approaches, the fear and anxiety grows too big to ignore. This common feeling is called scanxiety. And for patients, survivors and family members, the stress can interfere with quality of life.
Children undergoing cancer treatments will experience many hurdles – from psychosocial issues and emotional distress to learning problems and health risks. Unfortunately, this age group is also prone to noticeable changes in their physical appearance.
In the words of one patient, oncology massage is like "a vacation from cancer." It's a relaxing, pleasurable escape from everything that is going on.
We’ve all heard the expression “smiling is contagious”, and it’s true! But while we usually want to avoid contagious things, this is one case where we encourage you to share, spread and pass along your infectious smile.
Coping with a cancer diagnosis can be an overwhelming experience, particularly the time before starting treatment. No one expects to hear they have cancer — symptoms are often attributed to other causes, such as the flu or an infection. Adjusting to your diagnosis is a process and there is not a right or wrong way to feel.
It’s a common feeling among cancer patients — the disease has been eradicated and remission has been achieved, but relaxation can sometimes seem impossible.
Many of us watched the recent 3-part Ken Burns PBS documentary, The Emperor of All Maladies. Even if you didn’t, it's likely that you saw or heard frequent media stories about cancer during the weeks before and after.
One of the main stressors that people and patients may experience around the holidays is the pressure of expectations. There is gift giving, visiting with family, party planning and so on.