Psychosocial Oncology

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? If you are undergoing treatment, it’s important to stay informed of the risks that alcohol may bring to your outcome.

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.

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.

Thanks to generous donations, Roswell Park’s End of Life and Bereavement program is able to provide compassionate support for patients who have received a terminal diagnosis, as well as their families.

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.