Cancer Center Patient and Family Education

Providing appropriate educational information is important in demonstrating respect for the oncology patient and empowering the patient and his/her family to be active participants in the treatment process.

Support. Compassion. Teamwork. We are in this Together

Patients who receive a cancer diagnosis are surrounded by support from our Outpatient Supportive Care Team of nurses, chaplains, social workers, radiation therapists, nutritionists, home health and hospice caregivers. The Team works with patients and family members who need social support or assistance coping with their cancer diagnosis. Team members help coordinate resources while they care for the patient's physical, emotional, social, spiritual and practical needs.

Children of cancer patients gain comfort through KidsKonnected, a support group sponsored by St. Joseph Cancer Center. Facilitated by a licensed counselor, KidsKonnected provides emotional support and camaraderie for children dealing with the anxiety created by a family member's cancer diagnosis.

St. Joseph Cancer Center is committed to early detection and prevention of cancer and sponsors free breast, prostate, and oral cancer screenings. We coordinate with hospital and community resources, including the American Cancer Society, to offer I Can Cope, After Breast Cancer, and Look Good...Feel Better programs. Annually we host a cancer survivors' picnic to celebrate the life of our community's cancer survivors.

At St. Joseph Medical Center, we care about you, your family and your fight against cancer. Choosing a healthcare team to help you win the battle against cancer may be one of your life's most important decisions. With sophisticated technology and compassionate hearts, we will journey with you on the road to survivorship

Additional Information

Professionally respected authorities, such as the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and pharmaceutical companies provide much of the written literature, brochures, and pamphlets. Patients are encouraged to review cancer information included in reputable websites, such as the University of Pennsylvania's www.oncolink.org.

The following list includes examples of the information, which is often provided to patients and their families.

National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute:

• ''Radiation Therapy and You: A Guide to Self-help during Cancer Treatment''
• ''Chemo and You''
• ''Take Time (Supporting Cancer Patients and Significant Others''
• ''Eating Hints for Young People and Cancer''
• ''What You Need to Know about Cancer in General''
• Cancer-specific information

American Cancer Society:

• ''Look Good, Feel Better: Caring for Yourself Inside and Out''
• ''Sexuality and Cancer''
• ''Self Breast Exam''
• ''Money Matters''

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network:

• ''Cancer of Breast and Risk for Families''
• ''Cancer in a Family Member''
• ''Advanced Cancer Guide''
• ''Cancer of the Breast and Ovaries''

Patients and their families are encouraged to participate in support groups such as the American Cancer Society-sponsored "I Can Cope'' and ''After Breast Cancer'' programs. Additionally, St. Joseph Medical Center sponsors a Bereavement Support Group for families who have experienced losing a loved one.

St. Joseph Medical Center has a commitment to cancer prevention and early detection. Staff participates in community outreach and education activities, such as prostate cancer screening, breast cancer screening, oral cancer screening, and numerous wellness/health fairs. Additionally, physicians have appeared on local television programs to discuss current cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Oncolocgy / Cancer Links