Cancer Care

Cancer Nurse Navigators

Oncology nurses

A number of our nursing staff members are oncology-certified: they have focused their nursing education on the most current treatment and care practices in the specialty. This means our nurses approach cancer care with the highest levels of expertise, compassion and sensitivity, and can address patients’ questions and concerns.

Social workers

These specially trained professionals are available to work with you to identify appropriate community and medical resources, coordinate medical care, create a personalized plan of care, and navigate a complex array of services. In addition to counseling, assistance with transportation and housing, social workers can help patients and loved ones with arranging additional care after discharge from the hospital.

Home health care services

After patients have returned to the home after treatment, a skilled team of nurses, therapists and other staff may provide intermittent continuing care through our home health care services.

Hospice care

When cancer becomes life-limiting, patients and families can choose to manage physical symptoms without seeking curative treatments through hospice care — medical care delivered with compassion and dignity.

Inpatient palliative care program

The inpatient palliative care program program helps patients who are hospitalized address issues of life-limiting disease: pain management; symptoms control; advance directives; and emotional and spiritual health.

Nutrition services

Cancer and cancer treatment can affect your appetite, nutritional needs and ability to eat healthfully. Registered dietitians at Lee Health Center for Weight Management and Lee Health Center for Integrative Medicine offer individualized support for patients with cancer whose ability to maintain their weight may be affected by the symptoms of cancer or side effects related to treatment.

Psychological and emotional care

Patients and families who need structured support as they adjust to living with a cancer diagnosis can receive referrals and professional care from experts in psychology, psychiatry and emotional health, including individual and family counseling.

Rehabilitation services

After cancer treatment, many cancer patients need to work with physical rehabilitation and/or occupational therapy professionals to regain, re-learn, restore or adapt to changes in their bodies. We offer a full range of services that may be needed, including:

• Wound care
• Voice therapy and swallowing therapy
• Lymphedema therapy
• Balance and vestibular rehabilitation
• Yoga for cancer patients
• Wig-fittings and more at Cookie’s Place
• Driving safety assessments for patients who have had surgery, which may have affected their ability to drive

Integrative Medicine

Integrative Medicine blends medical expertise with complementary therapies focused on healing the body and mind. Our integrative medicine program can tailor a personalized cancer support program, including such services as acupuncture, herbal nutrition and massage therapy methods designed to complement or alleviate other treatments.

Integrative Medicine services include:

• Acupuncture, biofeedback, healing touch, massage and more
• Nutrition consultation
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program
• Integrative Cancer Care and Healing Hearts Program
• Integrative cancer care

Spiritual support

Non-denominational spiritual care is available at every Lee Health hospital. In addition to providing comfort during a hospital stay, our chaplains can reach out to patients’ own clergy, rabbi or spiritual advisor to coordinate spiritual care in times of need.

Classes and support groups

Offering safe, self-empowering environments in which cancer patients can exchange information, dedicated cancer support groups are settings provide the opportunity to exchange information and experience about living with cancer.

Community support and resources

Find local and national resources

• Financial guidance and assistance:
  Our patient financial services professionals can work with patients and families in need to explore every appropriate available resource, including some forms of financial assistance for those who qualify.

MyChart patient portal

A free, secure online service for our patients, MyChart allows access to outpatient records at any time. It also facilitates correspondence, appointment requests and prescription renewals.

Patient education

Patient participation in the decision-making process is a cornerstone of cancer care at Lee Health, which makes education a critical component of that process. Extensive patient educational materials are readily available across the entire Lee Health system. Staff can help patients understand all their treatment options, including potential benefits, risks and potential outcomes.