Cancer Support Services
We understand that a cancer diagnosis brings many changes to your life and the lives of the people who care about you. You’ll have access to the many comprehensive services we have available from diagnosis through treatment and after care. Whether it’s one-on-one, through a class or program, or in a support group setting, we’re here for all your needs.
Cancer Support Services We Offer
Genetic Counseling
Our genetic counselors can provide information about genetic testing options, as well as education on how genetics can contribute to cancer. Our comprehensive program focuses on family history, personal medical history, environmental factors, and genetics.
Integrative Medicine
Integrative medicine goes beyond treating patients’ immediate symptoms to address the complete range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and environmental influences that impact day-to-day health. Our program focuses on the whole person – body, mind and spirit – to provide optimum health through prevention, addressing health concerns, and improving quality of life.
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Nurse Navigators
Our nurse navigators have years of experience treating cancer patients and are closely connected to physicians. Their knowledge, connections and extraordinary care make patient care less stressful. Navigators explain and answer questions about a patient’s diagnosis, coordinate testing, treatment, and follow-up care, assist with scheduling appointments, provide referrals to support groups and additional resources, help with financial concerns and medical insurance, and present a care plan at completion of treatment for ongoing support.
Nutrional Counseling
Registered dietitians are available to help patients decide what kind of diet is best. This is based on the type of cancer and the patient’s current relationship with food (if they can eat or swallow, if they are losing weight, if they are having trouble digesting food, or other food-related challenges). Our dietitians will create a diet specific for patients so that they can stay healthy before, during, and after treatment.
Occupational Therapy
Following illness or injury, people often experience difficulty in performing daily living activities. Our outpatient occupational therapy programs can help maximize independence at home, work, or school. Our occupational therapists work with the patient, family, and physicians to establish a plan of care tailored to the specific needs of each individual.
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Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
Our rehabilitation services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and audiological services. These programs are available to individuals who have experienced an illness, occupational injury, surgical procedure, or injury that limits normal daily activities or physical/cognitive development. Patients can participate in a single therapy or in a coordinated plan of several therapies.
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Pain Management
Our pain management program offers a wide variety of treatment options and minimally invasive approaches to help patients with chronic pain. This includes conservative drug therapies, epidural anesthesia, and nerve stimulation techniques performed in our radiology and vascular labs.
Palliative Care
Palliative care is focused on providing support for patients with serious illnesses such as cancer. The care can include anything from relief from symptoms, pain and stress, to assistance with insurance, support groups and advanced care planning.
Physical Therapy
Our team of physical therapists provides quality rehabilitative care for patients of all ages pre-operatively, post-operatively, and/or for management of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Our team establishes personal goals for each patient, with a carefully planned and medically approved treatment program, and maintains an ongoing dialogue with the patient’s physician. We believe our one-on-one patient-therapist relationships are a major reason for our outstanding success.
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Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is designed for patients with chronic pulmonary conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension or people who experience frequent shortness of breath. Program participants are evaluated by a respiratory therapist to discover baseline limitations and areas of focus for improvement to lead a more active lifestyle and increase comfort with breathing.
Social Work
Our social workers engage patients and families by anticipating concerns regarding illness, hospitalization, finances, insurances, and provide education concerning home/community services upon discharge. They coordinate all aspects of patients’ continuum of care by working in close consultation and collaboration with the patient, family, physician , interdisciplinary team, and the community.
Speech Therapy
Our licensed, certified speech pathologists provide services for a variety of disorders including articulation and phonological disorders, language disorders, developmental delay, fluency problems, and organic disorders.
Support Groups
Support groups can offer help and healing and a sense of community along your journey. We offer support groups for patients and caregivers led by oncology nurses and social workers. See all the support groups we offer.
Why Choose Hackensack Meridian Health
Premier Cancer Center
U.S. News & World Report has recognized John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center as a premier cancer center in New Jersey.
Strong Partnerships
The Memorial Sloan Kettering–Hackensack Meridian Health partnership brings together two world-class organizations with deep New Jersey roots and a single goal: Find more cures faster.
Innovation
Our head/neck surgeons are certified to perform transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Our Robotic Center of Excellence is one of the largest robotic surgery programs, with the highest volume of minimally invasive cancer procedures in New Jersey.