Your Cancer Team

Our oncology team is committed to helping you and your family through every step of the cancer journey — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our multidisciplinary team of experts includes physicians, nurses, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, physicists, research nurses, dietitians, chaplains, social workers and volunteers.

Team and Roles

You will be asked to make important decisions at a time when you might not be feeling your best. As part of your cancer care plan, all members of your cancer team are committed to helping you navigate through the health care system to identify when options are to be considered and help you understand them so you and your family can make fully informed decisions.

The nurse care coordinator will:

• Introduce the scope of cancer services, including integrative therapies
• Complete a holistic assessment of personal strengths and needs
• Explore tips for healthy living and coping skills to help you during your treatment and beyond
• Offer early referral to other support team members or appropriate services

The social worker offers psychosocial and emotional support, and assists in connecting you to local, regional and national resources available such as:

• Transportation/lodging
• Financial assistance
• Home care and hospice
• Support groups
• Power of attorney for health care and advanced directives

The dietitian is available to design a nutrition plan to meet your needs and:

• Assess your nutritional status to develop a plan to meet your nutrition needs during and after cancer treatment.
• Offer counseling and support to help reduce treatment side effects.
• Provide information about nutrition for cancer prevention.
• Present educational programs on nutrition and cancer.
• Provide supportive counseling and emotional support.

Chaplains are available to offer emotional and spiritual support to you and your family throughout your cancer journey.

The chaplain can help you with:

• Discovery of meaning and hope through diagnosis and care
• Spiritual practices in coping and healing
• Children's understanding of illness and loss
• Faith-related questions and exploration
• Grief and loss concerns
• Faith, and community interests and connections
• Power of attorney for health care and advanced directives

The clinical nurse specialist works closely with the cancer support team and is available to offer you and your family:

• Management of symptoms related to your cancer or treatment
• Survivorship visits
• Insurance verification

The American Cancer Society navigator assists with these services:

• American Cancer Society resources and other community-based programs
• Access to medical equipment
• Transportation and lodging
• Wigs, hats, turbans and prostheses
• Links to financial resources

Volunteers play an important role in cancer care through their caring presence and support by offering:

• Reassuring and listening presence
• Hospitality
• Relaxing harp music
• Caring Hands (hand massage)
• Cancer program support