Supportive Care Services

Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer treatments. It can last a few weeks or months, varying from person to person.

Our Cancer Fatigue Program works to strengthen your body and counteract some of the effects of cancer by bringing together the expertise of our cancer care specialists with other specialties.

Using proven, evidence-based methods, we create a customized exercise and physical therapy plan to increase your strength, mobility, and endurance, improve balance and energy conservation so you can reduce fatigue and have the energy to enjoy everyday activities.

Some cancers can run in families. That’s why we offer a comprehensive genetic screening program. When you meet with our cancer genetics team, you can expect:

• an individualized hereditary cancer risk assessment
• genetic counseling
• genetic testing services to individuals and families

Identifying anyone at risk allows us to perform personalized medical interventions. This means earlier cancer detection, prevention, and a better quality of life for you and your loved ones.

Cancer pain can arise from the disease itself, treatment side effects, or both. Wherever your pain is coming from, our patient-centered Cancer Pain & Rehabilitation program creates customized treatment plans to reduce pain, manage side effects, and improve your quality of life.

Cancer impacts not just your body, but also your mind and emotions. Our Collaborative Care team is here to support you and your family from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship.

We collaborate with your team of providers, including primary care, cancer, and OBGYN specialists, to create a tailored set of services and coping strategies for symptoms and feelings, including:

• anxiety and stress
• changes in appetite
• depression
• insomnia 
• irritability

Each patient’s nutritional needs change throughout treatment and recovery. With an individualized focus on your specific needs, our team of nutritional counselors and registered dietitians can help you make a well-informed nutrition and supplement plan designed to boost your immune system and address specific nutritional issues during treatment and recovery.

By working closely with your cancer care team and primary care provider, we can help you:

• address barriers to proper nutrition
• cope with cancer or treatment side effects, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, taste changes, mouth sores, and chewing or swallowing difficulties
• maintain your weight and strength
• prepare for surgery
• recover from surgery more quickly
• reduce the risk of malnutrition or dehydration

For some patients, cancer care may include managing pain and extended comfort measures. Our Palliative Care services ensure you or your loved one experience as little pain as possible in a setting that is right for you - whether that is at home, in a nursing home, or hospice care center.

Palliative care provides advanced symptom management for patients who are living with advanced illnesses where the prognosis is greater than six months. We offer therapies to reduce pain and discomfort, and emotional and mental distress as you continue treatment.

Hospice care offers comfort measures for patients whose advanced disease prognosis is six months or less and who are choosing not to continue disease-altering treatment. Our team has specialized expertise in relieving pain and other physical symptoms, while also focusing on your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

With specially-trained oncology pharmacists and multiple pharmacy locations, we’re here to provide you with convenient access to cancer prescription medications and supplies that are vital to your treatment.

You can expect accurate, safe, effective medications to help you with your cancer treatment, and dedication to help with:

• medication costs through collaboration with social workers, care coordinators, and other health care professionals
• contacting insurance providers to determine prior authorization requirements and co-pay responsibilities
• ensuring medication renewals are refilled upon consultation and approval by your physician
• evaluating and coordinating medications with your cancer care team
• managing medication side effects and preventing unintended drug interactions
• providing counseling on medications, their usage and side effects

Social workers provide you and your family with advocacy, education, resources and compassion to help each of you cope with cancer diagnosis, care planning, treatment, and survivorship.

Offering vital support and care, your social worker will work with you, your family, and your care team to ensure you have:

• seamless communication with your medical team
• support as you and your loved ones adjust to your diagnosis
• mental health recommendations and referrals
• information and referrals for community-based services and support groups
• grief and loss support
• a mediator for family conflict related to illness
• reliable transportation and lodging or housing
• assistance with advance directives and end-of-life issues
• help with home healthcare services
• information and referrals for financial and insurance concerns

Social workers are available at most of our cancer care locations across the Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and St. Lawrence regions.

Even when your cancer treatment ends, we’re here for you. Your cancer care team will support you and your family as you transition from treatment to survivorship, creating a personalized care plan designed just for you.

We will help you in the days, weeks, and months following your treatment by working closely with your primary care provider and:

• adopting healthy living practices
• develop coping strategies for long-term physical and emotional effects from treatment
• direct you and your family to support and community resources
• discuss and address social and financial concerns
• manage your risk for recurrence
• outline upcoming follow-up appointments, screenings, and exams through a survivorship care plan

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, especially with the financial burden of treatment. At Lipson Cancer Institute, our financial counselors are here to guide you through the financial aspects of your care.

We meet you where you are at by helping:

• clarify your insurance coverage and benefits
• estimate your financial responsibility for services not covered by insurance
• explore payment options if funds or health insurance are an issue
• help you identify and obtain coverage for government programs, where available
• address questions or concerns regarding your insurance coverage and financial assistance

We offer financial assistance options for uninsured or underinsured patients. Our financial counseling team is here to help you find out if you qualify for assistance or if there are programs available to help cover your medical services.

We understand you may have trouble getting a ride to every visit and appointment. You should not have to deal with complications in your cancer care due to a lack of transportation.

With multiple partnerships with transportation assistance programs across the region, we can connect you with the best option for your situation. Ask your cancer care team for more information about arranging rides.