Cancer affects the mind and spirit as well as the body and its diagnosis and treatment often cause significant distress for patients and their families. Cancer Supportive Services at Continuum Cancer Centers of New York help you manage the distress that may arise from physical symptoms, emotional issues, and spiritual concerns that you experience with cancer.

Cancer Supportive Services include a team of clinicians specializing in supportive care for cancer patients, and involves social workers, psychiatrists, dietitians, chaplains, and specialists in palliative care, pain medicine and integrative medicine. Our goal is to support your well-being, focusing on you as a whole person with individual needs that may change over time. We work with you and your loved ones to evaluate your concerns and develop a specialized plan that may include counseling practical help, education, management of your symptoms, and wellness programs.

Click here to view our Wellness and Support Programs.

Cancer Supportive Services are available to patients at each site of the Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, at the Beth Israel Cancer Center, the Beth Israel Comprehensive Cancer Center, and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center Outpatient Oncology Service.

• Social Work
• Psychiatry
• Pain and Palliative Care
• Nutrition
• Integrative Medicine
• Our Experts
• Travel and Accommodation
• Other

Social Work

Emotional support and assistance with practical concerns related to cancer around its diagnosis, treatment, and beyond, through counseling and guidance for patients and their families and caregivers.

• Emotional Support/ Counseling- social workers provide support to individuals, couples, and families to address emotional distress that often occurs as a normal part of dealing with cancer at all stages, and help cope with issues that may arise. Social workers at the Cancer Center have a range of expertise with complementary skills and specific cancer-type and treatment focus.
• Practical Services- assistance with social and financial concerns that may be encountered with cancer, including lodging; home care; rehabilitation, assisted living and nursing facilities, hospice; transportation; disability and medical insurance; support at work or school; access to medical care and supplies such as prescription drugs, nutritional supplements, or medical devices and equipment; and legal assistance referral including completing advance directives.
• Information and Resource Referral- oncology social workers are resources for education about cancer beyond the medical aspects of treatment, and provide referral to diverse clinical and wellness programs, educational lectures, support and informational groups both in the cancer center and in the community.

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Psychiatry

Specialty assessment and management of psychological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems that arise in association with cancer.

• Medication Management- evaluation and follow-up by experts with experience in treatment for psychiatric problems in patients with cancer, such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, concentration and memory problems.
• Psychotherapy- focused talk therapy to address these disturbances associated with cancer, along with other emotional concerns that may be encountered such as feeling hopeless, discouraged, or overwhelmed.

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Pain and Palliative Care
Specialized treatment of symptoms and support in clarifying goals of care to help patients maximize overall quality of life and ensure that the treatment they receive matches their wishes and values, so that they can live as well and fully as possible.

• Pain Management- evaluation and management of pain with an approach that may include medication, mind-body therapies, psychotherapy, physical therapy, and interventional procedures.

• Symptom Management- assistance in managing distressing symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, constipation, shortness of breath, and loss of appetite.

• Goals of Care Assessment/ Family Meeting- help in clarifying treatment options to best take into consideration the patient’s wishes in making decisions about care. This may include discussions with patients and members of family and/ or their support network, along with other members of the cancer supportive services team and oncology treatment providers, to help review concerns related to cancer treatment and develop a plan of care that is most suitable for the individual.

• Advance Directives- help to express preferences about medical care for the future.

• Advanced Cancer Planning- assess and discuss needs at late stages of cancer including additional support for patients and their families in the home or at other facilities; focus on end-of-life care, by guiding in preparation, addressing concerns, and reviewing options to optimize comfort, including hospice.

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Nutrition
Oncology nutrition specialists are Registered Dietitians dedicated to helping individuals eat well throughout the course of their illness and beyond. Good nutrition is essential but can be challenging while dealing with changes in appetite and ability to eat. Eating the right kinds and amounts of foods can help the body heal, feel better and become stronger. The dietitians provide individual nutrition assessment and education, They are a resource for food questions and the latest nutrition research.

• One-on-One Counseling- encouraged at any time to address a wide spectrum of specific disease-related eating issues.

• Wellness Education offered through weight- loss groups and healthy cooking programs.

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Integrative Medicine
As part of a holistic approach, a range of wellness programs are available, involving mind-body therapies and non-traditional approaches including: Yoga; Reiki; acupuncture; massage therapy; meditation and relaxation; hypnosis and guided imagery; fitness and health programs; and creative arts therapies including art therapy, music therapy, and writing workshop.

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Our Experts

Psychiatry / Palliative Care

Seth Resnick, MD
Director, Cancer Supportive Services
Psychiatry, Pain, Palliative Care

Jeremy Winell, MD
Director, Cancer Supportive Services
Beth Israel Cancer Center–West Campus
Psychiatry, Psycho-Oncology

Alice Fox, DrPH, PA-C
Liaison, Pain and Palliative Care

Social Work

Alison Snow, LCSW, OSW-C
Coordinator, Social Work Services

Darren Arthur, LCSW
Oncology Social Worker

Nancy Bourque, LCSW
Oncology Social Worker

Bill McDermott, LCSW
Social Work Manager
Beth Israel Cancer Center–West Campus

Dixie Beckham, LCSW-R, ACSW
Senior Social Worker

Akiko Miyake, LMSW, LCSW
Oncology Social Worker

Lori Schwartz, LCSW-R
Oncology Social Work,
St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital

Nutrition

Bridget Bennett, MS, RD
Oncology Dietitian

Michele Weisberger, MS, RD
Oncology Dietitian

Lynn Goldstein MS, RD
Clinical Nutrition Supervisor

Integrative Medicine

Rita Valentino, RN, MS, L.Ac, LMT, RYP
Coordinator for Integrative Oncology Therapies

Diane Serra, RN, HN-BC, MS, L.Ac
Coordinator for Integrative Oncology Therapies

Peer Support, Programs

Sandra Lansinger
Patient Navigator,
Beth Israel Medical Center
Appel-Venet Comprehensive Breast Service

JoAnn Fox-Weingarten
Coordinator for Patient Support Services
St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospitals
Comprehensive Breast Center

Pastoral Care
Eileen McKeon-Pesek, MS, BCC, CT

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Travel and Accomodations

Comprehensive Cancer Centers of New York is located in throughout New York City (NYC). NYC is known for its tall buildings, Broadway shows, dynamic multicultural communities and great restaurants. And as the number one destination for tourists from around the world, NYC offers convenient transportation access and a full range of hotel accommodations.

Because many of our patients travel to NYC to see our physicians, we have put together this list of websites that may prove useful in planning your trip. Please contact us if you have any questions or need further assistance.

• Hotel Accommodations
  Low cost accommodations are available for those who need them, including The Miracle House and The Hope Lodge. Please ask your doctor's office or social worker for assistance.
• NYC's Official Tourism WebsiteM
• NYC Weather
• Getting Around NYC
• Restaurants
• Tickets - Broadway, Events and Movies

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Other

• Peer Support - from cancer survivors on staff
• Patient Navigation- guidance for patients in finding their way at our center through the complex process of cancer treatment.
• Resource Center- help with getting information about community resources and Cancer Center support programs with direction to patient literature and web-based information.
• Chaplaincy- help in finding comfort and meaning by addressing spiritual concerns, for any faith or religious denomination.

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