Cancer Supportive Care

Whether you need information about preventing certain types of cancer or you’re looking for expert guidance, resources and compassionate care when you receive a diagnosis, you can rely on the Supportive Care program at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City.

Supportive Care Services Close to Home

Take advantage of the highly trained healthcare professionals at Stephenson Cancer Center who work together in an interdisciplinary team to help you minimize symptoms, manage pain and prevent secondary health issues created by cancer. You benefit from comprehensive Supportive Care services such as:

• Advance care planning – Information and conversations to help you and your family understand and document your immediate and future care decisions

• American Indian navigation services – Culturally sensitive bridge to providers, services, referrals, authorizations and appointments

• Cancer education workshops – What to expect during chemotherapy or radiation therapy

• Cancer genetics – Comprehensive evaluation, testing and counseling for inherited risk of certain cancers

• Cancer navigation services – Coordination of care throughout your cancer journey from diagnosis through survivorship

• Cancer rehabilitation – Ways to recover function after cancer treatments through physical therapy and occupational therapy

• Cancer support groups – Options for sharing your journey, even while social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic

• Oncology nutrition – Healthy eating information to ensure you get proper nutrition that supports your body throughout cancer treatment

• Oncology social work services – Assistance to keep the rest of your life on track with resources for emotional, financial, logistical or other unexpected issues

• Palliative and comfort care – Help with identifying goals of care and managing cancer-related symptoms; resources for cancer pain management

• Psycho-oncology – Counseling services to help you learn to care for yourself and your loved ones during times of stress and uncertainty as you navigate a cancer diagnosis and treatment

• Tobacco cessation – Cancer prevention information and free help to quit

Compassionate Care for Common Symptoms

At Stephenson Cancer Center, you’ll find compassionate care and support to help you and your loved ones cope with the diagnosis and, especially, when experiencing common symptoms such as:

• Anxiety, depression, panic, worry
• Balance issues, especially loss of balance and fall prevention
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Cognitive problems – Attention, memory, or thinking
• Constipation, diarrhea
• Difficulty staying or falling asleep
• Gait disturbance – Changes in the way you walk
• Lack of energy; fatigue
• Lymphedema – Swelling in hands, arms, legs, feet
• Nausea
• Numbness or tingling, especially in the feet
• Pain anywhere in your body or pain
• Trouble breathing

Learn more about other pain management services at OU Health.

Your Expert Supportive Care Team

Throughout your journey at Stephenson Cancer Center, you can depend on your Supportive Care team to walk with you every step of the way. You’ll work with experts from many healthcare disciplines, including palliative care providers, psychologists, psychiatrists, genetic counselors, clinical social workers, case managers, oncology dietitians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, American Indian navigators and tobacco cessation counselors, as well as other helpful clinicians and support staff.