Supportive Cancer Care
The Supportive Cancer Care Program at Virginia Cancer Specialists offers specialized support to help you manage cancer-related pain, symptoms, and side effects of treatment such as fatigue, nausea, sleep problems, stress, or emotional concerns. At every stage of your cancer journey, we are here to help you feel your best so that you can continue with treatment.
What is Supportive Cancer Care?
When a patient undergoes treatment for cancer, life can often be disrupted by the physical, emotional, and psychological side effects of treatment.
The Supportive Cancer Care Program (formerly known as the Palliative Care Program) at Virginia Cancer Specialists seeks to improve the quality of life for patients facing cancer by helping in a variety of ways, such as easing physical symptoms or relieving the stress or anxiety of dealing with an illness. Support is provided by a focus on expert symptom management and developing an understanding of care from the patient’s perspective.
A consult with the Supportive Cancer Care team at Virginia Cancer Specialists is appropriate for patients in all stages of cancer treatment, starting from the time of diagnosis. It is often provided while patients are receiving curative chemotherapy. The aim is to provide an extra layer of support to patients as they deal with the complexities of managing life with cancer.
It is important to remember that supportive cancer care or palliative care is not the same as hospice care. Although hospice care employs supportive or palliative care methods of symptom alleviation, hospice specifically is end-of-life treatment intended for those with 6 months or less to live.
Goals of Supportive Cancer Care at Virginia Cancer Specialists
To Offer Holistic Symptom and Side Effect Management and Personalized, Proactive Support
The Virginia Cancer Specialists Supportive Cancer Care Team provides physician expert-led personalized care to help patients manage cancer-related pain, symptoms, and side effects of treatment, to enhance quality of life, and improve comfort, energy, and day-to-day functioning.
Through individualized care plans that address pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and other symptoms, the Supportive Cancer Care Team helps reduce the burden of symptoms and side effects before they escalate in order that patients maintain their independence.
To Provide Seamlessly Coordinated Oncology Care
The Supportive Cancer Care Team works in close partnership with each patient’s primary oncology team to ensure patients receive coordinated, comprehensive, seamless support that complements their current medical treatment.
Patients have easy access to a team of compassionate board-certified palliative care physicians and nurse practitioner who specialize in pain and symptom management, plus nutritionists, social workers, nurse navigators, clinical coordinators, research coordinators, financial counselors, and many others.
To Reduce Emergency Visits and Hospitalization
Through proactive side effect and symptom monitoring and early intervention, supportive care reduces avoidable hospital visits and improves overall treatment adherence. Better treatment adherence leads to better outcomes and peace of mind.
What to Expect during a Supportive Cancer Care Consult
During your visit, you will discuss any symptoms or side effects from illness or treatment, medications that you are taking, and involvement with family or friends in providing support and decision-making. Together with your provider, you will help create a plan for managing symptoms.
You may be provided necessary prescriptions as well as appropriate referrals to other members of the interdisciplinary health care team if necessary.
Finally, your Supportive Cancer Care provider will initiate a plan for follow up and communication with other health care providers.
Your Supportive Cancer Care provider will act as a guide to help create a plan that will facilitate smooth and comprehensive care throughout your treatment. During your consultation, it is of the utmost importance that your wishes are heard and respected.
How to Prepare for a Supportive Cancer Care Consult
Once you have scheduled a Supportive Cancer Care consultation, it is helpful if you:
Write down your questions and concerns about various areas of treatment and its physical, social, emotional, psychological, and financial impact, such as:
- I would like to better understand how my cancer will impact my function and my needs for caregiving, and my family.
- I would like to talk about my illness and what happens next.
- I would like help communicating with my family about my illness.
- I would like help talking through my treatment options and my priorities for care.
- Create a list of medications and treatments.
In order to track your symptoms and side effects, consider creating a checklist such as the following:
I would like help with:
- Pain management
- Neuropathy (pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness)
- Nausea
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Anxiety or sadness
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue/decreased energy
- Decreased appetite
- Other: _______
Bring a friend or family member who can provide support and ask additional questions.
Our Supportive Cancer Care Team
Supportive Cancer Care involves a team approach. At Virginia Cancer Specialists, your Supportive Cancer Care providers will work with your oncologist, your oncology nurse navigator, and other team members to address a broad perspective of your concerns. Other available resources include social work support and a referral to our nutrition services team.
How to Schedule a Consult with a Supportive Cancer Care Provider
If you are interested in the supportive services offered by our Supportive Cancer Care program, including social work/counseling services, you may ask your physician or anyone on your care team for a referral.
Appointments can be facilitated through your oncologist or made by calling 571.350.8400* or CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE.
*Virginia Cancer Specialists patients undergoing radiation therapy who wish to also access Supportive Cancer Care must be under the care of a Virginia Cancer Specialists Medical Oncologist in order to receive supportive cancer care services.
Our Patients Say it Best
“Dr. Siddiqui was very calm and thorough in his knowledge of my treatments and what questions to ask. He prescribed medication to help with my sinus problems, and even called me later that evening to explain the delay in filling it and the cost. I appreciated that personal touch. Dr. Siddiqui answered all of our questions with great advice. I know I can reach out if I need him at a later time.” – Virginia Cancer Specialists Patient
“Dr. Heintz is one of my favorite doctors. I’ve followed her from Arlington to Fairfax because I didn’t want to change whom I was seeing. She’s attentive and displays care for my well being. She’s also been fast to respond when I’ve had issues in the past.”- Virginia Cancer Specialists Patient
Related Treatment Areas & Resources
Scalp Cooling
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Immunotherapy
Ready to Make an Appointment?
If you have questions about whether this treatment or service may be right for you, make an appointment with the Virginia Cancer Specialists team.