Cancer Care Education and Support

Your nutritional needs change when you’re dealing with cancer. The right food choices help support your immune system and promote healing. Proper nutrition will also help you maintain your weight, increase your energy and improve your sleep patterns.

We provide resources to help you:

• Understand your nutritional needs before and during cancer treatment
• Learn about high-calorie and high-protein foods
• Find healthful and appetizing recipes

Support groups present information, provide comfort, teach coping skills and reduce anxiety. They’re a place for people to share common concerns and receive emotional support. Sharing your experiences can help you overcome the feelings of loneliness and helplessness that may come with a cancer diagnosis. You’re often better able to deal with this disease when supported by others who share the same experience.

Support groups are available for people who are currently undergoing cancer treatment or who have completed cancer treatment. Your family and friends can also find encouragement and strength through special support groups just for them.

Not all locations have support group offerings. For a full list of meetings, including dates and any costs, please use our Classes Calendar to search for a cancer support group class at a hospital near you. All our cancer support groups are free and confidential. And they’re open to anyone affected by cancer, no matter where their care was received.

The cancer treatment process can be confusing and overwhelming. Our specially trained patient navigators work closely with you to share information, interpret treatment plans and answer questions you and your family may have. They can also help connect you with other helpful resources.

As a health care organization, we are devoted to providing spiritual care to those we serve. We believe this support encourages hope and fosters strength and healing. Our spiritual care team is happy to visit with you, offer prayers with you or on your behalf and provide other services as needed.

If you need an easy way to communicate with family across the state or across the country, CaringBridge provides a simple solution. This secure, online service easily allows friends and family to stay in touch and share support, wherever you are.

We recognize how difficult it can be to pay medical bills following an emergency*, surgery or other medical treatment. To make it as easy as possible for you to pay your medical bills, we offer a range of financial assistance options to help.

You may qualify for financial assistance if you are:

• Uninsured and unable to qualify for government assistance such as Medicaid
• Underinsured, meaning you do not have enough insurance to cover all your bills
• Unable to pay for medically-necessary care based on your household financial situation

When determining patient eligibility, SCL Health does not take into account race, ethnicity, religion, creed, gender, age, social or immigration status or sexual orientation. Under our financial policy, we use the most current Federal Poverty Guidelines to determine financial eligibility.

*Individuals in need of emergency care will never be denied treatment or care if they do not have insurance or are unable to pay.