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The emotional toll of cancer can lead to anxiety, depression and stress. Oncology social workers are experts in helping people find ways to cope with these issues for both those with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones.

The Benefits of Individual Counseling for People Living With Cancer

An oncology social worker can be a great help when you are adjusting to a cancer diagnosis. Face-to-face or telephone counseling provides a safe space to share strong emotions and examine ways to overcome challenges.

Learn new ways to cope with cancer. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating and the days following can be thrown into chaos. Managing medical appointments, organizing finances and understanding new treatment terminology can be hard to handle on your own. Individual counseling can help you prepare for what’s ahead and identify ways you are already coping. An oncology social worker can help you identify your feelings and explore coping mechanisms to manage the anxiety and stress that often accompany a cancer diagnosis.

Manage financial challenges. Cancer is an expensive illness and can magnify any financial burdens you are already facing. Even with health insurance, most people will have out- of-pocket costs for their medical care. Oncology social workers can help you research and connect you to financial assistance options that best fit your needs. This can include co-payments for medications, transportation assistance and assistance with living expenses such as rent or mortgage, utilities, car payment, insurance and food.

Talk to your loved ones about cancer. Cancer is a difficult subject to talk about. You may feel that the diagnosis is yours alone to cope with or feel the need to isolate yourself from others.

Recognize that confronting a cancer diagnosis may bring you and your loved ones closer together. Keeping the lines of communication open with the people in your life can allow you to feel more connected to a network of support. Identify family and friends who are supportive and be open with them about your needs as you go through treatment.

For parents coping with a diagnosis, some may try to avoid the topic in fear that they will upset their children. What to say about cancer, how to say it and how much information to share with a child are common concerns. Counseling can help you understand how you are reacting to cancer, how you feel and how to talk to your children about your diagnosis.

Improve communication with your health care team. The relationship you have with your health care team can make a big difference in how you cope with your diagnosis and related challenges. The more you feel that you can openly discuss any matters of concern to you, the better you are likely to feel about your care overall. An oncology social worker can provide guidance and tips on ways to improve communication with your health care team. They can help you ensure your needs are being met, advocate for yourself and help you become an active participant in your treatment and care.

Find reliable information. One of the biggest challenges for people with cancer is sorting through different treatment options. There is a vast amount of information available on the internet, some of it unreliable. Oncology social workers can help you find trustworthy materials from reliable sources to help you make an informed decision about the type of treatment you choose to pursue.

Understand your rights as a patient and your insurance. It’s important to have the contact information of the individual you should call in your doctor’s office or hospital when your insurance company has a question. There are also rights you should know about if you want to continue working during your cancer treatment like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Edited by Paige Soleimani, LMSW

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This fact sheet is supported by Takeda Oncology.

Last updated June 24, 2020

The information presented in this publication is provided for your general information only. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with qualified health professionals who are aware of your specific situation. We encourage you to take information and questions back to your individual health care provider as a way of creating a dialogue and partnership about your cancer and your treatment.

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