Patient Support

Nutrition

Good nutrition is key to healing, feeling good throughout treatment and beyond. You may find you have a decreased appetite from symptoms of cancer or from side effects of treatment. Our nurses and dietitians can educate you on how to manage your dietary needs. Other side effects you may experience include having a sore mouth or trouble swallowing, or food may taste bland. Our staff can discuss medications or diet modifications to help ease the symptoms. Maintaining good fluid intake is important for energy, maintaining blood pressure and flushing medications through your system. Our staff will guide you on what you should drink or avoid during treatment.

Palliative care

Genesis provides palliative care to offer symptom control for patients and their families dealing with serious illnesses. Palliative means comfort in Latin, and that’s exactly the goal of palliative care – to give comfort for patients with a chronic or serious illness. Palliative Care staff help patients deal with the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness like cancer.

Pet therapy

Our pet volunteers will bring a smile to your face. These specially trained dogs offer a distraction and lend a paw in times of need. Therapy dogs seem to have a positive effect on those individuals who love animals. In many cases the patient’s focus is momentarily diverted from their emotional and physical challenges of cancer treatment by focusing on the dog.

Chase Research has shown that when a patient interacts with a dog, the patient may realize a reduction of blood pressure, stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression and fear. Responses may also include increased awareness, communication and smiles. Dog visits offer physical and emotional benefits and may help the healing process along with your wellbeing.

Spiritual care

Serious illness and cancer often brings up feelings of anxiety and questions. Our compassionate spiritual care team offers guidance and emotional support, even if you don’t have a religious affiliation. Our spiritual care team is here to listen, offer words of comfort and encouragement, hold your hand, or offer a hug. Services our team offers includes:

• Being an advocate
• Crisis intervention
• Cultural diversity training
• Notifying churches and synagogues for patients if requested
• No One Dies Alone (NODA)
• Religious sacraments
• Short-term individual counseling
• Supply training for lay visitors

Support groups and classes

Support groups and classes offer you and your family encouragement and advice during your journey. We offer classes such as the Genesis Risk Intervention Program (GRIP) for exercise and strengthening after treatment.

Survivorship care plan

Depending on the type and stage of your cancer, you may receive a survivorship care plan. The care plan recommends ways to stay healthy and explains how often to schedule certain cancer screenings. You and your primary care doctor will also receive a treatment summary for your records.