Hematology and Oncology Support Services

Social Work in Cancer

Cancer is too hard to manage alone. We can help. Oncology social workers provide counseling and other services to empower you and your family and to reduce your stress through all phases of your cancer treatment.

The Oncology Social Work Group can help you:

Access information to better understand your diagnosis and treatment.
Cope with the many intense feelings that accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Consider issues related to your family, your work, and other important parts of your life.
Plan how to best talk with your children, other family members, work colleagues, and friends about your cancer .
Connect you with others who have been through similar treatments and situations.
Join a support group either at BIDMC or in the community.
Understand social security benefits, disability benefits, insurance coverage, other financial entitlements and programs.
Apply for programs that offer financial assistance.

We offer:

Individual, couples, and family counseling
Referrals to therapists in the community who are familiar with psychosocial issues related to cancer care
Support groups
Educational programs
Assistance with financial, transportation, home care, insurance, and other needs

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We can teach you about:

Communicating with your doctors and nurses, how best to express your needs
Talking with your children, family, friends, and colleagues
Coping with your emotions-sadness, anger, worry, and fears
Reducing stress and using relaxation techniques
How cancer affects sexuality, intimacy, fertility
Considering clinical trials
Living with cancer both now and going forward
Planning for your future with advanced directives
Issues of cancer survivorship

We can help you find:

Transportation
Temporary housing
Home health care and hospice care
Medical equipment such as a cane, walker, wig, or prosthesis
Affordable medical insurance and prescription drug coverage
Financial programs and resources to help with your expenses

Support Programs

Patient-to-Patient, Heart-to-Heart – Peer Support Program

Patient-to-Patient, Heart-to-Heart is a cancer peer support program designed to meet the needs of patients and families at all stages of diagnosis, treatment and survival. Patients and family members can be matched with volunteers to speak to or meet with as it seems helpful. Patient-to-Patient, Heart-to-Heart volunteers are also available daily in the hematology/oncology unit to talk with patients and families.

Patients Appropriate for Referral: All cancer patients and their families.

Cancer Support Groups

Facing Cancer Together and Multicultural Cancer Task Force at BIDMC
Cancer support group for women and men recently diagnosed or actively in treatment
For information and to register, call Nancy Gaulin, MD, or Sasheen Hazel at 617-332-5777

Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
For information and to register, call the Speech and Swallow Center at 617-632-7400

Melanoma Patients and Caregivers Support Group
For information and to register, call Frank McCaffrey, LICSW, OSW-C at 617-667-3525

Metastatic Cancer Support Group, Breast Cancer Support Group, Gynecology Cancer Support Group
For information about these groups and to register, call Hester Hill Schnipper, LISCW, OSW-C at 617-667-2661

Support Group for Men – Advanced Prostate Cancer Support Group
For information and location, call Frank McCaffrey, LICSW, OSW-C at 617-667-3525

Tea Time for (Chinese) Women with Cancer
For information and to register, call Christina Ho at 617-667-3436

Young Adult Cancer Support Group
For information and to register, call Barbara Clivio, PhD, LICSW, OSW-C, at 617-667-2450