Cancer support services

Dr. Kenneth Cowan, MD meets with a cancer patient.

Cancer Education & Support Groups

For more information about cancer education and support groups call 402.559.4420.

Nebraska Medicine Cancer Survivorship Program

Our Survivorship Program is designed to help adult patients transition from active treatment today-to-day living as a cancer survivor. We will also address emotional and physical challenges such as fatigue, heart disease, bone loss and quality of life.

During your survivorship clinic visit we will:

Perform a comprehensive medical examination
Explain late and long-term effects of cancer and treatment
Recommend healthy lifestyle behaviors to reduce complications and lower the risk of additional cancers
Provide an individualized cancer treatment summary and a survivorship care plan

For more information call 402.559.5600.

Child Life Services

Being at the hospital, around new people and away from home can be stressful for children and their families. Child Life Specialists help families understand the health care setting with medical play, reduce stress with pet therapy and promote growth and expression with art.

For more information call 402.559.6775.

Clinical Nutrition Services

Nutrition is important before, during and after cancer treatment. However, many cancer treatments cause a lack of appetite and taste changes. Registered dietitians are available to help and support patients and their families. Weight management services are also available. Talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from connecting with a clinical nutrition services team member.

Educational Resources and Services

Resource centers are located at the Life Renewal Center and the Resource and Wellness Center. Print and electronic materials for all cancers are available. Some topics are offered in a classroom setting, including a basic care class for patients and families preparing for transplant.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) provides information about state-of-the-art cancer treatment in easy to understand language. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients® have been developed around the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines. The NCCN Guidelines® can help doctors and patients make informed decisions about cancer prevention, screenings and treatment. Patients are encouraged to use the guidelines to talk with their doctor about the treatment options that are available. However these guidelines are not intended to take the place of the treatment plan outlined by a physician.

Nebraska Medicine recommends visiting the Web sites of these respected organizations for more information on cancer, cancer treatment and support:

Financial Counseling

Unexpected medical expenses can be hard to deal with. Help is available for patients who have trouble paying their bill, or have other insurance or billing needs.

For information about financial counseling call 402.559.7329.

Life Renewal Center

Located at Village Pointe, the Life Renewal Center helps cancer patients with the physical and emotional changes experienced due to therapy or surgery. Massage therapy, wig and prosthetic fittings, skin care, yoga, skin care lessons and print and electronic materials are just some of the available services.

Call 402.596.3195 for more information and hours of operation.

Lymphedema Services

Our physical therapists are specially trained to perform the most effective treatments for lymphedema. Talk to your doctor to see if you can benefit from lymphedema services.

Medical-Legal Support

The Nebraska Medical-Legal Partnership for Oncology offers assistance to our cancer patients. Eligible patients may receive legal advice or representation for many issues including:

Bankruptcy
Last Will and Testaments
Power of Attorney
Social Security denials
Unlawful or unsupported denials for needed medical care

For more information about medical-legal support call 402.559.4420.

Pain Management

Pain can impact a patients’ mood, work and sleep. Controlling the pain can improve a patient’s quality of life and make treatment easier to bear. A dedicated cancer pain specialist is available to discuss your options. Talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from connecting with a pain management specialist.

Palliative Medicine

Palliative Medicine service is available to assist with challenging symptoms and to help achieve the best quality of life possible. The service can help with common symptoms including pain, nausea and shortness of breath.Talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from connecting with a palliative medicine specialist.

Spiritual Care

Spiritual care provides patients and their families’ spiritual support and prayer. They can also put patients in touch with faith groups in the community.

For more information about spiritual care call 402.552.3219.

Physical and Occupational Therapy

Cancer and its treatment can have lasting effects on physical function and thought processes.

Physical and occupational therapy can help with:

Getting equipment such as a wheelchair or bathroom equipment
Help with self-care activities such as brushing teeth, getting dressed and more
Techniques to improve strength, flexibility, balance, endurance and coordination

Talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from connecting with a physical or occupational therapy specialist.

Psychiatry and Psychology Consultations

Consultations with a psychologist or psychiatrist are available upon request or recommendation. Talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from connecting with a psychiatry or psychology specialist.

Resource and Wellness Center

Located at Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the Resource and Wellness Center helps patients and families navigate through the cancer journey providing a variety of support and personal services to help address the physical and emotional needs of patients. This includes access to health information, education and support groups, image recovery, salon services and massage therapy as well as computers, faxing and notary services.For more information call 402.559.1222.

Smoking Cessation Clinic

The Smoking Cessation Clinic is offered at Nebraska Medicine - Village Pointe.

For more information about smoking cessation call 402.559.4389.

Social Work

The social work department provides emotional support through:

Community resources, such as financial aid and transportation
Counseling
Planning for medical equipment or home nursing care
Support and educational groups

To connect with the social work team call 402.559.4420.

Speech Therapy

Consultations with a speech therapy specialist are available upon request or recommendation. Therapy such as: speech, language, voice, swallowing and cognition are some of the common areas of focus.Talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from connecting with a speech therapist.

UNMC Library Service

Patients of Nebraska Medicine may utilize the University of Nebraska Medical Center McGoogan Library of Medicine’s Consumer Health Information Service (CHIRS) free of charge for:

Researching conditions and medical information
Understanding personal health issues

For more information about the UNMC library service call 866.800.5209