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Supportive Care for Patients & Families

RMCC Supportive Care
Table of Contents

No One Faces Cancer Alone

Our role is more than providing the most advanced cancer care available today to our patients. We are also here to support patients and their families with compassionate support for the mental, emotional, and physical effects that come with cancer treatment. The RMCC Supportive Care Program offers additional assistance throughout your cancer journey. Everyone's needs are unique, and our team helps manage side effects and symptoms while providing emotional, mental, and practical support.

Support Care

Oncology Social Workers at RMCC

Patients often visit with our oncology-trained social workers for guidance during significant life transitions, such as after a new diagnosis, a change in treatment, returning to their regular activities after treatment, or end-of-life care. Services are provided in person, over the phone, or in a group setting and do not require a referral from a physician or medical team.

Meet Our Social Workers

How We Provide Supportive Care

 

Mental Health Support

A cancer diagnosis can affect much more than just your physical health. It’s common for patients to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, fear, and uncertainty during their treatment journey and beyond. While these feelings are common, they can be unpredictable.

At RMCC, we prioritize mental health support to help patients learn how to cope with the stresses and emotional challenges associated with cancer. Your team may recommend counseling, support groups, stress-management techniques, or community resources to help enhance your quality of life and ensure you feel fully cared for throughout your treatment and recovery.

Emotional Well-Being

Cancer can impact every aspect of life, and it’s entirely normal to experience a wide range of emotions, such as sadness, anger, frustration, grief, or uncertainty during this time.

Our focus on emotional well-being aims to help patients and their families navigate these feelings and maintain a sense of control. Comprehensive care may include supportive counseling, educational resources, and connections with others who have similar experiences. These services can significantly contribute to your overall well-being during and after treatment.

Nutrition Support

Caring for your body through proper nutrition is important during cancer treatment. The RMCC dietician will guide you through eating while experiencing side effects such as loss of appetite, upset stomach, nausea, and others.

Access nutrition resources, including workshops and recipes, available through RMCC.

Learn More

Caregiver Support

Caregivers play a vital role in supporting someone with cancer in ways such as coordinating appointments, managing medications, providing transportation, and offering emotional support.

While being a caregiver can be rewarding, it can also be physically and emotionally demanding for family and friends who take on this responsibility. Many caregivers experience stress, anxiety, burnout, or feelings of isolation while focusing on the needs of their loved ones.

At RMCC, we offer supportive care services to help caregivers navigate these challenges so they can care for their loved ones without neglecting their own health and well-being.

Watch our video with more information about caregiver support.

Access resources for caregivers
 

Advance Care Planning

 

Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and communicating your healthcare preferences for the future. Taking time to reflect on what matters most to you ensures that your wishes are clearly understood and respected if you become unable to make medical decisions.

Advance care planning is beneficial for all adults, not just those facing serious illness. Having these conversations early aligns your medical care with your personal preferences and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Watch our video to learn more about advance care planning.

 

Support Groups

It can be helpful to talk with others who are experiencing something similar. Support groups are available virtually and in person in Denver, Northern Colorado, and the Colorado Springs areas for patients, caregivers, children of cancer patients, and for various types of cancer.

Find a Support Group

Community Resources for Cancer Patients & Loved Ones

Toll-free helpline

The toll-free Cancer Support Helpline® is staffed by community navigators and resource specialists with extensive experience helping people affected by cancer. Call 888-793-9355 or visit the website for updated hours.

Complementary Therapies

Many patients find that complementary therapies enhance their quality of life and help manage treatment-related symptoms when used alongside traditional cancer care. These approaches are not intended to replace cancer treatment but rather to support your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Some of the most beneficial reasons to include complementary therapy in your daily routine include:

Managing side effects:

Some therapies may help with symptoms such as nausea, pain, or discomfort. For example, acupuncture may be recommended for patients to help reduce chemotherapy-related nausea or pain after surgery.

Reducing stress and anxiety:

Mind-body practices, such as meditation, gentle yoga, or breathing exercises, can help calm the mind and make the cancer journey feel a little more manageable.

Easing pain and fatigue:

Massage therapy, gentle movement, and practices like tai chi may help some patients feel less pain, stiffness, or cancer-related fatigue.

Feeling more in control:

Cancer can bring a lot of uncertainty. Adding safe, supportive therapies to your care plan may help you feel more involved in your own healing and well-being.

Our supportive team is committed to connecting you with local and virtual resources that can complement your cancer treatment plan.

Support for Children Whose Parents Have Cancer

Having a parent who is diagnosed with cancer can be hard for children to understand and cope with. Watch our video about how to tell your children you have cancer.

Several organizations in Colorado offer services for children affected by a cancer diagnosis in their family.

CLIMB (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery) from the Children’s Treehouse Foundation in Denver offers help for children ages 6-17 with normalizing their feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear, and anger related to their parent’s diagnosis.

Visit Website

Kesem offers summer camps, virtual monthly events, and on-site community gatherings for kids while their parents receive cancer care.

Visit Website

 

Supportive Care FAQs

Services are designed to meet patients’ needs through various formats, including in-person, phone, virtual, or group sessions. Many services do not require a referral from a physician or medical team. If you aren’t sure where to start, our team can help connect you to the right resources.

Clinical social workers are particularly helpful during significant transitions such as a new diagnosis, a change in treatment, post-treatment survivorship, or end-of-life care.

They can also help with practical needs and financial concerns. You may want to speak with your clinic’s social worker if you have questions or concerns about:

  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Adjusting to your new diagnosis
  • Understanding treatment options
  • How your life is changing
  • Advance care planning
  • End-of-life care
  • Survivorship care
  • Not feeling safe at home
  • The financial impact of your illness/treatment
  • Employment and career concerns
  • Intimacy, sexuality, and relationships
  • Caregiver stress
  • Transportation and lodging
  • Talking to your children about your diagnosis
  • Transitions in care

Our program provides comprehensive services tailored to emotional, social, and practical needs, including:

  • Experienced, licensed, oncology-trained clinical social workers
  • Individual caregiver support
  • High-quality support groups and educational programs
  • Referrals to community organizations
  • Assistance with advance care planning
  • Additional services for all diagnoses and across the cancer continuum

Most of our services are offered free of charge. If there are any costs associated with your appointment, we will tell you well in advance so there are no surprises.

You don’t need to wait until you’re struggling before taking advantage of supportive care services. Many patients find supportive care helpful right after diagnosis, during treatment, or whenever new challenges arise.

Although palliative care is sometimes referred to as supportive care, they are not necessarily the same. Supportive care services often address emotional and practical challenges associated with cancer, while palliative care focuses on managing symptoms to help improve overall quality of life.

Complementary therapies help you improve fatigue, pain, mental stress, and more. There are many different therapies such as

  • Exercise and movement programs like tai chi
  • Meditation and mindfulness practices
  • Art and music therapy
  • Massage therapy
  • Yoga and stretching
  • Acupuncture
  • Relaxation techniques

Talk with our social workers about where and when these activities are available in your community.