Our oncology social workers talk with patients and their families about emotional or physical needs, and help them find support services and other appropriate community resources.
A cancer diagnosis can affect many areas of a patient’s life, causing them to feel overwhelmed.
Some of the needs that social workers will commonly identify and assist with include:
- Transportation and housing needs
- Financial concerns that patients may have about paying medical bills, rent, or utilities
- Limitations that patients may have independently performing daily life needs, such as bathing, cooking, or dressing
- Support for mental health, emotional health, or self-image concerns
- Advanced care planning and documenting future healthcare wishes
In this episode of our podcast, Cancer Care Today, we explore the role of the oncology social worker and the ways in which they help patients and their families navigate the many emotional, social, and financial aspects of a cancer diagnosis.
Nicole Reitsma, LICSW, is a certified oncology social worker and part of the Minnesota Oncology social work team.
Share
Categories
Tags
Recent Posts
Nonsmokers Still at Risk for Lung Cancer. In the United States, about 10% to 20% of lung cancer diagnoses happen in people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
Biomarkers are proteins, hormones, or pieces of DNA that can be released by cancer cells or by your body in response to cancer.
Is Frequent Urination a Sign of Prostate Cancer? Frequent urination can be linked to several prostate conditions that place pressure on the urinary system.