Weathering Cancer Is a Team Effort

When people refer to cancer as a journey, they aren’t kidding. Cancer involves a person’s physical, emotional, psychological and social self, touching everything from side effects and nutrition to finances and transportation. Because cancer impacts so many aspects of a person’s life, patients with a cancer diagnosis need assistance above and beyond treatment of their illness.  

Fortunately, clinical leaders and staff at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute understand and have created a network of support programs that gives people what they need – in every aspect of care. 

“Our programs serve to reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety and empower patients to take an active role in their recovery,” says Charles Hartzel, Manager, Oncology Navigation and Social Work, who oversees the cancer support programs. “Mostly, I think they help patients feel heard and valued, which is so important.”

Hartzel says patients usually encounter nurse navigators first. This group comprises registered nurses with extensive clinical knowledge, who provide education, coordinate care and offer a listening ear or shoulder to cry on. “The concern might be side effects from chemotherapy or addressing issues with care,” Hartzel says. “They fill in any gaps and make sure patients have a great experience.”

Social workers are a second group, “covering just about everything,” Hartzel says. They help with bills through funding sources and answer insurance questions. They’ll find a ride to an appointment or locate someone to walk a patient’s dog while they are in the hospital. “Last month, we were able to get a patient’s utility bill paid so her water wouldn’t be shut off,” Hartzel says.     

A great benefit of the Cancer Institute’s support programs is they are all free of charge, except for the counseling program. Here, patients can confidentially discuss any aspect of their life with licensed, professional oncology counselors. Other free programs are support groups, where cancer patients connect with others who are living with the disease, and a nutrition program, designed for concerns such as malnutrition and medical nutrition therapy.

“Cancer is tough.  I believe what our team does truly makes a difference in survival for our patients.” - Charles Hartzel

Besides support in all the areas above, the Cancer Institute offers specialty programs that have the power to bring a smile to patients’ faces.

“Inky Thoughts” is a writing group intended to help patients process their thoughts, feelings and the emotional impact cancer has had on their life. This group is co-facilitated with professors from DeSales University’s creative writing and publishing department.

Master practitioners who volunteer with LVHN offer Reiki, a Japanese healing art, for relaxation and to reduce anxiety.

“We also have a Kintsugi Processing Group,” Hartzel says. “Patients break ceramic bowls with a hammer and then glue the bowls back together with gold-dusted adhesive. We help patients relate the breaking and repair to the emotional and physical process of healing that occurs with a cancer diagnosis, subsequent treatment and survivorship. The process helps the bowl regain a new sense of beauty and value, just like a patient recovering from cancer.”

Support of Survivors is another program, where nurse navigators and social workers connect newly diagnosed patients with cancer survivors via telephone. In doing this, patients gain hope and knowledge from someone who has lived through the cancer experience.

In addition, the Cancer Institute and Cancer Support Community Greater Lehigh Valley work hand in hand to present a survivorship series to assist patients in finding out what comes next after treatment. The Cancer Support Community, an organization that uplifts people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities and breaking down barriers to care, is instrumental in many of the efforts of the nurse navigators and social workers.

“Cancer is tough. When patients aren’t feeling well – maybe due to side effects – and there are emotional concerns to deal with, things fall apart, and quality of life goes downhill,” Hartzel says. “We bring it back together again. I believe what our team does truly makes a difference in survival for our patients.”