Supportive care therapies
In addition to delivering sophisticated therapies to treat your cancer, your personalized treatment plan may include supportive care services. Supportive care is designed to help you stay strong, support your immune system, combat side effects and maintain your quality of life.
Nutritional support
Pancreatic cancer affects the body’s ability to digest and absorb vital nutrients from food. It can cause nausea, taste changes, weight loss, fatigue, decreased appetite, fullness, pain, gas, diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms may inhibit your ability to stay nourished and interfere with your treatment.
At City of Hope, a registered dietitian works closely with the other members of your care team. Together, they may suggest supplements and other therapies designed to support healthy digestion and nutrition, and to help you manage side effects.
Pancreatic cancer patients are also at risk for diabetes and glucose intolerance. To decrease complications of diabetes, our nutrition team can assist you in managing blood sugar levels throughout your care.
Pain management
You may experience pain at some point during the course of your pancreatic cancer treatment. We understand that unrelieved pain may diminish your quality of life and your ability to battle the disease.
The pain management team at City of Hope takes a comprehensive approach to helping you control and manage your pain. This approach may include various pain management techniques, such as prescription medications, implanted pain pumps, nerve block therapies and physical therapy.
Naturopathic support
Upon your doctor's recommendation, a naturopathic support provider may suggest strategies to support your metabolism and digestion during cancer treatment and help relieve side effects. Patients may explore options including herbal and botanical preparations and dietary supplements designed to reduce side effects such as nausea, fatigue or trouble sleeping. Lifestyle counseling may also be available, including smoking cessation and stress management.
Behavioral health
Many pancreatic cancer patients experience anxiety, depression and other psychological stresses that may affect their immune system, digestion, sleep and concentration.
Our licensed mental health and allied health professionals are available to help you deal with concerns such as:
- Sleeplessness
- Poor concentration
- Stress over loss of ability to work
- Concerns about relationships
Since caregivers play a major role in enhancing your quality of life and the healing process, they can support groups to help them manage their emotions and concerns.
Oncology rehabilitation
Oncology rehabilitation includes a wide range of therapies designed to help you build strength and endurance, regain independence, reduce stress and maintain the energy to participate in daily activities that are important to you. Here are a few of the rehabilitation therapies we offer patients:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Manual therapy (which may include massage and chiropractic therapies)
- Lymphedema prevention and treatment
- Support programs related to healthy living, including weight management
Spiritual support
Some pancreatic cancer patients experience feelings of hopelessness, depression, guilt or anger. Spiritual wellness may bring a sense of calm and peace to help you cope with the disease and its treatment.
Our pastoral care team treats you with great sensitivity and respects your religious background and traditions. If you are more comfortable seeing clergy from your own faith affiliation, we are happy to contact local clergy to meet your specific religious needs.
Survivorship support
Our survivorship support services may help you maintain your health and improve your quality of life during and after your pancreatic cancer treatment.
We work with you to assess your health and identify potential early, late or long-term effects of treatment. Then, you can receive an individualized wellness plan that includes help with managing medications and side effects, as well as nutritional, physical, and emotional education and support.
