Get in Touch With Your Oncology Social Worker Today
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Caring. Compassionate. Knowledgeable. Dedicated. These are just a few thoughtful words people have used to describe the oncology social workers in their lives. Did you know that these special people are here for you, too, wherever you are in your cancer experience?
My social worker was my ROCK and the anchor that kept me above water more than once or twice following my cancer diagnosis.
As we recognize National Social Work Month, we’d like to say thank you to the many social workers on our staff at the Cancer Support Community, and everywhere, for the passion, knowledge, and energy they bring to their work each day.
Oncology social workers are trained in helping cancer patients and their families cope with a cancer diagnosis. Here at CSC, that’s a big deal, because we believe that everyone impacted by cancer should receive the support they want and need throughout their experience.
Oncology social workers can help people navigate cancer in many ways. For some examples, we turn to Anita, LMSW, who works on our Cancer Support Helpline. Our Helpline team provides free navigation for cancer patients and their loved ones by phone and online. It's staffed by resource specialists and licensed social workers like Anita, who has dedicated much of her career to helping families, children, and teens whose lives have been impacted by cancer.
If you’re looking for personalized navigation in your own cancer experience, but don’t know where to start, keep reading. Anita shares about:
- Different ways our Helpline team can provide support
- How you can get in touch with our Helpline
- Steps you can take to connect with an oncology social worker
Could you briefly describe your role on the Helpline?
Anita: I am a Community Navigator and Lead Trainer for the Helpline. As a Community Navigator, I assist callers from all over the world through our personalized navigation approach. I work one-to-one with callers to help identify their needs and then link them with personalized resources based on their unique needs. That may include local and national resources, support group connection, treatment and lodging resources, emotional support at the time of their call, and so much more.
We also offer specialized navigation referrals for financial navigation, clinical trials, genetics/genomics, pediatric oncology and CAR T cell therapy.
Discover More About Our Helpline Services
What are some ways you and other Helpline navigators can help patients, caregivers, and loved ones cope with and navigate a diagnosis, wherever they are in the cancer experience?
Anita: I think that is the key: We help patients, caregivers, and loved ones wherever they are in the cancer experience. Our Helpline navigators do that by being open to what a caller is sharing. We use active listening skills to understand what is truly important to a caller. As part of our listening process, we do a brief assessment to help patients and caregivers consider what’s important to them, in the moment, for support and resource connection.
Many of our callers appreciate that we follow up with them, too. We make follow-up calls to see if they have been able to get connected with the support and resources they were looking for. We also re-assess with the caller to see if they need any additional support or if their needs have changed. So, we can stay connected with each caller at different points in the continuum of their care.
In these moments, meaningful connections are established between the caller and the Helpline navigators who have been providing guidance in their cancer journey. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard comments from callers such as, “I can’t believe you called me again to check in. This means so much to me. You are the only ones who have truly helped me with what I am going through. I feel heard and supported, and I want to thank you.”
Please share about an experience that has stuck with you.
Anita: There have been so many meaningful experiences that have stuck with me over the years. One of the most recent experiences that comes to mind is that of a man diagnosed with prostate cancer. He initially called one of our partner lines looking for lodging assistance as he travels for treatment. Through that referral, we were able to connect with this caller and begin providing support.
A resource specialist and a community navigator on our Helpline have been working alongside this caller ever since, helping him in many key areas. That includes providing emotional support at the time of his calls, and connecting him with resources for travel flight organization, grants to help offset lodging costs, a referral to our Financial Specialist, and local support group connection. The community navigator also helped him complete a cancer treatment question list to help him navigate a new treatment center and treatment options.
So, my Helpline teammates have stayed connected with this caller throughout his care as he faces new and changing obstacles, providing personalized assistance through support, education, and navigation. This caller has expressed his thanks for all the Helpline has done to support him, and that he knows he is not alone and can face anything that comes his way.
For someone impacted by cancer who is interested in connecting with an oncology social worker, but is not sure how to do so, what is a good first step for them to take?
Anita: I encourage patients to speak with their oncology team about their needs and ask if they have an oncology social worker — as part of their comprehensive oncology care team — with whom they can be connected. Many treatment centers have an oncology social worker or navigator on site who can provide support.
Additionally, the Helpline receives calls daily from patients, caregivers, and loved ones with a variety of needs. Our Helpline navigators welcome the opportunity to explore your needs and help connect you with a social worker or navigator at your treatment center. Give us a call at 888.793.9355 to speak with one of our Helpline navigators about your needs. Or contact us via our web chat option if you prefer not to call.
I had to delve into this cancer arena with my fears and apprehensions. But the welcoming ears and helping hands from CSC made me feel a bit more at ease. … Reach out to CSC's Helpline and understand those listening ears are there to help you.