No one is ever prepared for cancer. When patients receive this diagnosis, they are often confused, anxious and overwhelmed.
Whether you are recently diagnosed, experiencing a recurrence or coping with end-of-life issues, Valley can help make dealing with cancer more manageable.
Emotional and Spiritual Support
- Social workers: Valley’s oncology social workers can make coping easier. Through individual, family and group counseling, they help patients process their feelings and manage the changes and challenges that can arise while going through treatment and beyond. In addition, they assist with benefits; refer to local and national resources; and provide educational information to help patients adjust to living with their illness.To contact an oncology social worker, call 201-634-5787.
- Support groups: Valley offers several cancer support groups for patients to learn from and support each other. Call 201-634-5787 to join a group or for more information.
- Relaxation/visualization group: (Please note this group is currently on hold.) Valley offers a weekly group that provides total body relaxation and guided imagery. This group is open to all patients and anyone in the community. Meetings are every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. No registration required. For more information, call 201-634-5787.
- Long-term planning: For patients needing long-term medical care, oncology social workers help patients and families discuss options for care, such as private-hire home care, nursing home placement or respite care, and inpatient hospice placements. They also help address the emotional issues that these enormous life changes entail.
- Connecting to national cancer organizations: Social workers often introduce patients to other organizations such as CancerCare, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and many other disease-specific organizations.
- Spiritual care: Valley's Spiritual Care department assists patients in meeting their spiritual needs. Spiritual Care is sensitive to the beliefs of patients and families while respecting their diversity. Chaplains include Roman Catholic priests, Protestant clergy and a rabbi. You or a loved one may request a visit from one of our staff through your nurse. For more information, call 201-447-8150.
- The Boutique for Integrative Healing: The Boutique for Integrative Healing provides education, support, and products for men and women who are undergoing and recovering from treatment for cancer. Products offered include both pre- and post-operative mastectomy bras, breast prostheses, and balance shapers for women who have undergone lumpectomies. Certified breast fitters are available by appointment to assist with fittings for bra or breast prostheses. Hair care products and coverings are also available. Call 201-634-5325 to make an appointment.
Medical and Physical Support
- Smoking cessation: Quitting smoking or other tobacco products can be a difficult challenge. Many people will quit several times before they are finally able to quit for good. That’s why we have designed a comprehensive smoking cessation approach that can improve your chance of success. To enroll, call 201-447-8612.
- Fertility preservation: Valley offers fertility preservation options for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and wish to have future family-building options.
- Children and infants with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses: The Butterflies Program provides comprehensive home care services that focus on comfort and relief of suffering for the child. The program also supports their parents, siblings and extended family members.
- Hospice: Valley Hospice provides care at home or in a homelike setting to people who are terminally ill. Hospice emphasizes quality of life through symptom control provided by an interdisciplinary team. Hospice empowers patients to live their lives to the end with dignity and comfort while involving families and loved ones in giving care.
- Nutrition counseling: While all patients undergoing treatment meet with a registered dietitian as part of their care, additional sessions are available by appointment. During these sessions, you can develop personalized nutrition plans to meet your special needs and long-term goals. For more information, please call 201-634-5371.
- Therapeutic massage: Valley offers therapeutic massage services at a decreased fee for our cancer patients undergoing treatment. Massage offers the following benefits:
- Increases circulation, which helps cleanse the body of waste products that can make you feel fatigued
- Combats edema
- Bathes your cells in nutrients needed to repair day-to-day wear and tear
- Increases oxygen in your body and brain, which helps improve mental alertness
- Brings deep relaxation that can improve sleep and reduce daily stress
- Yoga and T’ai Chi Chih classes: (Currently on hold.) Valley offers integrative healing classes in yoga and T’ai Chi Chih. These classes can help to reduce your overall stress and increase physical and mental well-being.
- Connecting to community resources: Our social workers can connect patients with community resources if they require assistance obtaining food, medication or transportation to medical treatment.
Financial Support
- Patient financial advocates: Our patient financial advocates counsel patients and families on insurance benefits and copayments, and provide assistance on accessing financial resources. A patient financial advocate helps identify patients who are eligible to benefit from charity care, marketplace insurance, drug replacement, or funds from The Valley Hospital Foundation. For more information, call 201-634-5644.
- Financial assistance: The Valley Hospital offers financial assistance to eligible patients who are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government healthcare program, or who are otherwise unable to pay for medically necessary care. Visit our Financial Assistance page for more information.
