Supportive Cancer Services & Palliative Care

Supportive Care Cinic

• What Can You Expect From Supportive Care?

  Through supportive care, patients receive assistance in the following ways:

  • Expert management of pain and distressing symptoms
  • Help with understanding your illness and treatment options
  • Help with making choices and navigating the healthcare system
  • Emotional support for you and your loved ones
  • Continuity through the course of your illness, even through multiple hospitalizations
  • Communicating your choices and needs to your entire medical team

• When Should You Ask for Supportive Care?

  Ask for a supportive care referral if you or a loved one:

  • Has been diagnosed with cancer
  • Needs support to cope with cancer
  • Has cancer-related pain or other physical, emotional, or spiritual symptoms
  • Needs help with decisions about medical care
  • Need help with advanced care planning decisions

• Who Are the Members of the Team?

  Core team members include you and your loved ones, nurse practitioner specialists certified in palliative medicine, an oncology social worker, and a chaplain. The Supportive Care team routinely collaborates with your cancer center team members, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, nurse navigators, pharmacists, registered dieticians, rehab services, health psychologists, and licensed mental health professionals to further discuss and coordinate your care. Significant attention is given to relief from pain and other distressing symptoms that cancer and cancer treatment can cause.

• How Can You Request Supportive Care?

  Any Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center patient can request a referral to the Supportive Care team from their doctor, nurse practitioner, or any treatment team member. Consultative evaluations and ongoing care can be provided in the outpatient setting at the Supportive Care clinic or the inpatient setting during a hospitalization.

• Support for You and Your Family

  Dealing with a serious illness such as cancer is difficult. At UConn Health, specialty care is available to provide extra support for you and your family. The Supportive Care team works with you, your family, and your cancer care practitioners to address the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs associated with a cancer diagnosis. The information in this brochure will help you understand how you or someone close to you can benefit from our services.

  Tell your cancer center treatment team that you would like additional support from our team, and they will place a referral.