Psycho-oncology and Cancer Support Services

Our Whole-Person Wellness Approach

Patient Experience

Regarding supportive care, our patients are at the forefront of everything we do. Our Psycho-oncology and Cancer Support Services work closely with the medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology teams to provide a whole-person wellness approach to managing your care. Because our approach focuses on your total health, our teams address your medical concerns and provide you with all the emotional support and direction you may need. We take great pride in providing seamless, meaningful experiences based on your unique needs and preferences.

To lessen the burden of traveling, we offer services at several locations, and try our best to give you access to convenient and timely appointments. Our Mission is to provide you with the most stress-free experience possible throughout your cancer trajectory.

Here When You Need Us

The diagnosis of a serious health problem can affect many aspects of your life. This can be challenging because of the many unknowns, which may make you feel distressed and uncertain about what is ahead. We are here when you need us. Our multidisciplinary teams meet regularly to discuss the best possible outcomes for all of our patients. Because we know that your life priorities may shift throughout your care, our Vision is to tailor-make our recommendations for you at different times.    

Our Philosophy: What Is Our “I CAN” Program?

Based on our patients’ voiced concerns, we at Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center developed the “I CAN” Program to help patients focus on the promotion of lifestyle changes, self-acceptance, self-management strategies, and overall well-being throughout survivorship. The acronym “I CAN” represents four important pillars conceptualized to stand for Inner Peace, Counseling, Activity, and Nutrition.

Inner Peace: Finding meaning and purpose during this very important chapter of your life can help you achieve a sense of balance, self-acceptance, and inner peace. Our Psycho-oncology and Cancer Support Services provide interventions such as Meaning-Centered psychotherapy, where we aim to improve personal meaning, psychological well-being, and growth throughout your experience. We may also offer referrals for Integrative Therapy or Music Therapy, both of which can play a vital role in finding a sense of hope.   

Counseling: Our Psycho-oncology and Cancer Support Services can offer you emotional support, vital practical recommendations, and help in making sense of all that is happening to you. Because at times you can feel overwhelmed or even disorganized, our counseling can also focus on structuring your days better to help achieve a sense of normalcy. When this becomes difficult, at times we may recommend medications to help alleviate extreme levels of anxiety and depression. This may be related to your experience with adapting to cancer and its treatments.  

Activity: Studies indicate that physical activity before, during, and after your cancer treatments can help maintain stamina, build strength, and even combat depression. For this reason, our Psycho-oncology and Cancer Support Services greatly encourage you to participate in some form of physical exercise that your medical doctor can recommend. Our team can also help you identify different perspectives and coping strategies for staying active and even thriving during this time.

Nutrition: Maintaining good nutrition during cancer treatment is critical. Psycho-oncology and Cancer Support Services will help you with innovative self-management skills and strategies, such as “Mindful Eating,” to promote your adherence to lifestyle changes and improve nutritional balance in your life.