At Hoag Family Cancer Institute, we are committed to offering the best available support services and resources to our patients, understanding that there are many aspects to care, in addition to state-of-the-art treatment. Hoag’s Integrated Cancer Support Services serves all survivors in need, whether they are beginning treatment, finished with treatment, or experiencing late effects or unresolved issues from long-ago treatment. Our program is open to everyone no matter the prognosis, cancer stage or phase of recovery.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or long finished with treatment, we can help.

Services Offered

Services that can aid in quality of life and side effect management include:

• Classes & Workshops

• Counseling Services

• Brighter Image Program

• Support Groups

• Hoag Rehabilitation Services

• Specialized Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

• Respiratory Care

• Spiritual Care Services

• Oncology Massage

• Oncology Dietitians

• Cancer Nurse Navigators

• Financial Navigators

• Cancer Survivorship Tools

Meet the Team

Working together to further benefit the patient, are our cancer and rehabilitation teams. Our cancer team will work alongside you during your cancer treatment, and may refer you to rehab during or after treatment. Our rehabilitation care is offered to patients by a knowledgeable staff, specially trained to treat survivors of all forms of cancer.

Our teams are medical experts at the top of their fields and comprise a variety of disciplines:

• Physicians

• Physical Therapists

• Occupational Therapists

• Speech and Language Pathologists

• Oncology Social Workers

• Registered Dietitians

• Clinical Nurse Navigators

• Respiratory Therapists

• Chaplain

Locations

Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers support services at all of our locations, as well as online.

Donations

Support services are provided without fees to patients who receive their care at Hoag, thanks to community support. If you would like to make a gift of any amount to help ensure the availability of these valuable services, click here.

Hoag’s Expressive Arts Program is a series of classes/workshops that use different approaches to art to evoke relaxation, a space for creativity and time to spend with others in the cancer community. Art has been shown to be a therapeutic outlet for expressing difficult thoughts and feelings, and managing symptoms of cancer treatment.

You are encouraged to join us, regardless of experience or skill set!

Thank you to our generous donors for making these programs available:

Gail Wirtz Costello Complimentary Therapies Fund Robert M. McIntyre Memorial Fund

Ongoing Classes:

Healing Arts

Healing Arts provides a structured approach of guided art exercises designed to elicit a creative response that encourages the release of stress, grief, anger and many other emotions. By expressing themselves creatively, participants can document their experience in a profound way, thus creating a healing environment for themselves.

Creative Expressions

Creative Expressions provides an engaging, social environment to connect with others and express yourself through arts and crafts. Workshops include various projects where the goal is to have fun and be in the moment. Participants will leave with a project that they have created.

For more information on any of these workshops, call 949-722-6237.

Supportive Care & Survivorship Program

The supportive care and survivorship program at Hoag Family Cancer Institute provides care to enhance your quality of life throughout all stages of treatment and recovery. Our supportive care team provides a dedicated nurse navigator, expert pain and symptom management, tools for your mental and physical wellbeing, and so much more. Our goal is to address your changing needs and support you through your cancer treatment and beyond. Below is a full list of our services:

Navigating Life After Diagnosis

• Talking About Cancer

• Clinical Nurse Navigators

• Financial Navigation

• Nutrition Services

• Brighter Image Program

• Cancer & Fertility

• Smoking Cessation

• Lung Cancer Screening

• Pain & Symptom Management

Classes & Support Services

• Workshops for Well-Being

• Support Groups

• Counseling Services

• Spiritual Care Services

• Art For the Soul Program

2017 Survivorship Symposium Presentations:

• Cancer and Heredity

• Good Medical Care: A Solution to Suffering

• Survivorship Pain and Symptoms

• Right Mind: Stressing Less After Cancer

2018 Survivorship Symposium Presentations:

• Introducing Genetics and Genomics in Cancer Care

• Principles for Everyday Living

• Principles for Everyday Living – Handout

• Sexuality and Intimacy During and After Cancer Diagnosis

• Sexuality and Intimacy – Handout

2019 Survivorship Symposium Presentations:

• Fear of Recurrence

• Oncology Treatment and Survivorship

• Symptom Management with CBD

2020 Survivorship Symposium Presentations:

• The Transition into Survivorship: Addressing Emotions After Treatment

• BWEL and Beyond: Examining Diet & Exercise Interventions to Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence

• Impact of Body Mass Index Reduction in Primary Breast Cancer Prevention

• Through the Looking Glass: Spirituality Amidst Cancer

Below are general resources available in the community to cancer survivors of all ages and stages. We encourage you to explore the following survivorship resources:

Brain tumors:

• National Brain Tumor Society – braintumor.org

• American Brain Tumor Association – abta.org

Breast Cancer:

• Breast Cancer – breastcancer.org

• Living Beyond Breast Cancer – lbbc.org

Colon Cancer:

• Colon Cancer Alliance – ccalliance.org

• Colorectal Cancer Coalition – fightcolorectalcancer.org

• Colorectal Care Line – colorectalcareline.org

Esophageal cancer:

• Esophageal Cancer Action Network – ecan.org

• Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association – ecaware.org

Gynecologic cancers:

• The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation – thegcf.org

Head and neck cancers:

• Support for People with Oral and Head & Neck Cancer (spohnc) – spohnc.org

• Head and Neck Cancer Alliance – headandneck.org

Kidney cancer:

• Kidney Cancer Association – kidneycancer.org

Leukemia and lymphoma:

• Lymphoma ResearchFoundation – lymphoma.org

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – lls.org

Lung cancer:

• Lung Cancer Alliance – lungcanceralliance.org

Melanoma:

• Melanoma Research Foundation – melanoma.org

Mesothelioma:

• Mesothelioma Veterans Center – mesotheliomaveterans.org

• Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance – mesothelioma.com

Multiple myeloma:

• The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation – mmrf.org

Pancreatic cancer:

• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – pancan.org

Prostate cancer:

• National Cancer Institute – cancer.gov

Sarcoma:

• The Sarcoma Alliance – sarcomaalliance.org

Thyroid cancer:

• Thyroid Cancer Survivor’s Organization – thyca.org

Financial

General (multiple or all cancer diagnoses):

• Cancer Care – cancercare.org

• American Cancer Society – cancer.org

• Patient Access Network – panfoundation.org

• Patient Advocate Foundation – patientadvocatefoundation.org

• Chronic Disease Fund – cdfund.org

• Healthwell Foundation – healthwellfoundation.org

Breast Cancer

• Breast Cancer Solutions – breastcancersolutions.org

• Breast Cancer Angels – breastcancerangels.org

Brain Tumor

• Mission4Maureen – mission4maureen.org

Lymphoma

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – lls.org

Colon Cancer

• Colorectal Care Line – colorectalcareline.org

• The Colon Cancer Alliance – ccalliance.org

Young Adults (18-40)

• Brenda Meling Cancer Fund – bmcf.net

Prescription Assistance

• www.rxassist.org

• www.needymeds.org

• www.pparx.org

Transportation

• American Cancer Society “Road to Recovery” Call (800) 227-2345 – cancer.org

• Jewish Family Federation “Silver Streak” Contact (949) 722-6237 for an application

• Local Senior Center Transportation Services for 65+

Legal

• Do your Proxy – doyourproxy.org

Employment

• Cancer and Careers – cancerandcareers.org

Counseling

• Contact 949-722-6237 for counseling referrals to meet your needs

Nutrition and Exercise

• Contact 949-722-6237 to speak with a Hoag Family Cancer Institute Registered Dietitian

Smoking Cessation

• Hoag Hospital’s Smoking Cessation Program – Learn More >

Complementary/Alternative Therapies

• National Cancer Institute – cancer.gov

• American Cancer Society – cancer.org

Wigs/Appearance Assistance

• Hoag Brighter Image Program (949) 764-5542

• Look Good…Feel Better (800) 227-2345

Prosthesis Referrals

• American Cancer Society (949) 261-9446

• Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics West, Inc. – hanger.com

• Willie’s Specialty Shop (714)771-4310

• Nordstrom’s Department Store

• Newport Center orthopedic Medical and Surgical Supplies (949) 644-0065

Fertility

• Fertile Hope – fertilehope.org

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine – asrm.org

Kids

• Camp Erin – moyerfoundation.org

• Camp Kesem – campkesem.org

Disability

• State Disability – edd.ca.gov/disability

• Social Security Disability – ssa.gov

Caregiving Assistance

• American Board of Home Care – americanboardofhomecare.org

Palliative Care

• Get Palliative Care – getpalliativecare.org

• Center to Advance Palliative Care – capc.org

• Coalition for Compassionate Care – finalchoices.org

Bereavement and Grief

• www.grief.com

Well-informed patients are better equipped to navigate the challenging journey through cancer treatment and recovery. That is why Hoag offers a wide array of free educational programs to support cancer patients in their quest for knowledge. Please visit our community education page to register for a class or workshop.

Breast Cancer Orientation Class​

We invite all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to attend this special educational class designed to address the unique concerns of the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient. Learn about the support and resources available at Hoag and in the community. Offered virtually and in person on the first Thursday of the month from 12-1:30 p.m.

Workshops for Well-Being

These unique workshops provide an important avenue for achieving well-being and improved quality of life.

Healing Arts Program – Hoag’s Healing Arts Program is a series of classes/workshops that use different approaches to art to evoke relaxation, a space for creativity and time to spend with others in the cancer community.

Caregiver Support – Caregivers are the pillar of strength that an individual going through cancer leans upon. These individuals often place most or all of their attention on their loved one going through treatment, and very little on themselves. Attached is a flyer of resources available to the caregiver, offering ways to reconnect and take time to get the support needed through the cancer journey.

Grief Recovery Series – Join us for an 8 week series that provides a safe environment for you to look at your old beliefs about dealing with loss, which losses have affected your life and take actions that will lead you to complete unresolved emotions that may still be causing you pain.

HealthRHYTHMS Drum Circle – Join us to try a new alternative therapy for reducing stress and strengthening your immune system.

Her Talks: Resilience, Wellness and Thrivorship – An intimate evening of education and healing, with topics centered around breast cancer survivorship.

Lymphedema Workshop – An educational workshop provided by Lymphedema specialist Leslie Craner.

Being diagnosed with cancer can feel overwhelming at times. Many patients and their families need help with coping and can benefit from supportive counseling. Oncology Clinical Social Workers are available to provide emotional and practical support during all stages of cancer including diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment survivorship.

Hoag Family Cancer Institute provides specialized individual, couple and family counseling, on a short-term basis, free of charge, to its patients and their support persons.

Counseling Services are available in person or virtually. Please email OncologySocialWork@hoag.org or call 949-7-CANCER (949-722-6237) to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.

How counseling can benefit you

• Learn ways to cope with a cancer diagnosis, feel less overwhelmed and more in control

• Explore the meaning of the cancer experience

• Manage difficult feelings, such as depression and anxiety

• Manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, such as pain and fatigue

• Learn how to communicate effectively with the health care team

• Address relationship issues and financial concerns that are causing distress

• Explore options and get feedback about important decisions

• Consider professional or workplace issues and strategies

• Talk about concerns you may have about what comes next after finishing treatment

• Learn how to help your family understand and adjust to changes in routine as a result of a cancer diagnosis

• Explore and resolve cancer-related sexuality issues

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 949-7-CANCER (949-722-6237).

Brighter Image Program: 949-764-5542

Massage and Reiki during cancer treatment help to improve quality of life. These therapies may relieve stress, promote relaxation and sleep, as well as relieve anxiety, pain or fatigue.

Hoag is pleased to offer a trained oncology massage therapists and Reiki practitioners who can help patients manage these physical and emotional experiences during cancer and develop a safe care plan around possible side effects of treatment.

$50 – 45 Minute Massage

$50 – 45 Minute Reiki Session

(for Hoag cancer patients who are in active treatment, and up to 5 months after treatment; also available to caregivers for these patients)

Available by appointment only. Limit of 4 massages per patient. Additional massages may be recommended based on clinical need. Physician authorization required.

Massages will take place at:

Patty & George Hoag Cancer Center One Hoag Drive Newport Beach, CA 92663

Hoag Cancer Center Irvine 16105 Sand Canyon Avenue Irvine, CA 92618

To schedule an appointment, please call 949-7-CANCER (722-6237)

Hoag Family Cancer Institute support groups provide mutual support and information for cancer patients and their families. Groups are facilitated by licensed clinical social workers and oncology nurses. Discussion is focused on current issues faced by cancer patients and their support network. There is no charge for the following groups.

Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers the following support groups. Please visit our community education page to register for a support group or class.

• Bereavement Support Group

• Bladder Cancer Support Group

• Brain Tumor Support Group

• Breast Cancer Support Group

• Young Women’s Breast Cancer Support Group

• Gastrointestinal Cancer Support Group

• Gynecologic Cancer Support Group

• Lung Cancer Support Group

• Lymphoma & Hematologic Cancer Support Group

• Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group (virtual)

• Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Support Group

• Ostomy Support Group

• Pancreatic Support Group

• Prostate Cancer Support Group