Cancer Supportive Services Directory
California Pacific Medical Center offers cancer patients a variety of helpful and compassionate care options thorough our Cancer Supportive Care Services. Our programs assist patients through educational opportunities, relaxation therapy, tools for daily living, support groups and more to help people living with cancer. This booklet will guide you to the services you desire and the programs that can serve your needs best. Finding the care you need is an important part of healing. Whether you are newly diagnosed with cancer, undergoing treatment or a cancer survivor California Pacific Medical Center offers a variety of helpful care options.
Cancer Risk Assessment Services
Genetic Counseling
415-600-5961
The Cancer Risk Assessment staff provides counseling and genetic testing for individuals who are at risk for genetically inherited cancer. Our expert genetic medicine team includes physicians and certified genetic counselors who can help guide you make the best decisions for your health care future and the future of your family members.
Visit our Web page.
- Take the Cancer Risk Assessment Test for breast or ovarian cancer
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Take the Cancer Risk Assessment Test for colorectal or endometrial cancer
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Cancer Navigation Services
Patient Navigation Services
1-866-975-COPE (2673)
415-600-3081
Supportive guidance when you need it the most
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Community Resources
Community Health Resource Center
415-923-3155
The Community Health Resource Center is a health education and counseling facility working in partnership with physicians at California Pacific Medical Center. CHRC provides comprehensive health, nutrition, and social services counseling for individuals or in group support. CHRC promotes the practice of shared decision making between clients, physicians, and other health care providers.
Visit our Web page.
Women's Health Resource Center
415-600-0500
The Women's Health Resource Center at California Pacific Medical Center is founded on the belief that education and prevention are integral components of health. WHRC encourages all women to improve the quality of their lives by taking responsibility for their health. They provide women a location to obtain current health information, referrals, practical assistance on family health matters, and support from health professionals who understand and care about women. The programs at WHRC provide educational and care resources to women, enabling individuals to make knowledgeable decisions regarding their health care choices in their quest for well-being.
Visit our Web page.
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Education Resources and Libraries
Center for Patient and Community Education
415-600-4747
The Center for Patient and Community Education collaborates with California Pacific physicians, nurses, and staff to create a virtual library of resources to educate patients, their families, and the community.
Visit our Web page.
Health & Healing Library
415-600-3681
The Health & Healing Library (a Planetree affiliate) offers a wealth of resources to help you make informed health care decisions. Finding direction on your path to good health means understanding the causes and effects of illness, and being informed about courses of available treatments. The Library maintains a collection of medical literature, medical and consumer health books, articles, the latest health publications, and video audiotapes, DVDs and CDs to help you learn more. For a fee, the Library also offers a health research service, which provides personalized and comprehensive information on your condition and treatment options.
Visit our Web page.
Community Health Resource Center
415-923-3155
The Resource Center is a not-for-profit health education and counseling facility providing comprehensive health, nutrition and social services counseling promoting the practice of shared decision making between clients, physicians and other health care providers. CHRC provides innovative classes, programs, services and educational materials that not only support the patients of the Medical Center but reaches out to the entire Bay Area community.
Visit our Web page.
Women's Health Resource Center Library
415-600-0500
The Women's Health Resource Center offers a lending library of books and educational videos. A membership fee is required to borrow books, however the library is open for non-member use.
Visit our Web page.
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Health Psychology
Supportive Services
415-600-3540
Short-term supportive therapy services are available at no cost to patients and their families who may be experiencing challenges that often occur from being diagnosed with cancer. Therapists are available to support people who would like to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a knowledgeable professional. Individuals, couples, and families are encouraged to explore the challenges of coping with cancer, deal with life transitions, and identify their personal and social resources in a confidential setting. Together with their therapist, patients formulate goals and solutions, develop and practice coping skills, and identify patterns of behavior they wish to change. Supportive therapy can also alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Visit our Web page.
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Inpatient Supportive Services
Health & Healing Services
415-600-3939
With a mind / body / spirit approach, services at the bedside provided by the Institute for Health & Healing include massage and bodywork, spiritual care, guided imagery and expressive arts, and holistic nurse consultations.
Visit our Web page.
Oncology Social Services
415-232-0245
Social workers specializing in assisting hematology and oncology patients are available to assist you develop coping skills and strategies for dealing with depression, anxiety, and stress that an illness such as cancer can bring. They are available to meet with you privately or together with your loved ones to discuss concerns, in addition to the psychological issues that may accompany an illness. They can also assist by finding support groups, community programs, and resources to help meet other practical needs.
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
415-600-3269
The Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at California Pacific is part of your inpatient health care team. The oncology CNS is an advanced practice nurse who has received extensive training in cancer treatment and helps you navigate through the complexities of today’s health care system. At times, it is helpful to consult with the oncology CNS to gain further understanding toward making important decisions about health care for you or a loved one. Guided discussion aids in supporting your knowledge about treatment options, enables informed planning, and helps in coping with difficult crossroads.
Peer Support
415-600-3402
Peer support can make a meaningful and supportive difference in a patient’s life while they are in the hospital. Volunteers, all cancer survivors, are available to patients for one-on-one bedside social support assisting with errands, writing letters, and companionship. Peer volunteers provide information on hospital and community cancer services and resources and are even available to accompany patients to hospital-based appointments or the gift shop.
Women's Health Resource Center
415-600-0500
While you are recovering from oncology surgery or treatment on the California or California East Campus, the Women's Health Resource Center (WHRC) staff is available to provide bedside massage. All massage therapists are specially trained in massage for the seriously ill or dying, and massage for persons recovering from surgery or undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation. WHRC staff also delivers free hats and scarves to oncology inpatients. For women recovering from a gynecological cancer, the nurse practitioner is available to visit you at your bedside offering support, counseling and health related education.
Visit our Web page.
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Integrative Medicine
Health and Healing Center
415-600-4325
Cancer is the challenge of a lifetime. From diagnosis through treatment and recovery, patients and their families face numerous challenges. At the Health & Healing Center we offer a mind/body/spirit approach to assist you in developing a holistic plan of care. We work in collaboration with your oncology team to ensure the plan created for you supports your conventional medical treatments.
Visit our Web page.
Women’s Health Resource Center
415-600-0500
Massage Therapy
Specially trained certified massage therapists are available to provide massage services to men and women at the Women's Health Resource Center or while in the hospital at the California or California-East campuses. Therapists are specially trained in massage for the seriously ill and the dying, and massage for persons undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Visit our Web page.
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Lymphedema Services
Lymphedema Treatment
415-600-3395
Lymphedema is a swelling of an area in the body resulting from an accumulation of lymph fluid. In cancer patients, lymphedema usually results from surgery involving removal of or damage to the lymph nodes. This can frequently involve patients who have had surgery for breast, uterine, or prostate cancer and can occur after lymph node radiation treatments. Lymphedema therapy helps manage the fluid accumulation by reducing swelling and reducing the risk of infection. Since lymphocytes, immune system cells vital in fighting bacteria, cannot circulate normally, affected limbs become more susceptible to infection.
Lymphedema therapy is effective, painless, non-invasive manual lymph drainage and consists of a combination of techniques called Complete Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP).
Read how CDP is done.
Lymphedema Education & Exercise Group
415-600-3395
Free monthly meeting facilitated by a nurse practitioner, certified lymphedema specialist, and exercise trainer. Each meeting includes an educational presentation, practical techniques for understanding and managing lymphedema, and an opportunity for your questions to be answered.
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Nutrition
415-923-3155 / 415-600-3222
Good nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Many illness and treatment related factors may affect appetite and the body’s ability to tolerate foods and utilize nutrients. Maintaining a good nutritional status while undergoing cancer treatment can improve strength and energy levels, increase tolerance for treatment related side effects, limit weight loss, decrease risk of infection, and promote healing. Eating the right foods before, during, and after treatment is important for recovery.
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Pediatric Services
Child Life Services – Inpatient
415-600-0710
Hospitalization, medical procedures, illness, and pain are often fearful times for children. We provide support to children and their family through our Child Life Services. Our goal is to minimize stress and promote healthy growth and development during a child’s hospitalization.
Child Life Services-Outpatient
415-600-6278
To help you and your child become familiar and comfortable with the hospital environment, California Pacific offers pre-admission programs for incoming pediatric patients and their families prior to the day of admission. Introduction to the hospital prior to a scheduled surgery or medical procedure can make your child’s stay less fearful. If you are unable to attend a program, please call the child life specialist to discuss ways to help prepare your child at home.
Visit our Web page.
The Sibling Center
415-600-3515
When there is a child or adolescent with a medical condition in the family, parents often need help understanding the needs of well brothers and sisters. Many children and adolescents fear they might become sick too, feel resentful and then guilty about their feelings, and feel sad or express frustration by acting out or withdrawing.
Visit our web page.
- /services/sibcnt.html
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Specialized Cancer Programs
African American Breast Health Program
415-600-2720
The African American Breast Health Program helps identify and prevent breast cancer in the San Francisco African American Community. Nearly 10% of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases each year will affect African American women. Many African American women are diagnosed at a later stage when tumors are larger and have spread to other parts of the body. Therefore, getting women in earlier for first time screenings and annual mammograms, raising awareness through outreach education in the community, and ongoing collaboration with other community groups are the primary focuses of our program.
Visit our Web page.
Breast Cancer Recovery Program
415-600-2717
The Breast Cancer Recovery Program assists women and their loved ones through the process of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. We serve women dealing with metastatic illness.
Our experienced counselor and nurse practitioner provide a concierge service that is easy to use, responsive to your individual needs, and integrated with other hospital programs. We offer caring, knowledgeable, and thorough consultations and support. Responding rapidly to your medical and emotional needs, we guide you through our hospital system.
Visit our Web page.
Gynecological Cancer Recovery Program
415-600-0500
The Gynecological (GYN) Cancer Recovery Program provides compassionate care for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for women undergoing treatment for uterine, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and peritoneal cancers. The program offers education and support services that are individualized and tailored to meet the patient’s needs. The GYN Cancer Recovery Program supports women in their quest for physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being during their treatment and recovery. Our goal is to empower women in their diversity across their lifespan, to participate in every aspect of their treatment plan and recovery.
Visit our Web page.
Women and Cancer: A Healing Program
415-600-4325
This 12-week program offers women living with cancer a safe place for healing and growth. The program is appropriate for women undergoing or who have completed treatment. You will learn stress reduction, nutrition and exercises to create a healthy lifestyle.
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Support Groups
415-600-2717
415-923-3155
415-923-3155
Threatening/Chronic Illness
415-600-4325
415-600-2717
415-600-0500
415-600-3395
415-600-2717
415-600-0500
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Tools for Daily Living
A Lady’s Touch Boutique
415-454-6085
The Lady's Touch boutique offers assistance with wigs, hairpieces, scarves, or turbans for many women who experience hair loss from chemotherapy. In addition, the staff offers assistance to women who have had a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or breast reconstructive surgery by offering breast products such as breast forms, swimsuits, and bras with a natural look and feel.
Visit our Web page.
Look Good Feel Better Program
415-600-0500
WHRC hosts the "Look Good...Feel Better" program sponsored by the American Cancer Society for women with cancer. Join a group of women who are facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Receive free cosmetics and lessons on how to enhance thinning eyebrows and eyelashes, wig and hair styling, and scarf or turban tips. All women with cancer are welcome.
Visit our Web page.
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