By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    November 15, 2022
    back pain issues
    Ways to Treat Constant Back Pain
    August 21, 2023
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    More On Wellness Programs To Improve Health and Reduce Costs
    January 25, 2012
    Privatizing Social Security and Medicare: Who Can Defuse Political Dynamite?
    June 12, 2011
    Study: Risk of Death in Elderly Patients with Dementia Doubled with Some Antipsychotic Medications
    February 26, 2012
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Finding The Gaps In Your Oncology Program: Thinking Wellness
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Finding The Gaps In Your Oncology Program: Thinking Wellness
Health careWellness

Finding The Gaps In Your Oncology Program: Thinking Wellness

Larry Alton
Larry Alton
Share
6 Min Read
Finding The Gaps In Your Oncology Program: Thinking Wellness
SHARE

 

Cancer treatment has evolved rapidly in recent years, with new treatment modalities and medications improving survival rates for countless different types of cancer. One of the most important changes to cancer treatment, however, is the emphasis on multidisciplinary treatment teams. By bringing together oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, nurses, and pain management specialists, hospitals surround patients with familiar faces who are also specialists in their field. But there’s still something missing.

If you look at your hospital’s oncology program, and at other oncology programs across the country, you’ll notice a trend: while they offer comprehensive physical health services, many overlook patient mental health. This is a serious problem because as many as 25% of cancer patients suffer depression during their illness. Providing wellness-focused programming as part of cancer care, then, could make a significant difference to patients, improving the quality of care and their outlook during treatment.

Expanding The Team

More Read

Key Tips For Buying Safe And Effective CBD Products
Person-Centered HealthCare: Tried Yoga Once? Try Again.
Spinal Posture Indicator for Nursing Home Admission So Sit Up Straight!
Health Benefits Of Replacing Processed Sugars With Exotic Chocolates
11 Ways to Enhance Your Overall Health This Summer

The first and most fundamental thing that oncology centers can do to provide better care for patients is to add psychologists to existing multidisciplinary teams. This is the approach encouraged by the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence (COPE), a training program targeted to psychology Ph.D. students and based out of the University of Denver. Psychologists trained by the COPE program are specifically educated on the nature of depression and grief in cancer patients, changing relationships, and other forms of psychosocial distress.

In addition to helping patients cope with negative emotions associated with their diagnosis, therapeutic interventions can help patients deal more productively with their illness. According to The Gawler Cancer Foundation, negative emotions such as depression and anxiety can impair motivation and the ability to make decisions. In practical terms, that means patients may struggle to decide on the next steps in their course of treatment, may miss appointments, and therefore may otherwise compromise their level of care. Adding a psychologist to the primary treatment team can help patients manage those feelings without becoming overwhelmed by them.

A Human Touch

When patients are being treated for cancer, there is often a feeling that people only touch them to point out a new mass, insert a needle, or perform some other unpleasant procedure. Used properly, though, touch can be deeply healing, and that’s why the grant program, Angie’s Spa, funds oncology massage programs and other integrative healing practices in hospitals throughout the country.

Angie’s Spa was founded in honor of a young woman who died of breast cancer in 2007, but the program is about more than indulgence. No, studies have shown that massage therapy can relieve cancer symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy, including pain, nausea, depression, and fatigue. More importantly, though, oncology massage creates connections at a time when patients may feel very isolated.

The Power Of Distraction

Sometimes better mental health is built on the simplest foundation. In fact, one of the principals of dialectical behavioral therapy is the use of distraction and basic self-soothing to manage distress. In formal therapeutic programs, this might include mindfulness activities, doing puzzles, or anything that gives patients a sense of mastery over their emotions. But unfortunately, cancer treatment often consists of endless hours of infusions when patients have little to do besides dwell on their illness. That’s why hospitals need to help patients fill that time with little moments of pleasure.

Children’s hospitals mastered the power of distraction years ago, stocking patient rooms and infusion areas with games, coloring books, and snacks, but this isn’t enough. Programs like Better Day Buddies don’t just provide diversions, but the volunteers interact with patients and their parents, giving everyone a badly needed break from the day-to-day grind of treatment. It also takes away from the feeling of isolation that cancer often causes.

And what about adults? Though adult patients regularly turn up with books or knitting, they also need a pleasant distraction from treatment, and programs like Cancer Wellness Connections are happy to fill the gap. Whether they’re playing cards and sharing snacks or guiding patients through gentle, seated exercise, volunteers are always welcome in the infusion room. It makes the treatment go more quickly and helps patients retain a positive outlook.

Programs like those offered through Cancer Wellness Connections and Angie’s Spa are just a small sampling of how hospitals and non-profits are working together to make mental well-being a central part of oncology programs. For hospitals interested in expanding their offerings, however, they also provide a sense of what’s possible, and most importantly, an example of what works well for cancer patients. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t sacrifice wellness in the pursuit of health, but that doesn’t always come naturally in the midst of aggressive cancer treatment.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

Tips for Dealing With Difficult Patients
Medical EthicsWellness

Tips for Dealing with Difficult Patients

March 2, 2016
healthcare providers
BusinessHealth careHospital AdministrationNewsPolicy & LawTechnology

The Importance of Professional Webhosts for Healthcare Providers

July 19, 2017
Health care

What is a Pharmacy Technician and What is Their Role in the Healthcare Industry?

December 8, 2021

Blister Pack Adoption Increases Medication Adherence, Save Lives

June 25, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?