Cancer Patient Support Programs
Singing River Cancer Center provides a full range of patient support services to help improve the quality of life of cancer patients in our community. Living with cancer is one of the greatest challenges a person can face in the course of a lifetime, and we want to provide the support they need.
How Can Your Oncology Social Worker Help You?
Singing River Cancer Center’s Oncology Social Workers are members of your Cancer Center Navigation Team. These social workers will provide you and your caregivers with support and guidance throughout treatment as well as services connecting you to other helpful resources as you navigate through your cancer journey.
Individual Counseling
A clinical therapist is located within the cancer center for cancer patients regarding all issues coping with a cancer diagnosis. Just ask your doctor for a referral.
Cancer Support Groups
Singing River Cancer Center offers support groups for patients, their families and friends, and anyone dealing with cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and loss. We ask that those who plan to attend register in advance.
Pascagoula Cancer Center – Conference Room
- 1st Wednesday of every month
- 10:00AM
- Call to register: (228) 809-5664
Ocean Springs Cancer Center – Conference Room, 2nd Floor
- 1st Tuesday of every month
- 2:00PM
- Call to register: (228) 818-4163
Gulfport Cancer Center – Education Meeting Room #1
- Monday, every other month
- 2:00PM
- Call to register: (228) 818-4163
Ostomy Support Group
Join a supportive and informative community where common issues and questions regarding life with an ostomy can be addressed and answered. Led by board-certified Ostomy Nurse, Alicia Steward, no topic is off the table in this group. This group is ideal for:
- Patients with new ostomies
- Experienced ostomy patients
- Family and caregivers of individuals with ostomies
- Patients anticipating ostomies
Health & Image-Related Needs
We provide assistance with home health referrals, home medical equipment, and assistance in obtaining wigs, hats, and breast prostheses. Our wig boutique is located in the cancer center.
Financial Support
Cancer medications and treatments can be quite expensive, sometimes even with insurance. However, there are many financial assistance programs that our social workers are familiar with and can link patients with in order to help relieve some of those out-of-pocket expenses.
Our social workers provide assistance with the necessary paperwork, can speak directly to drug manufacturers, and help find foundations, grants, and other funding sources that may relieve some of the financial burden related to cancer treatment.
Legacies Patient Advocacy Program
Patients may speak with a cancer survivor who has gone through similar cancer treatments, offering one-on-one patient support.
Survivorship Wellness
The Survivorship Wellness program is for patients who are at the end of their cancer treatment. We focus on what you should expect after treatment and create and learn ways to maintain your health and wellbeing.
Physical Fitness
Healthy Transitions Program
The Healthy Transitions Program is a progressive customized exercise program for people who are referred to Singing River Healthplex by a physician, physical therapist, or cardiac exercise physiologist. A cancer diagnosis qualifies a patient to be enrolled in the program. Healthy Transitions is designed for an individual to progressively improve in strength, endurance, and flexibility.
The goal for individuals who go through the program is to develop a habit of exercising 2-3 times per week. The patient has the option of working with a trainer once per week for 4 or 8 weeks. Ask your physician for a referral to get started. To see other patients taking advantage of the program, visit the Healthplex website.
FREE Movement Group
Take advantage of the free chair exercise group, held Tuesdays from 3:40-4:20PM at Ocean Springs Neurological Rehabilitation. For more information on the class, call (228) 818-1207.
Contact a Cancer Center Social Worker
To make an appointment with a Singing River Cancer Center social worker, find dates for any of our Cancer Center Support Programs, or for any other Cancer Care related programs mentioned here, contact Marion Coleman in Pascagoula at (228) 809-5664 or Donna Burks in Ocean Springs at (228) 818-4163.