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Cancer Care Services
Comprehensive Care for Your Needs
Cancer Care Services connects you to comprehensive, personalized support to help make the challenges of cancer treatment more manageable for you and your family. Cancer Care Services is a part of the Stanford Health Care Cancer Center.
We encourage you to read through this list early and often also to check back in with our services often during your treatment, as new needs may arise for you at any time.
Some of the services in Cancer Care Services can be accessed directly (phone numbers are included below) while other services require a referral from your care team. Call us to learn more.
Community & Social Resources
Complimentary Services
Managing and understanding your cancer treatment class
This class will help you understand the potential side effects of the drugs you are receiving and learn...
Cancer Supportive Care Nursing Consultation
The Cancer Supportive Care Program is an integral part of the Stanford Cancer Center. We provide you with...
Contraceptive counseling and fertility preservation
Our clinic helps you and your partner with your goals for having children, using contraception or birth...
Dance, exercise, fitness, Pilates and yoga
You can feel stronger, empowered, and more balanced through regular exercise. We host a number...
Clinic-Based Resources
Referral Required*
Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) Program
This program is designed specifically for young adults ages 15-29 diagnosed with cancer. The program brings...
Clinical Cancer Genetics Program
A genetic counselor is a health care professional who assesses hereditary—that is, inherited—risk of cancer...
Integrative medicine
Integrative medicine combines the best of complementary and alternative treatments with...
Neuropsychology clinic
Our neuropsychology clinic helps you understand the effects of your treatment and disease on your mind...
*may have associated cost depending on insurance coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
Call Cancer Care Services to speak with a team member who will help you identify professional therapists, services, and resources that we offer to support you and your loved ones.
Always feel free to bring someone with you to your appointments. A family member or friend can help ask questions, jot down or remember the information your care team gives you, and provide support.
By California state law, you must let your care team know that you would like to record your conversation if you would like help remembering your discussion with your care team. If you would like help remembering your discussion with your care team, we encourage you to let your care team know that you would like to record your conversation.
The decision to include children in your journey is personal and different for every patient. Call Cancer Care Services to learn about the support available for your family members or to speak with your social worker about an approach to involving your family that is right for you. In addition to our services at Stanford, some of our patients and families have recommended:
An Advance Health Care Directive is a form you can complete to identify who you want to speak for you and what kind of treatments you would want or not want should you become seriously ill. It is called “advance” because you prepare one before health care decisions need to be made. It is called “directive” because it states who will speak on your behalf and what you would want done or not done. In California, the Advance Health Care Directive includes the appointment of an agent (someone you appoint to make decisions on your behalf) and your healthcare instructions. You can ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, or other health care provider for more information. At Stanford, Advance Directive forms are available on the units and at the clinics.
Our Cancer Survivorship Program will help you adjust and cope with your new lifestyle without treatment. You’ll speak with professionals who specialize in working with patients and loved ones making the transition from treatment to life after treatment.
Our social workers can help you plan for how to manage your job during cancer care. Call your assigned social worker at any time about your work-related concerns such as disability paperwork, financial assistance, and taking a leave of absence from your job during treatment.
There are many ways to provide support to a patient, from helping with day-to-day activities such as hospital visits or preparing food, to coordinating care and services by phone or email. Support can take the form of helping your loved one cope, work through feelings by talking and listening, or just being present. While your natural response can be to put your own feelings and needs aside, it’s important to take care of yourself. Call us to speak with someone about seeking support for your loved one and for you.
Finding a balance between your needs and the needs of the patient can be challenging. As much as possible, continue to do some of the things that you did before your family member was diagnosed. Call upon family members, friends, neighbors, and community members who can help.
Seek support from other personal caregivers — you are not alone. We host support groups that meet regularly for individuals who have similar diagnoses, along with their families and friends. Many patients find support in online support groups, also. Talk to your health care team or call Cancer Care Services if you would like emotional or spiritual support.
- Caringbridge allows people to share updates, photos, videos, words of encouragement and even help with everyday life like meals, carpools, errands and appointments.
www.caringbridge.org
- MyLifeLine is designed to help people affected by cancer write updates, schedule help and collect donations.
www.mylifeline.org
Common side effects include fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite and nausea, but the patient’s specific side effects depend on the treatment and the medication. Ask the health care team to prepare you to identify and to help manage side effects. Keep track of:
- Date and time the symptom or side effect started, a description of the side effect or symptom, and how long it lasted
- Which symptoms or side effects worsen or become difficult to manage
- Which side effects should be reported right away and how to report them
- Which side effects require a visit to the emergency room
Your social worker can provide you the most current information on housing and hotels near Stanford’s clinics and hospitals. Call Cancer Care Services to speak with a social worker, or for more information, view our Where to Stay page.
Patient Family Resource Guide
Check out our Patient and Family Resource Guide »
We hope this guide helps you prepare for your first appointment with Stanford’s cancer services.
Much of this information is for patients and families living with cancer, but many services here are available to any Stanford Health Care patient or family member.
Questions?
- Use our digital assistant to learn more about cancer support services.
- Call us or ask your care team if you have questions about the information, resources, or services you read about in this guide.
Stanford Cancer Centers:
Palo Alto 650-498-6000
South Bay 408-426-4900
Women’s Cancer Center 650-498-6004
To schedule a consultation please call 650-498-6000. Press Option 2 and ask for Cancer Care Services.
The Cancer Care Services is open to current patients of the Stanford Cancer Center.