Support Services
Social Services
Amber Ford, MSW, C-ASWCM, is here to assist with emotional and social health concerns that may be faced during cancer treatment. Concerns may include coping with a diagnosis, communication with family and friends, and considering treatment decisions as they relate to work and family. Social Services can also assist you in understanding social security benefits, disability benefits and locate financial assistance programs. Referrals to community agencies, information on advanced directives, transportation resources and referrals to home health care and hospice are also available. Please ask your nurse or physician for a referral or contact Amber directly at 360-814-8255 or CancerSupport@skagitvalleyhospital.org.
For additional information about social work services and oncology social work visit National Association of Social Workers and Association of Oncology Social Workers.
Nutrition
Lou Kupka-Schutt, PhD, RD, CSO, is your designated nutritionist and is a great resource to you before, during, and after treatment. She has 15 years of experience in oncology and can assist in guiding you to a better diet or to specific foods that help during treatment. Good nutrition can assist in aiding tolerance to treatment, enhance energy level, and support the immune system. There is a myriad of information regarding cancer and nutrition available in print and via the Internet. Please proceed with caution and be aware that Lou can also provide a professional opinion on your current resources. Please ask your physician or nurse for a referral or contact Lou directly at 814-8274 or lkupka-schutt@skagitvalleyhospital.org.
For additional information about Cancer and Nutrition visit American Institute for Cancer Research and American Cancer Society.
Recommended Books
The Cancer Lifeline Cookbook: Recipes, Ideas, and Advice to Optimize the Lives of People Living with Cancer by Kimberly Mathai.
Purchase through Cancer Lifeline by calling 206-297-2100 or through Amazon.com.
The Organic Food Shopper's Guide by Jeff Cox.
Purchase through Amazon.com or via multiple on-line and local booksellers.
Cancer Care Resource Room
This room is designed to provide support and information for patients and families receiving treatment at the Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center. You will find wigs, hats, scarves, books, CDs, pamphlets, coupons and a computer for Web access. The Resource Room is not staffed but is open for patient and family use. Come in and browse!
You will also find information about a variety of topics related to cancer at Medline Plus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
Daily Concierge Service
Free concierge service is now available for patients needing transportation to and from the Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center for their daily radiation treatments. Beck & Call Concierge can pick you up at designated locations on Whidbey Island or from the Arlington area and transport you to the Regional Cancer Care Center in Mount Vernon daily throughout the course of your treatment.
The Sunrise Inn at our Mount Vernon campus is now available for out of area patients who would like to stay near the Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center for the week. Residence Monday through Thursday can be provided at a cost of $50 per week.
Please call Oncology Social Services for further information at 360-814-8255 as these services must be pre-arranged.
Online Resources
Click on any of the links below to find information and support online:
American Cancer Society
Angel Care Foundation
CancerCare
Cancer Lifeline
Care Pages
Cancer Survivors Network
Children’s Treehouse Foundation
Gilda’s Club Worldwide
Kids Konnected
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Medline Plus
National Cancer Institute
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
SuperSibs!
Patient Care Notebook
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center provides a free, instructional patient care notebook to cancer patients on their first visit. This notebook provides immediate access to information about cancer and tools to track symptoms, questions and medication records.
CarePages - Staying in touch with loved ones during treatment
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and CarePages have teamed up to help patients and caregivers use the web to communicate with loved ones while going though treatment. The free service allows concerned family members and friends to access the most recent news about the patient and provide support in a way that isn't a burden. Find out more about CarePages.
Survivors Celebration
The annual Survivor Celebration is a celebration for those who have fought cancer or are fighting cancer and the people who love them. Our next celebration will be held on October 2nd, 2010 at the Swinomish Northern Lights Casino in Anacortes. Please call 360-814-8287 for more information about the event.
The North Star Newsletter
This is a quarterly publication sent out to cancer patients and their loved ones. The word Star stands for our intent to provide information on "Symptoms, Treatments, and Resources." We also interject humor and helpful tips. Information regarding support groups and other support services are also included. To sign up for the North Star newsletter, please email CancerSupport@skagitvalleyhospital.org or call 360-814-8255 and provide your name and address. You can also dowload our current issue.
Support Groups
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center offers multiple support groups to help meet the emotional needs of patients and caregivers. Please note that all of the groups are free of charge so please join us!
Tai Chi & Qigong Class
Tai Chi and Qigong are traditional Chinese exercises that have been a daily prescription for health and longevity for hundreds of years. This class focuses on balance, posture, relaxation, breathing, and visual and mental concentration. The elements of Tai Chi and Qigong help the immune system, central nervous system, blood supply and circulation as well as strengthen bones, joints and tendons. The movements are slow in tempo and very low impact on the body and can be done standing or seated. Please join us for this new and exciting class taught by Bob Shapiro.
Second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, 2 - 3:15 p.m.
Safeway Conference Room (3rd floor)
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center
CLIMB®: Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery
Sponsored by the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation
CLIMB is a new support group specifically designed for children ages 6-11 whose parent or guardian is diagnosed with cancer. This structured program is helpful in normalizing feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear and anger in the children, while improving positive communication between the children and their parents. The goal is to open up the lines of communication between the child and the parent through:
1. Building upon the child’s strengths and enhancing his/her ability to cope with stress associated with the parent’s illness
2. Increasing the child’s ability to understand and express feelings about the parent’s cancer
3. Learning how to communicate feelings to others
4. Facilitating coping with feelings
CLIMB is a six-week closed group support program that meets once a week for two hours. Dinner will be provided for the parents and children at the beginning of each session. The group will be co-facilitated by Amber Ford, MSW, Oncology Social Worker, and Alisha Eastman, MSW Intern. There is no cost to participate in CLIMB.
CLIMB is set to launch in summer 2010, with an orientation/tour of the cancer center one week prior to the first session. For more information or to discuss enrolling your child in this program, please contact Amber Ford, Oncology Social Worker, at 360-814-8255 or amford@skagitvalleyhospital.org.
Healthy Steps: Moving you to better health with the Lebed Method
Please note this class runs September through April of each year. Please join us in the fall!
Lebed was originally developed to assist women following breast surgeries to heal and to prevent lymphadema. The program is taught internationally and has been found to be helpful not only for women with breast cancer but for all cancer survivors and for others with chronic illnesses. Please join us!
First and third Thursday of each month, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Safeway Conference Room (3rd floor)
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center
Art and Healing
Join Margaret Carpenter Arnett, BSN, ATR, for fun and to explore new ways to express all you have or are going through with cancer. Art making may reduce anxiety, stress and improve your overall sense of yourself. Please note that "art skills" are not required! Give it a try!
First and third Monday of each month, 2 to 4 p.m.
Safeway Conference Room (3rd floor)
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center
Look Good, Feel Better
Please note this class does not meet in May or December.
Cancer can rob a woman of her energy, appetite and strength. But it doesn’t have to take away her self-confidence. This program teaches beauty techniques to women in active treatment or those that are about to start treatment. It helps them combat the appearance related to the side effects of treatment. The Look Good Feel Better sessions are led by trained, volunteer cosmetologists, who teach women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss using cosmetics and skin care products donated by the cosmetic industry. Women also learn ways to disguise hair loss with wigs, scarves and other accessories. Space is limited so be sure to register!
Fourth Monday of each Month, 1 to 3 p.m.
Safeway Conference Room (3rd floor)
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center
Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 to register.
Women's Cancer Support Group
This group is designed for women who are or have experienced breast, ovarian, uterine or cervical cancers. Participants are able to access valuable information, resources and support. Support persons may accompany you.
Second Wednesday of each month, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Safeway Conference Room (3rd floor)
Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center
