Resources for Adult Cancer Survivors
This front page contains all of our internal and external Survivorship Resources. Separate pages detail other key Dana-Farber patient resources and services.
Please also see our Survivorship Teaching Sheets on many common issues regarding cancer treatment side-effects and mental and physical well-being after cancer.
Social Work and Mental Health Key Resources
Therapy Matcher:
A public service of NASW Massachusetts Chapter
Call: 800-242-9794 or (617) 720-2828
Email: [email protected]
Other Options to find a Local Therapist Near You
https://zencare.co/
Find a Therapist, Psychologist, Counselor - Psychology Today
Therapy Matcher:
A public service of NASW Massachusetts Chapter
Call: 800-242-9794 or (617) 720-2828
Email: [email protected]
Other Options to find a Local Therapist Near You
https://zencare.co/
Find a Therapist, Psychologist, Counselor - Psychology Today
Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living:
My Zakim: Check out the Nutrition and Exercise classes through the Zakim center.
These are available for free to our patients!
Blum Center Digital Resource Center
Dana-Farber’s patient and family resource centers are now offering access to a curated collection of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines on OverDrive, a digital library platform.
Community Health
Dana-Farber's Community Health works to expand access to our measurable, evidence-based programs in early detection, screening, and cancer prevention and education — to reach at-risk, historically marginalized, and diverse populations. This team also partners with community health centers, community-based organizations, and government entities to assess, enhance, and improve the overall health and well-being of the members of our communities.
My Zakim: Check out the Nutrition and Exercise classes through the Zakim center.
These are available for free to our patients!
Blum Center Digital Resource Center
Dana-Farber’s patient and family resource centers are now offering access to a curated collection of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines on OverDrive, a digital library platform.
Community Health
Dana-Farber's Community Health works to expand access to our measurable, evidence-based programs in early detection, screening, and cancer prevention and education — to reach at-risk, historically marginalized, and diverse populations. This team also partners with community health centers, community-based organizations, and government entities to assess, enhance, and improve the overall health and well-being of the members of our communities.
| Post-Treatment Resources for Young Adults |
Dana-Farber Longwood Survivorship Resources
General Information: Medical Care After Cancer
For Adult Cancer Survivors
Adult Social Work Program: Licensed social workers can help with:
- Depression and anxiety
- Distress in response to diagnosis and treatment
- Concerns about safety in personal relationships
- Concerns about drug and alcohol use
- Impact of cancer on your family and caregivers
- Discussing your illness and treatment with your children
- Coping with uncertainty
- Impact of cancer on work, school, and finances
- Conflict between patient and family
- Finding supportive resources in your local community
Dana-Farber Group Support Groups Information and Schedule
Blum Resource Center
The digital resource center is an online extension of the resource information and brochures that you would find visiting Blum. Visit the Digital Resource Center to find information on different disease types, treatments, Dana-Farber Resources, recorded programming and more. The Blum Center hosts regular online sessions using Zoom on topics including but not limited to: Spirituality and Cancer, Survivorship, Managing Your Finances, and Insomnia. Please visit our website: www.dana-farber.org/resourcecenter for more information on Blum offerings.
Community Health Office: The role of Dana-Farber's Community Health is to support the Institute's mission to reduce cancer risk among medically underserved populations. We advance the Institute's mission by reaching beyond our walls to support diverse communities with a continuum of our expert, compassionate, and equitable care. Their work is grounded in equity and social justice.
Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program, Consult available for all: For those at high risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, a personalized program to accurately estimate risk and work with people and their healthcare providers to lower risk as much as possible. Includes a cancer risk evaluation with a genetic counselor and a doctor. Surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and social workers are also available.
Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery, Consult available for all: One of the few centers in the world offering specific evaluation and therapy for women undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, including options to preserve fertility before undergoing chemotherapy, surgery to move ovaries out of the radiation field, assisted reproductive technologies prior to cancer treatment such as egg and embryo freezing, and evaluation and treatment of cancer survivors who are experiencing infertility.
Exercise classes and consultations, For Dana-Farber patients: An exercise physiologist offers two no-cost options for patients and survivors looking to start an exercise program or modify an existing routine: Exercise consults and a women’s exercise class.
Patient Financial Assistance, For Dana-Farber patients: This group provides financial help and guidance to those who qualify. Depending on qualifications, patients may be eligible for:
Family Connections, Available for all: Guidance, information and resources to support the entire family, including how to talk to children about cancer, advice for the well partner, and creating a support network.
Nutrition Program, For all: Online information and a free app, Ask the Nutritionist: Recipes for Fighting Cancer, with searchable recipes and nutrition information. For Dana-Farber patients: Consultations for a healthy diet during and after cancer treatment based on scientifically sound nutrition research.
Sexual Health Program for Cancer Patients and Survivors, For Dana-Farber and other hospital patients: Straightforward information about the ways cancer can affect sexuality, including private, compassionate counseling, consultation, and education to help cope with these changes and find solutions.
Spiritual Care, For Dana-Farber patients and family members: Chapel and chaplains available 24 hours a day for emotional and spiritual support. Chaplains are clinically trained and represent a variety of faith perspectives.
Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, For Dana-Farber patients and their caregivers: Integrative therapies ranging from individual treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, and Reiki, to group programs for movement, meditation, and creative arts, as well as exercise and nutritional consultations.
Dana-Farber Young Adult Program Resources
General Survivorship Resources
Facing Forward After Cancer: National Cancer Institute
Cancer Survivor Stories: Having cancer is, for most people, life-changing. In their own words, six cancer survivors reflect on a variety of issues they've faced, and share insights gained through their cancer experiences.
Additional Survivorship Topics:
Medical Care after Treatment
Your Body after Treatment
Your Emotions after Treatment
Social Relationships
Developing a Wellness Plan
Joining a Support Group
Finding Meaning
Living Proof/Celebrating Survivorship
General Information: Medical Care After Cancer
For Adult Cancer Survivors
Adult Social Work Program: Licensed social workers can help with:
- Depression and anxiety
- Distress in response to diagnosis and treatment
- Concerns about safety in personal relationships
- Concerns about drug and alcohol use
- Impact of cancer on your family and caregivers
- Discussing your illness and treatment with your children
- Coping with uncertainty
- Impact of cancer on work, school, and finances
- Conflict between patient and family
- Finding supportive resources in your local community
Dana-Farber Group Support Groups Information and Schedule
Blum Resource Center
The digital resource center is an online extension of the resource information and brochures that you would find visiting Blum. Visit the Digital Resource Center to find information on different disease types, treatments, Dana-Farber Resources, recorded programming and more. The Blum Center hosts regular online sessions using Zoom on topics including but not limited to: Spirituality and Cancer, Survivorship, Managing Your Finances, and Insomnia. Please visit our website: www.dana-farber.org/resourcecenter for more information on Blum offerings.
Community Health Office: The role of Dana-Farber's Community Health is to support the Institute's mission to reduce cancer risk among medically underserved populations. We advance the Institute's mission by reaching beyond our walls to support diverse communities with a continuum of our expert, compassionate, and equitable care. Their work is grounded in equity and social justice.
Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program, Consult available for all: For those at high risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, a personalized program to accurately estimate risk and work with people and their healthcare providers to lower risk as much as possible. Includes a cancer risk evaluation with a genetic counselor and a doctor. Surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and social workers are also available.
Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery, Consult available for all: One of the few centers in the world offering specific evaluation and therapy for women undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, including options to preserve fertility before undergoing chemotherapy, surgery to move ovaries out of the radiation field, assisted reproductive technologies prior to cancer treatment such as egg and embryo freezing, and evaluation and treatment of cancer survivors who are experiencing infertility.
Exercise classes and consultations, For Dana-Farber patients: An exercise physiologist offers two no-cost options for patients and survivors looking to start an exercise program or modify an existing routine: Exercise consults and a women’s exercise class.
Patient Financial Assistance, For Dana-Farber patients: This group provides financial help and guidance to those who qualify. Depending on qualifications, patients may be eligible for:
- Discounts for low-income patients with no insurance or for medically necessary services not covered by insurance
- Medical hardship discounts
- Massachusetts Health Safety Net
- Payment plans
- Financial counseling services
Family Connections, Available for all: Guidance, information and resources to support the entire family, including how to talk to children about cancer, advice for the well partner, and creating a support network.
Nutrition Program, For all: Online information and a free app, Ask the Nutritionist: Recipes for Fighting Cancer, with searchable recipes and nutrition information. For Dana-Farber patients: Consultations for a healthy diet during and after cancer treatment based on scientifically sound nutrition research.
Sexual Health Program for Cancer Patients and Survivors, For Dana-Farber and other hospital patients: Straightforward information about the ways cancer can affect sexuality, including private, compassionate counseling, consultation, and education to help cope with these changes and find solutions.
Spiritual Care, For Dana-Farber patients and family members: Chapel and chaplains available 24 hours a day for emotional and spiritual support. Chaplains are clinically trained and represent a variety of faith perspectives.
Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, For Dana-Farber patients and their caregivers: Integrative therapies ranging from individual treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, and Reiki, to group programs for movement, meditation, and creative arts, as well as exercise and nutritional consultations.
Dana-Farber Young Adult Program Resources
- iaya smartphone app: designed to build community among young adults (ages 18-early 40s) receiving care at Dana-Farber. Through this platform, we hope you can connect with your peers, share experiences, and learn valuable coping tools. Check out this video for a brief tour and overview of iaya. To get an invite to the new version of iaya, please complete our interest form.
- Virtual Young Adult Post Treatment Peer Program: This program is offered quarterly and is open to DFCI young adult patients ages 18 to early 40s who have completed treatment or are no longer on treatment. There will be four 75-minute Zoom sessions over four weeks. Each session will have 30 minutes of educational material and 45 minutes of discussion. The topics of the four sessions will be Living with Long-Term Treatment Side Effects, Fear of Recurrence & Living With Uncertainty, Sexual Health, Dating, and Relationships, and Returning to Work or School. Participants must be willing to commit to all 4 sessions. A brief introductory Zoom meeting with the clinician who facilitates the program before the start of the group is required. For more information and to get on the list, please complete our interest form.
- Educational/Social Programming: Our in-person programming focuses on providing young adult patients with information around issues like dating and relationships, dealing with uncertainty, and managing anxiety and it also provides YA patients with an opportunity to connect with their peers. Any information about events can be found on our website, in the newsletter, and on social media (Facebook and Twitter).
- E-newsletter: This is a great way to stay up-to-date on all of our YAP events. To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please submit your email address.
- Social Media: We are also on Twitter (@DanaFarberYAP), Facebook (Young Adult Program at Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and Snapchat (DanaFarberYAP) if you would like to follow us. We post helpful resources and news about upcoming events!
General Survivorship Resources
Facing Forward After Cancer: National Cancer Institute
Cancer Survivor Stories: Having cancer is, for most people, life-changing. In their own words, six cancer survivors reflect on a variety of issues they've faced, and share insights gained through their cancer experiences.
Additional Survivorship Topics:
Medical Care after Treatment
Your Body after Treatment
Your Emotions after Treatment
Social Relationships
Developing a Wellness Plan
Joining a Support Group
Finding Meaning
Living Proof/Celebrating Survivorship
Survivorship Resources at DFCI Satellite Clinics
See our page on Survivorship Care at the Satellites.
Most services available at DFCI Longwood are also available to satellite patients, including nutrition, exercise, sexual health, integrative therapies, social work, and spiritual care. Below are site-specific resources available for cancer patients and survivors
Contact the Adult Survivorship Program with questions regarding additional survivorship resources.
See our page on Survivorship Care at the Satellites.
Most services available at DFCI Longwood are also available to satellite patients, including nutrition, exercise, sexual health, integrative therapies, social work, and spiritual care. Below are site-specific resources available for cancer patients and survivors
- Milford:
- Local Livestrong Program: https://www.hockymca.org/franklin/healthy-living/health-well-being-fitness/health-management/livestrong-at-the-ymca/ (Foxboro, Franklin + North Attleboro, MA) or call 508-722-1310
- Support Groups at DFCI Milford (both groups are virtual at this time):
- Coping with Cancer Support Group: Second Tuesday of Every Month 4:30-5:30pm. A support group for men and women living with cancer. Discuss ways to cope with fear and anxiety and share hope and meaning with others facing similar challenges. Call Mellissa Rearick, LICSW, to register and/or for more information at 508-488-3783.
- Breast Cancer Support Group: Second Wednesday of every month 4:30-5:30pm. An opportunity for women who would like to meet with others to explore ways to cope with their diagnosis and its effect on their lives through education and support. Facilitated by Mellissa Rearick, LICSW, and Mary-Beth Proulx, RN. Call Mary-Beth to register at 508-488-3725.
- Physical therapy for Lymphedema at Milford Regional’s Rehab and Sports Medicine Physical Therapy: Pre-operative and post-operative treatment and screenings. Lymphatic therapy by certified therapists. For more information visit https://www.milfordregional.org/medical-services/rehabilitation-sports-medicine/physical-therapy/ or call 508-422-2388
- Nutrition guidance: Balanced nutrition is an important part of survivorship. Consults available with one of our registered dietitians. Please contact 508-488-3700 for more information.
- Londonderry: Support Groups
- South Shore: Counseling & Support; Healthy Living; Interpreter Services
- St. Elizabeth's Medical Center: Interpreter Services; Spiritual Care
- Merrimack Valley: Support Groups: April 2022, May 2022; Support Group Information: https://www.dana-farber.org/for-patients-and-families/care-and-treatment/support-services-and-amenities/support-groups-and-seminars/
Contact the Adult Survivorship Program with questions regarding additional survivorship resources.