Living Well After Cancer: Maine Hospital Offers Support and Services
Completing cancer treatment can be like crossing the finish line of one of life’s most difficult races. Yet after treatment, cancer survivors still face challenges, including mixed emotions, as they focus on living well and managing any lingering or new issues.
Northern Light Mercy Hospital’s Cancer Survivorship Clinic helps patients who have finished cancer treatment rebuild their health and enjoy a high quality of life. The survivorship team at the hospital in Portland, Maine, includes a nurse practitioner, nutritionist, physical therapist and social worker. Patients meet with a nurse practitioner to discuss the side effects of treatment and potential long-term effects and ways to prevent them as well as to review prevention of recurrence, secondary cancers and lifestyle modifications to decrease risk.
Patients also receive guidance and resources on eating well for cancer risk reduction and overall health; any rehabilitative services needed, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy; support on readjusting relationships with family, friends and coworkers and managing concerns and challenges; and other support and guidance.