Support and Education

Fighting cancer can be taxing on your body, mind and spirit. As a patient within the Providence Regional Cancer System, you have access to integrative medicine and therapies, pain control, palliative care counseling, support groups, educational resources and more. We offer a variety of free information, educational opportunities and support services to you and your family.

Support groups and classes

The Regional Cancer Center is dedicated to offering cancer-related health screening and education to the general public, as well as emotional support via support groups for cancer patients.

For information call 360-493-4300 or visit our links to support groups and Cancer Center classes to find up-to-date information that suits your particular interests.

Outpatient counseling

Counseling is available to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Some insurance plans cover part of the cost and a sliding fee scale is available.

For information, call 360-493-7960.

Integrative medicine

Providence Integrative Care offers complementary therapies, such as yoga, massage and acupuncture, to complement your clinical cancer treatments and improve quality of life.

Patient navigators

Our patient navigators are trained to help breast and lung cancer patients "navigate" their way through the cancer experience. Cancer can be a complex disease, requiring many types of treatment and support services. Our patient navigators can help you coordinate all of the services you may need during your care.

Pastoral care

In addition to providing the most advanced cancer detection and treatment services available, it is important to us that our patients, and their loved ones, receive qualified, compassionate emotional and spiritual support. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, our patients can connect with an on-site pastoral care staff member, with experience in helping people cope with unexpected diagnoses or any challenges that illness may bring about.

Education

Cancer Information Center

The Cancer Information Center is located on the third floor of Providence St. Peter Hospital, inside the cancer unit. This free service is dedicated to providing information and resources for cancer survivors and families in a single, central location. The center was created and is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are cancer survivors. Here you'll find:

  • A library of books, videos and audio tapes on cancer available for free checkout
  • Community resource information
  • A network of volunteer cancer survivors who are "matched" with interested cancer patients and survivors for information and support

If you'd like to donate an appropriate book, tape or video at the center, please leave it at the library with a volunteer, or at the front desk on the third floor. We also gratefully welcome monetary donations at:

Providence St. Peter Foundation

Cancer Information Center
413 Lilly Road NE – 02H24, Olympia, WA 98506.

For more information about the Cancer Information Center, call 360-493-4300 or 360-493-7960.

Health Talk book

Health Talk: Questions and Tools for Informed and Involved Patients is a valuable book that highlights the hundreds of questions patients and family members may ask after a cancer diagnosis. Co-authored by Ann Monaghan, RN, OCN, a longtime oncology nurse at Providence St. Peter Hospital, the book is available to order.

For more information, call 360-459-5221.

Clinical support resources

Lymphedema program

If you had lymphoid tissue removed during your treatment or evaluation, a build-up of fluid in the soft tissue of your arms and/or legs may occur. This condition is called lymphedema. Our LANA-certified lymphedema therapists provide the most effective treatment available that includes:

  • Manual lymph drainage
  • Compression bandaging with short stretch bandages
  • Skin care, self-care and exercise program
  • Maintenance program

To schedule an appointment for an evaluation call 360-493-7451.

Pain control

Helping patients enjoy a high quality of life is a major focus of the Regional Cancer Center. Experts in pain control are available to inpatients for bedside consultation. They provide information on pain management techniques including non-narcotic methods, such as:

  • Massage
  • Biofeedback
  • Music therapy
  • Relaxation
  • Sophisticated, self-controlled pain medication

Pharmacy

The Regional Cancer Center's team includes a number of experienced pharmacists. These experts are ready to work in consultation with your oncologist to evaluate and treat your illness, and any difficult related pain problems.

Cancer pain can almost always be relieved or controlled, and we believe our patients have a right to pain relief. If you are in the hospital, we offer bedside consultation with a pain expert to help relieve discomfort. In addition, our pharmacists consult frequently with your doctor to find the best drug alternatives, in the most effective dosages, to treat your disease.

Home health and hospice

Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice offers care in the home setting. Home care and hospice teams help patients and families living in Mason, Lewis, Pierce and Thurston counties.