Support and Education
Patient Navigation Services
Patient navigators are available at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC to provide individualized assistance to patients, family, and caregivers throughout their health care experience. Their mission is to help guide the patient through diagnosis and treatment – answering questions and providing information about available services and amenities – to ensure a comfortable experience for the patients. Navigators are based on site, and can be reached by calling 412-641-4940.
Holistic Care Center
No one should have to face cancer alone. In recognizing the significance of spiritual, cultural, and emotional aspects of cancer, we strive to provide our patients the care and support they need. We are dedicated to the improvement of quality of life by offering assessment and classes at The Holistic Care Center. The goal of the Center is to expose and develop strengths for a fulfilling new approach to life.
Weekly program of assessment, education, and classes in holistic care including such techniques as:
- Guided Imagery
- Gentle Hatha Yoga
- Meditation
- Autogenic Training
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Genograms
Come see, learn, and experience these techniques on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room 2819.
Call 412-641-4940 for more information.
Counseling Services
Magee offers an extensive behavioral health management service for women and their family members. The program and team of professionals represents a collaborative initiative between Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and UPMC Cancer Centers Behavioral Medicine. Services include individual and family counseling, psychiatric consultation, assessment, and treatment. To schedule an appointment, call 412-623-5888.
Breast Cancer Survivor Program
Your physician, health care team, family, and friends are all important in your recovery from breast cancer. But as hard as they may try, unless they have experienced breast cancer themselves, they cannot completely understand your feelings, your fears, your needs.
Many women with breast cancer find it helpful to talk to other women who have the disease - someone who is doing well, enjoying life again, and remembers the uncertainties and the questions. As one woman told us, "Your family and friends love you, and they understand to a point...but the volunteer had been there. She was a godsend."
Magee has established a group of compassionate, dedicated women - all breast cancer survivors - to offer support to women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer. All of the volunteers are at least one year past breast cancer treatment and have received special training to help them listen and communicate with sensitivity and care. If you would like to speak with a breast cancer volunteer, please call 412-641-1178.
Look Good...Feel Better
Look Good...Feel Better is a monthly beauty program designed to help women cope with the cosmetic side effects of cancer therapy. A trained cosmetologist from the American Cancer Society and a registered nurse conduct the program for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This two-hour program helps women to deal with the appearance-related side effects of therapy, offering assistance on make-up application, wig selection, and other types of alternative headwear. Visit the Look Good...Feel Better website or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-395-LOOK for a listing of program dates and locations.
Lymphedema Support Group
The lymphedema support group, sponsored by Centers for Rehab Services (CRS) at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, is open to anyone with lymphedema, a chronic condition often resulting after surgery. The group is led by physical therapists specializing in lymphedema management. The group meets the third Wednesday of every month. All are welcome. RSVP requested. Please
call 412-641-4488.
Education
Breast Cancer Education Series
The breast cancer education series is for all individuals seeking up-to-date information about breast cancer - breast cancer survivors, women recently diagnosed with the illness, or women and their family members concerned about the disease. The goal of the program is to provide women and their loved ones with information that will help them understand the illness, its treatments, and what to expect from their health care system.
Topics include coping and communication methods, risk identification, prevention and detection techniques, and treatment options. Up-to-date information is presented by a variety of breast cancer experts followed by a question and answer session. The program supports an "ask the expert" format to fully meet the educational needs of each participant. Participants have the opportunity to learn from the breast cancer experts as well as from other participants' experiences and exchange of information. Attendees are encouraged to list their questions and bring them to the session.
The breast cancer education series is held every other month in the Tower Lobby Conference Room in Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. The program and refreshments are offered free of charge. Registration is required. To register, please call 888-269-6636.