At the Abramson Cancer Center, we offer a vast array of resources to help manage how cancer affects your mind, body and spirit. One-on-one counseling, cancer support groups and nutrition guidance are just a few of the services that boost your whole health and provide balance.

GI Cancer Support Services at the Abramson Cancer Center

Cancers that occur in the digestive tract (GI cancers) can have wide-ranging impacts on your life. Our patient and family support services help you overcome any challenges you may face during treatment. Our services include:

• Oncology nurse and patient navigators: These knowledgeable nurses connect you with the specialists and resources you need, help coordinate your appointments and so much more. Studies show patients’ cancer outcomes are better when a nurse navigator is involved in their care. Learn about their role in helping you navigate GI cancer.
• Nutritional counseling: A registered dietician with a unique understanding of GI cancers and treatments helps you manage how cancer may affect your diet, digestion or how you eat.
• Oncology social workers: Our team includes a social worker who understands the challenges GI cancers can present. We help you navigate financial or legal questions and connect you to community resources.
• Patient and family counseling: You can your family can sit down with one of our cancer-trained mental health professionals. We help find ways to cope that feel right for you.
• CARE Clinic: If your treatment plan includes surgery, you may benefit from our Cancer Appetite and Rehabilitation Clinic (CARE) Clinic. Nurse practitioners, physical therapists and other professionals work as a team to optimize your health before surgery. They tackle a multitude of factors, including diet and lifestyle habits, to set you up for a successful surgery and recovery.

Palliative Care for GI Cancer

Many people associate palliative care with the end of life. But palliative care supports you through all stages of treatment and helps you live better and longer. Penn Medicine’s palliative care-trained providers are available to assist you on our chemotherapy floors. You can also schedule an appointment to meet with a palliative specialist one-on-one.

Palliative care providers work to improve your quality of life in different ways, like helping you cope with the emotional toll of cancer. They can also address any physical discomforts caused by cancer or treatment to make you more comfortable.

Learn more about palliative care or managing treatment side effects.

Our Holistic Approach to GI Cancer Care

The mind and the body are connected, so caring for both provides the best outcomes in cancer care. Integrative oncology pairs standard-of-care cancer treatments (such as surgery or chemotherapy) with holistic therapies that focus on the mind-body connection.

We offer an array of holistic therapies, including acupuncture and yoga, to improve your well-being and help you find balance.

Learn more about integrative oncology services.

Cancer Support Groups and Post-Treatment Care

Our team offers multiple services to support your long-term health and well-being after treatment:

• Comprehensive long-term care: Our team of advanced practitioners provides ongoing monitoring and personalized guidance in the months and years after you finish treatment. We help you manage any treatment side effects and enjoy more of the activities you love. Learn more about our survivorship program.
• Assistance for long-term radiation side effects: We have a dedicated program that streamlines follow-up care for GI cancer patients who have had radiation therapy. Our nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers have an expert understanding of how radiation therapy could impact your health in the future. We evaluate any side effects and help you take preventive measures to protect your health.
• Dedicated GI cancer support groups: We offer unique support opportunities for patients and caregivers, including support groups for esophageal cancer patients and their families. We also offer the only patient support group in the area dedicated to helping people with an increased risk of hereditary stomach cancer navigate prophylactic gastrectomy surgery (preventive stomach removal surgery).

Learn More About GI Cancer Support Services

Learn more about Penn’s full menu of patient and family support services. You can also call 215-615-5858 to speak with one of our GI cancer experts or request an appointment using our online form.