We help our patients navigate the early post-diagnosis period, but we also provide support during treatment and into survivorship—when some patients on maintenance therapy are learning how to live well long-term.
Sivan Rotenberg, PhD, MACoping with cancer comes with mental health challenges—from the moment of diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship, the psycho-oncology experts at Dartmouth Cancer Center provide the support patients often need.
With a referral from your cancer care team, patients can access individual talk therapy with psychologists who are specially trained to work with people facing cancer. Support may include medication management with psychiatrists or relieving the impact of cancer treatments on thinking, memory, concentration and other cognitive functions.
“The early phases of a cancer diagnosis can be so challenging, and patients may experience a range of feelings,” said Sivan Rotenberg, PhD, MA, psycho-oncologist at the Dartmouth Cancer Center. “We help our patients navigate the early post-diagnosis period, but we also provide support during treatment and into survivorship—when some patients on maintenance therapy are learning how to live well long-term.”
Even when cancer is in remission, Rotenberg acknowledges that fear of recurrence can be very common and offers tips for managing.
Expanding services and sites with grant funding
With funding from a $1 million Prouty grant, the psycho-oncology program aims to expand its services across all Dartmouth Cancer Center sites.
“In addition to expanding to new sites to bring our services into more communities, we hope to add a patient navigator and diversify our services to include couples and family therapy,” said Rotenberg.
One unique aspect of the psycho-oncology program is the collaboration among a diverse group of providers.
“Our team works closely with nurse navigators, social workers, chaplains, physicians and other providers to support patients,” said Rotenberg, who participates in tumor board and team meetings with other oncology and psycho-oncology program experts. “When we look at patients as whole beings and work together to address their physical, social, spiritual and mental health needs, we can amplify the impact of the comprehensive medical and psychological care we provide.”
Enhanced access to mental healthcare through telehealth
The team has also expanded its use of telehealth services, conducting virtual sessions with patients at their convenience, reducing the need for them to travel to Lebanon for psycho-oncology visits.
“Telehealth has been a huge benefit, especially for patients who live far from Lebanon, are trying to work during treatment, are immunocompromised, or are trying to balance family obligations with their cancer treatment,” said Rotenberg.
“The medical and psychological care we provide is on par with any large cancer center in the country. Our goal is to help everyone access the cancer care they need without their mental health getting in the way.”