Comprehensive cancer support

The cancer support program at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health is a resource to meet the needs of patients and their caregivers. Cancer support includes cancer wellness services offered during a patient’s treatment and cancer survivorship services as they live through and beyond cancer. The program provides education, resources and connection to help patients and caregivers live their highest quality of life after a cancer diagnosis.

We understand the importance of the caregiver role and offer a resource for caregivers with ideas and strategies for health and wellness.

Cancer support team

Our program is unique in that our nurse navigators, financial counselors, social workers, survivorship coordinators, genetics counselors, dietitians and cancer rehab staff are an integrated part of the care team. They work with patients individually from the day of diagnosis and provide ongoing support throughout treatment and beyond.

Nurse navigators

A constant point of contact to help coordinate care, answer questions and remove barriers.

Genetics counselors

Provides information about how inherited conditions might affect you or your family. After collecting your personal and family history, our genetics counselors guide you through the process and help you understand if genetic testing will be impactful to you or a family member.

Financial counselors*

A hospital-based resource to guide through insurance benefits and potential financial liability for cancer care. These individuals are the patient’s point of contact for financial assistance questions and resources for those with insurance needs.

Registered dietitians

Our cancer-focused nutrition experts guide patients through eating strategies to remain nourished during and after treatment. They can answer questions on specific nutrients or diets, so they feel empowered in what they should do.

Social workers*

Meet with patients and families to assess needs, provide emotional support and help people access home health and practical assistance, including wigs, transportation, organizational support and community resources.

Survivorship team

Helps patients understand their treatment path, recover from treatments or surgeries and guide them to live their highest quality of life after a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer rehabilitation

Focuses on optimizing physical function by helping reduce cancer-related side effects, including fatigue, weakness, imbalance, lymphedema, pelvic floor changes and voice/swallowing concerns.

*Services may not be available onsite at all facilities. Talk with a cancer support team member for other available resources.

Registered dietitians

Nutrition is essential in keeping yourself healthy during and after cancer treatment. Think of the foods you eat as tools you can use to help lessen treatment-related side effects and promote healing. A healthy eating plan is also helpful for maintaining your weight in cancer survivorship.

Our registered dietitians provide counseling and advice based on your individual nutrition needs. For your convenience, we offer both in-person and phone consultations.

Cancer rehabilitation

Cancer rehabilitation is a personalized approach helping you improve the physical and functional side effects you may experience after cancer. Cancer can impact how you move and feel about movement and your ability to do desired activities.

A cancer rehabilitation therapist may utilize exercise, hands-on treatment, and other specialized tools to help improve strength, function, fatigue, and many side effects such as pain, stiffness, imbalance, difficulty walking, swelling, chemo brain, and more. We offer many specialized rehab therapies, including Physical, Occupational, Speech-Language Pathology, Lymphedema, and Pelvic Floor.

Rehabilitation before surgery or treatment, known as pre-rehabilitation, has been shown to improve outcomes so we encourage you to start as early as possible.

Our Cancer Wellness YouTube channel has videos discussing exercise, nutrition, and symptom management. These resources help support all patients and their caregivers.

Cancer wellness

Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health is the only cancer support program in Kansas City to offer a lung prehab program for those newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider for a referral to cancer rehabilitation, to access our patient lung prehab educational packet and for assistance to implement a program specific for you.

Cancer survivorship program

While anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer is considered to be a cancer survivor, we recognize that each individual may need something different after their cancer diagnosis. Our survivorship program is here for you when you are ready for it.

Learn more about the cancer support resources and how to access them through a member of your care team or on our cancer survivorship page.

Community resources

In addition to the resources our hospitals provide, there are also many other opportunities to find the cancer support and education you need. Resources we recommend include:

Recognition


Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest Health is accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) as a quality program. This means our hospitals exceed the quality care standards set out by the CoC and consistently provide excellence in patient-centered care.

About Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

HCA Midwest Health is part of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare. Our family of hospitals provides comprehensive cancer services with convenient access to cutting-edge therapies for people facing cancer in our communities. From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship care, our oncology expertise ensures you have access to locally trusted care with the support of a globally recognized network.

askSARAH helpline

Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (816) 448-7737 or visit askSARAHnow.