The Center for Patient and Family Services at Sibley Memorial Hospital
Patients and families coping with cancer face many challenges. We believe that the more our patients know about their cancer and its treatment, the more equipped they are to actively participate in their care. The Center for Patient and Family Services at Sibley Memorial Hospital offers a variety of resources to assist patients and families during this time. Email [email protected] for more information. Cancer survivorship offers patients and their loved one’s the opportunity to take care of oneself medically, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. At Sibley, we offer services and programs to meet these unique needs and promote healing and wellbeing post-cancer treatment. All of our programs are free to participants as part of your care.
Our Social Work Program
Our social work program provides for the psychological, social, emotional and practical needs of cancer patients and their families. A social worker can teach you how to manage the stress and changes that may come with cancer. In addition, social worker-led support group meetings are available.
Contact an oncology social worker to:
- Learn how to talk about cancer with family members, children, friends, employers, and your healthcare team
- Help you manage feelings of anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, worry, or depression that can be associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Help you become familiar with the hospital environment
- Learn the best ways to talk with your healthcare team
- Learn new ways of coping with stress
- Help organize your family life around cancer treatment
- Connect you with practical resources that may help you during and after cancer treatment, such as transportation, lodging, and education about home care, hospice, and palliative care
Contact the social work team today at 202-660-7839 or email at [email protected]
Cancer Support Programs
Cancer support programs promote healing during and after cancer treatment through mind-body, spiritual, social, and educational practices. Patients, survivors, and caregivers can reach their wellness goals and improve their quality of life while connecting with others impacted by cancer.
Support Programs empower those impacted by cancer to improve wellbeing and coping during and after a cancer diagnosis. Dedicated staff deliver integrative health and educational programs designed to improve emotional, social, spiritual, and physical health. Programs are available for cancer patients and survivors along with their caregivers, family members, and children.
Benefits of cancer support programs include:
- Improving social connection and community
- Decreasing anxiety and stress
- Reducing treatment-related symptoms
- Strengthening mind-body connection
- Strategies for managing cancer treatment and recovery
- Improved individual and family resilience
Cancer Support Classes
Join a Class!
Our programs are free, virtual and open to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers unless otherwise noted.
For a full list of our support programs view our program calendar.
Learn more or get connected to all programs by emailing [email protected].
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Art therapy offers an opportunity to use the creative process to explore feelings and ideas and share experience with others. In a safe environment, a trained art therapist suggests a thematic prompt to initiate the creation of an art object using household materials. A reflective theme might include the concept of strength, resilience or community. No prior art experience or expertise is needed.
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These weekly drop-in restorative classes use mindful movements and breathing techniques to help reduce anxiety, increase bodily awareness and gain strength, balance and mobility. Chair and mat classes are led by instructors with cancer specialized training.
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Mat Class | Mondays from 7:30 – 8:30 pm
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Chair Class | Wednesdays from 10 – 11 am
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Chair or Mat Class | Fridays from 12 – 12:45 pm
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Explore meditation and mindfulness in these drop-in classes offered to help improve your mental and physical health by reducing the stress response, decreasing anxiety, improving sleep, and building a healthier immune system.
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Meditation Practice Session | Sundays from 7:30 – 8 pm
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Meditation Class | Thursdays from 7 – 8 pm
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In this workshop, participants explore ongoing strategies to define and use purpose within your life. Reflective writing activities and group discussions will be utilized within the workshop
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Reiki is a healing practice that originated in Japan and uses light touch through still placement of hands. Reiki has been shown to ease stress and anxiety, improve sleep and digestion, and provide a sense of well-being and peacefulness. Participants meet individually with our Reiki masters to learn hand placements. Weekly group-facilitated sessions allow the opportunity to practice with others.
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Mondays from 5:30 – 6 pm
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Thursdays from 4:30 – 5 pm
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We offer a variety of discussion-based support groups for patients and caregivers to connect with others, share their experiences, and gain support.
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Bladder Cancer Support Group for Women (1st Thursday of every month, 12 – 1 pm)
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Brian Tumor Support Group (2nd Thursday of every month, 12 – 1 pm)
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Breast Cancer Support Group (1st Wednesday of every month, 12 – 1 pm)
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Young Adult Breast Cancer Support Group (3rd Wednesday of every month, 12 – 1 pm)
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Cancer Caregiver Support Group (1st Monday of every month, 12 – 1 pm)
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Gynecologic Cancer Support Group (2nd Tuesday of every month, 2 – 3 pm)
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Lung Cancer Support Group (4th Tuesday of every month, 12 – 1 pm)
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Metastatic Discussion Group (4th Monday of every month, 1 – 2 pm)
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Pancreatic Cancer Support Group (2nd Thursday of every month, 12 – 1pm)
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Six-week series for individuals who have completed treatment. (Those on maintenance therapy are welcome.) Expert talks on nutrition, mind body practices for stress management, sexual health, lymphedema risk reduction, exercise after cancer, management of lingering side effects, and emotional health. Participants also meet individually with a certified health coach to discuss their personal goals and implementation strategies.
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The Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary team presents topics to enhance your knowledge and provide support. Specialists in bladder cancer will discuss all facets of care and implications for female patients. This program is for women only to create a safe environment for open discussion.
Survivorship
Coping with the physical, emotional, practical, social, and spiritual impacts of cancer starts at diagnosis and continues throughout treatment and into survivorship. At Sibley we are dedicated to guiding you in survivorship and empowering you to move forward. We are able to provide you with the care and resources to meet your needs and improve your quality of life after treatment.
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Our signature, six-week educational series designed for people who have completed treatment in the past 2 years. Cancer specialists give talks on healthy eating after cancer, stress management and resilience through integrative practices, lymphedema education, safe exercise after cancer, sexual health, management of fatigue and other lingering effects, and emotional recovery after cancer. Participants meet with a health coach individually to identify their health goals and apply the information to their own lives.
In addition, we offer free and virtual classes in various integrative health practices to all cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones. Patients have found these supportive group classes to help reduce side effects of treatment, improve overall well-being, and provide a supportive community of people impacted by cancer. Please join us for classes like:
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Restorative Yoga (chair or mat)
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Meditation and Mindfulness
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Reiki for Self-Care
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Art Therapy
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Your Path to Purpose
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Educational Webinars and Presentations
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Cancer Support Services
Additional support services are available to help you navigate the cancer experience, address the effects of cancer and treatment, identify your care goals, and support quality of life and well-being. Experts in these areas provide skilled and compassionate care based on your individual needs. We encourage you to reach out to members of our team to learn more about how we can help.
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Financial counseling is available to assist patients, families and caregivers to ensure financial coverage for those patients without coverage.
Your oncology financial counselor will:
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Provide education about your individual insurance plan and treatment coverage
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Connect you with hospital financial assistance to ensure access to care at Johns Hopkins
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Establish self-pay payment plans as needed.
For information about financial counseling, please contact [email protected]
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Making good food choices using evidence-based recommendations is a vital part of your cancer treatment and recovery, keeping in mind that your nutritional needs can be different during active treatment than post treatment.
During an individual nutrition consult, the oncology dietitian will review your diagnosis, treatment side effects and goals to determine the best eating plan to optimize your nutrition as you undergo treatment. Recommendations and strategies will be discussed to help manage side effects, increase energy and better tolerate treatment.
Consults are also available after a patient has completed treatment. A healthy diet helps with recovery and healing, managing ongoing side effects, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing the risk of a future cancer diagnosis.
Consults with the dietitian are billed to your insurance. If your insurance, including Medicare, doesn’t cover the visit, our Center for Patient and Family Services can provide financial support. Contact [email protected] for assistance.
Sibley Memorial Hospital cancer patients can schedule an appointment with the oncology dietitian at 202-537-4742 or email [email protected]. Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays, in person or via telemedicine for patients in DC, MD, and VA.
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Spiritual and Emotional Support is another service offered at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley. We promote the spiritual care of persons as an essential dimension of the total care and services provided, recognizing that spirituality can be a source of peace, purpose, support, and connectedness to others. Our dedicated Chaplains are here to listen and nurture your spirit as you journey through difficult times and the days of celebration. In addition, chaplains respectfully support your beliefs and all faith traditions and provide emotional and spiritual support to cancer patients, family members, and caregivers.
The Interfaith Chapel is open 24 hours daily for prayer, meditation, and solace and is located on the first floor of Building C, next to the main elevators. Roman Catholic Mass is held on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm; all are welcome. For patients who cannot attend this service in person, tune in to Chapel Channel 67 for a broadcast in any inpatient hospital room.
Chaplains are available in the hospital Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. and are available on call for urgent needs 24/7. Please call the operator at (202) 537-4000 to reach a Chaplain.
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The Survivorship Clinic is here to support you in recovery and maintaining health after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley offers a survivorship clinic for eligible breast cancer and gynecologic cancer patients who have completed chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments.
You can take an active role in your health by transitioning your cancer care to an oncology nurse practitioner dedicated to your continuing care. Together, you and the nurse practitioner will outline a personalized follow-up plan and discuss:
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Cancer surveillance and screening, including necessary follow-up imaging and provider visits
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Treatment review and management of any lingering side effects, such as treatment-induced menopause, pain, neuropathy, and sleep issues
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Emotional and social wellbeing including guidance or referrals to other specialists or programs
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Lifestyle behavior changes to improve health and reduce risk for recurrence, including nutrition, exercise and stress management.
The Survivorship Nurse Practitioner works closely with your medical oncologist to establish your follow-up care plan, coordinate your transition, and ensure you still receive excellent oncology care. For an appointment to the survivorship clinic, call 202-660-6500.
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A video series created to provide guidance on the emotional and practical aspects of coping with cancer and to help start a conversation between patients and their loved ones. The Sibley Center for Patient and Family Services is here to help.