Breast Cancer Support Services
Ensuring the Support You Need
Coping with a cancer diagnosis requires the support of family, friends, and those living with similar challenges. At Morton Plant Mease, we try to do all we can to help ensure that support is there for you at every step of your journey: when you are first diagnosed, as you prepare for surgery, while you're in the hospital, once you return home, as you undergo treatment, and after your treatment is completed.
Breast Care Navigators
At Morton Plant Hospital, our Breast Cancer Navigators* — a nurse and a social worker — provide individualized guidance to patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The Navigators follow patients through every aspect of treatment and coordinate their care, including any necessary tests, treatment and follow-up care prescribed by the patient's team of breast health specialists. Additional ways the Navigators assist include:
- Coordinating the Breast Cancer Orientation Program for women recently diagnosed with breast cancer
- Being liasions between the patient and physicians to ensure better patient understanding of medical recommendations
- Conducting continual assessment of the educational, physical, psychological and social needs of the patient and family members
- Serving as knowledgeable advocates for each patient
- Linking patients with community resources (i.e., co-payment assistance, bill payment assistance)
* This program is funded through a grant from The Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Morton Plant Mease Foundation.
Breast Cancer Education Folder
Knowledge is power. This folder is designed by breast cancer survivors to inform and empower women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer. It contains educational information on a wide variety of topics, and a list of community resources and sources for additional information. It is available from any of our counselors in Cancer Patient Support Services (CaPSS).
Breast Cancer Patient Orientation
Newly diagnosed patients can learn about breast cancer from a a panel of Morton Plant Mease health care professionals. Some of the topics covered include: breast cancer overview, anatomy of the breast, cancer treatment, lymphedema, nutrition, exercise and wellness, Cancer Patient Support Services (CaPSS) and home health services. This orientation session meets at the Powell Cancer Center Community Room at Morton Plant Hospital. For more information or to register, please call (727) 462-7500.
Cancer Patient Support Services: CaPSS
This innovative program is the first and only one of its kind in Pinellas County. Cancer Patient Support Services (CaPSS) helps cancer patients and their families cope more effectively with the emotional and physical changes resulting from a cancer diagnosis. The program offers the following services free of charge:
- Individual and family counseling
- Support groups for patients, family members and friends
- Community Cancer Education
- Relaxation, stress management and guided imagery programs, including Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Gong) classes
- Cancer resource libraries
- Cancer screenings and awareness events
CaPSS is our commitment to treating the whole person - body, mind and spirit. For more information about Cancer Patient Support Services, call (727) 462-2125.
CarePages
Free, private Web pages that allow you to post information about your health as well as receive messages of support, CarePages enable you to stay connected to family and friends while you are in the hospital.
Support Groups
Many cancer support groups targeted specifically for women, young women, caregivers and Spanish-speaking patients meet on a monthly basis. Some of these support groups include:
- Cancer Patients' and Caregivers' Hope Group (patients and caregivers attend this group together)
- Cancer Support for Women
- Cancer Support for Young Women (women in 20s to early 50s)
- Hands for Hope "Chemo Brain" Support Group
- La Luna De Pinellas (for Latin women with cancer)
For more information, please download our support groups calendar from the Morton Plant Mease home page.
Cancer Programs
"Look Good... Feel Better"
Co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Morton Plant Mease hosts this free class for women undergoing cancer treatment. You'll be introduced to some useful makeup application techniques that you can use during your treatment. In addition, you'll learn about choosing a wig as well as some creative ways to wear hats and scarves.
Additional programs designed to help reduce stress and increase mind/body awareness include:
- Qi Gong (Chinese exercise method)
- Handcrafters' Circle (stress reduction through handcrafts)
For more information about these programs, please visit our Class Registration page or call the BayCare Contact Center at (727) 462-7500.
Camp Living Springs
Sponsored by Morton Plant Caring Partners, this is free three-day retreat for adult cancer survivors is designed to promote camaraderie, relaxation and shared experiences - all while nurturing the spirit.
Cancer Survivors' Picnic
The Auxiliary of Mease Health Care also sponsors a day-long picnic to celebrate cancer survivors and their families.
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