WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Cancer patients come in and out of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Williamsport every day. Some of them are cancer survivors. The Cancer Survivorship Program at the hospital helps them get back on track after battling cancer.
"That, by itself, puts a lot of burden on you, a lot of burden emotionally, financially, physically. Sometimes you have to overcome some of the side effects that come with that, and the Survivorship Program and the clinic will help you overcome that, and to adapt very well to become a survivor and to get back to normal life," said Dr. Abdalla Sholi, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center medical director.
Cancer survivors meet one-on-one with a provider for an hour-long session where they go over what to expect as a cancer survivor, long-term side effects, and plans for the future.
"And also arrange for you to meet with all the other services that we offer—physical therapy, emotional support, financial services, and now, most recently, the group productive services," Dr. Sholi said.
The program holds the group session each quarter. It offers patient support and focuses on nutrition and behavioral health.
"It does help to hopefully reduce the risk of the reoccurrence of cancer, make you feel better about yourself, live a better, healthy lifestyle. It's quite essential."
Dr. Sholi says it's very important for cancer survivors to go through the program.
"With all of the side effects and complications and the emotional burden that comes with it, this will help you at least to recover from all of those things, help you get back to normality, and help you to recover."
Cancer survivors interested in the program can contact the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Williamsport HERE.