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~ Social Worker’s Story ~
by
Yuko Abbott, LCSW

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What I See, Hear and Feel
I see disbelief and shock on face
I see tears run down her face
I see emotional pain in the way she holds her body
I hear her quietly sobbing, despite of her effort to hold back
I hear her fast and shallow breaths
I hear the desperation in her voice
I feel her hands shaking
I feel her need to disengage, just for this moment
I feel her feeling lost and scared, overwhelmed and unsure what to do next
But I also see her gather her strengths, focus on what she must do next,
and committing herself to get through this.

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What Oncology Social Workers Do
Emotional coping and needs:
provide crisis intervention and short term therapy, supportive counseling,
anticipatory guidance, referrals to ongoing psychotherapy, support group at the
center or in the community.
Practical and resource needs:
provide information about financial assistance, disability benefits, transportation
resources, lodging assistance, medications assistance and co-pays, help at
home, basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, etc…
Informational needs:
provide information about where to find reliable medical information, written
material such as books, and brochures, events and classes and more to facilitate
a decision-making and/or prepare for treatment(s).
Advocacy needs:
provide assistance to facilitate communication with medical professionals,
community, government agencies, work, school, and family, educate medical
team re: psychosocial barriers to treatment, facilitate family
meetings, and more.

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Association of Oncology Social Work
(AOSW) Practice Standards
• Provides psychosocial services to patients, and families facing the impact of a
potential or actual diagnosis of cancer.
• The scope of oncology social work practice includes clinical practice,
education, advocacy, administration, policy, and research.
• The Masters in Social Work degree (MSW) provides oncology social workers
with theoretical knowledge, clinical expertise and specialized training in cancer
care.
• Provides individual, family and group counseling, education, advocacy,
discharge planning, case management, patient-navigation and program
development.

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Association of Oncology Social Work
(AOSW) Practice Standards cont.
• Services are available throughout all phases of the cancer continuum
• Addresses organizational and community needs in order to promote health
and safety, and improving the delivery of care.
• Embrace patient-and family-centered care at all levels of practice by
respecting for patients' values, preferences and expressed needs.
in order to maximize the patient's utilization of the health care system,
foster coping, mobilize community resources for
optimal functioning, and patient empowerment.

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Association of Oncology
Social Work (AOSW) FACTS
• The Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) is dedicated to the
enhancement of psychosocial services to people with cancer and their
families since 1984.
• It is the world’s largest professional organization entirely dedicated to the
psychosocial care of people affected by cancer.
• Journal of Psychosocial Oncology publishes the latest research and
development in the field of psychosocial care for cancer patients and
families.
• AOSW and its members are involved in Networking, Education, Advocacy,
Research and Resource Development to advance excellence in the
psychosocial care.

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Survivorship Stages and
Biopsychosocial Issues
Two Common definitions:
1. a person who has no evidence of disease and is currently on surveillance
(IOM,2005)
2. a person who is living with, living through, and living beyond cancer and
cancer survivorship begins at diagnosis (CDC& LAF, 2004)
 living with cancer: a person who has been diagnosed with cancer and
receiving treatments
 living through cancer: a person who completed cancer treatment but
risk of recurrence is high
 living beyond cancer: a person who completed cancer treatment with low
risk of recurrence
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & Lance Armstrong Foundation (2004). A national action plan for cancer survivorship: Advancing public
health strategies. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivorship/pdf/plan.pdf
Institute of Medicine (2005, November). Fact Sheet: Cancer Survivorship Care Planning. Retrieved from
http://iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2005/From-Cancer-Patient-to-Cancer-Survivor-Lost-in-
Transition/factsheetcareplanning.pdf

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• Fear of cancer progression / fear of cancer recurrence
• Changes within families and relationships
• Whether to return to work and to other responsibilities and when
• Managing finances (due to medical bills and lack of/reduced income)
• Cancer rehabilitation (pain and symptom mgt, mgt of side effects,
physical rehabilitation, psychotherapy, support group)
• Changes with spiritual and religious beliefs
• Making a difference (desire to help others and volunteer)
• A new perspective on your life and health (lifestyle changes)
• Personal reflection (try to make sense and finding meaning in your
cancer journey)
Common Biopsychosocial Issues

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• Speak Up! Ask for a referral to an oncology social worker
• Being diagnosed with cancer is scary
• You are not prepared to or may not have skills to manage changes
cancer may bring to your life ( and that’s okay!)
• Ask for Information, help and guidance
• Patient-and family-centered care is the model
• Any and all issues could potentially interfere with your cancer treatment
and quality of life
• ALL of “common biopsychosocial issues” can be explored and
addressed
Ask questions, gain knowledge and confidence to become
an empowered and engaged healthcare consumer
How to take advantage of
Oncology Social Work Services?

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The Commission on Cancer (CoC), and Quality Oncology Practice Initiative
(QOPI) are requiring CoC accredited and QOPI certified Cancer Programs to
implement the following:
Psychosocial Distress Screening: to develop and to implement a process to
assess, refer/treat and monitor for distress in order to improve patient care and
the overall patient experience.
Survivorship Care: to develop and to implement a process to disseminate a
comprehensive treatment summary and a follow-up plan to patients with cancer
who have completed cancer treatment.
Patient Navigation: to develop and to implement a process to assist patients
and families to overcome health care system barriers and facilitate timely access
to quality medical and psychosocial care.
To locate an accredited caner program please visit https://www.facs.org/search/cancer-programs
To locate a QOPI Certified programs, please visit http://qopi.asco.org/certifiedpractices.
Practice Change & Improvement

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Practice Change & Improvement Cont.
Patient Challenges = Opportunities at UCSD MCC
• Guided Tour
• On-site and phone Financial and Insurance Counseling Services
• Chemotherapy (now online) and Radiation Orientation Classes
• Increased psychosocial staff = expanded and timely Social Work,
Psychiatry and Psychology Services
• Integrative and Complimentary Therapy Programs (acupuncture, healing
touch, mindfulness)
• Health and Wellness Programs (healthy eating lectures, cooking classes,
insomnia treatment groups, creative art classes, yoga classes, general
and disease specific support groups, couple’s groups and more)
• Medicare and Health Insurance Educational Seminar
• Advance Directive Educational Seminar

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Patient Empowerment
Become confident with decisions about your care, feeling more in control of
your life by become an active participant in your healthcare
 Participant in advocacy, practice and program improvement, research, and
policy-making opportunities
Problem-Solving Skills
 Be confident in your ability to construct effective plans for dealing with the
biopsychosocial and spiritual challenges of cancer
Resilient Mindset
 Be confident that you can cope with problems as they arise, respond with
flexibility
and bounce back from challenges cancer brings
Attitude of Gratitude
 being able to notice and appreciate “good” in your life no matter how small
and knowing how to give and receive joy every day
Hopes and Wishes

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Resources
American Cancer Society
Search “sexuality” to find information about cancer, men, women, body image and fertility. http://www.cancer.org
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
This organization shares an interest in promoting and understanding sexuality and healthy sexual behavior. To
locate a certified sexuality educators, counselors and therapist. www.aasect.org
CancerCare
CancerCare provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer,
caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved. CancerCare programs—including counseling, education,
financial assistance and practical help are provided by trained oncology social workers and are free of charge.
Phone: 1-800-813-HOPE (1-800-813-4673) Web-site: http://www.cancercare.org
Cancer Hope Network
Cancer Hope Network matches patients and families with trained volunteers who have recovered from a similar
cancer experience. Phone: 1-877-HOPENET (1-877-467-3638) Web-site: http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org
CANCER.NET
Cancer.Net (www.cancer.net) All the information and content on Cancer.Net was developed and approved by the
cancer doctors who are members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), making Cancer.Net an
up-to-date and trusted resource for cancer information on the Internet.
Cancer Support Community
Cancer Support Community is a national organization that provides support groups, stress reduction and cancer
education workshops, nutrition guidance, exercise sessions, and social events.
Phone: 1-888-793-WELL (1-888-793-9355) Web-site: http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org

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Resources Cont.
Livestrong
Livestrong provides education, advocacy, and public health and research programs. Phone: 1-512-236-8820 (general
number) 1-866-235-7205 (LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare program) Web-site: http://www.livestrong.org
National Cancer Institute
NCI provides current information on cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, genetics, and supportive
care. Booklets available are on survivorship online. www.cancer.gov
NCI Cancer Information Service
Cancer Information Service answers questions about cancer, clinical trials, and cancer-related services and helps
users find information on the NCI web site. It also provides NCI printed materials. Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-
422-6237) Web-site: http://www.cancer.gov Chat online: http://www.cancer.gov/help
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
NCCS provides information and resources on cancer support, advocacy, and quality-of-life issues to cancer survivors
and their loved ones. Phone: 1-877-622-7937 Web-site: http://www.canceradvocacy.org
North American Menopause Society
This collection of articles provides valuable information on the changing concept of sexuality in menopause.
http://www.menopause.org/Consumers.aspx
The Center for Intimacy After Cancer Therapy, Inc.
This organization helps couples renew their intimacy after cancer. www.renewintimacy.org
Voice America
This links to the Frankly Speaking About Cancer, “Sexuality in Cancer Survivorship”
podcast. http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/52049/sexuality-in-cancer-survivorship

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Thank you
Yuko Abbott, LCSW
yabbott@ucsd.edu