Cancer patients need more than just their physical needs met. The hearts, minds and souls of cancer patients need care too.
Because of advances in medical technology that allow physicians to detect cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages, many more Americans are surviving and living with cancer. The Institute of Medicine estimates that 1 in 10 households have a member who has received a cancer diagnosis within the past five years.
Dr. Jamile Ashmore, clinical director of the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano Behavioral Health Center says, "Cancer not only puts a physical strain on the individual with cancer, but it also puts an emotional strain on both patients and their families."
Individuals suffering from cancer and their family members have to deal with the stress of the diagnosis and the physically challenging and many times life-threatening treatments for the illness. "Even after a patient has no signs of cancer left in their body, they sometimes are left to deal with permanent physical changes, disability, exhaustion, and pain," says Dr. Ashmore. These side effects can lead to emotional pain and suffering and if not managed properly can cause further problems. In fact, psychological stress associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment can lead to poorer quality of life, poor health behaviors, and compromise the immune system, which in turn can affect survival or recurrence.
"Appropriate support and psychological intervention are often vital to help cancer patients overcome any emotional stressors that they experience during and after their treatment so that they can heal both physically and mentally," says Dr. Ashmore. Baylor Plano offers a range of services to help patients and their families manage the emotional side of cancer, including an oncology nurse navigator program. The full time, oncology nurse navigator assists patients in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and resources available; including educating patients about appropriate community resources, clinical research studies, and technologies. The oncology nurse navigator also contacts all patients undergoing surgical procedures at the Baylor Plano Women's Imaging Center to offer emotional support, education and resources.
"Having a group of people to help and support you along your journey really does help in counteracting many of the stressors cancer patients experience," says Dr. Ashmore.In addition to family members and friends, many find relief from simplyinteracting with other cancer patients through formal support groups and networks. Baylor Plano seeks to provide support for both current and former cancer patients and family members by offering several groups including support groups for breast cancer, prostate cancer and oral, head and neck cancer patients as well as the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery Program that matches breast cancer survivors with newly diagnosed patients to help provide support.
"The scientific data clearly support the positive impact of psychological and behavioral programs on improving emotional distress, health behaviors, immune functioning, and ultimately survival among those suffering with chronic illnesses such as cancer," says Dr. Ashmore.
The Behavioral Health Center at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano seeks to help patients adopt behaviors that can help them better manage the symptoms of cancer and improve their overall mental and physical health. Using science-based treatments individuals meet in either a group setting or individually with a healthcare professional. In addition to social support, specific skills are taught and tailored to help individuals better cope with their disease, manage the harmful effects of stress or depression, or improve their health behaviors.
To schedule an appointment at the Baylor Plano Behavioral Health Center call 469.814.4850, or for a referral to an oncologist on the Baylor Plano medical staff, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit www.BaylorHealth.com/PlanoCancer.
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano is a 112-bed acute care hospital committed to serving North Texas residents with personalized care and advanced technology on a beautiful campus with hotel-like amenities and all private rooms. Services at the not-for-profit, fully-accredited facility include treatment for advanced spine deformities at the Baylor Scoliosis Center, neurosciences, orthopedics, medical and radiation oncology, surgical weight loss, women's services, gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, sleep disorders, pain management, diabetes management and more.
Patients have access to digital imaging onsite at Baylor Plano, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano Elizabeth Jekot, M.D., Breast Imaging Center and at the Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Craig Ranch, an outpatient department of Baylor Plano. The hospital is the first in North Dallas and Collin County to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery for procedures through the FDA-approved da Vinci® S Surgical System. Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano has been ranked fourth in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals 2011 metro area rankings and is a 2010 recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and houses an Accredited Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commissions on Cancer. Baylor Plano is the first hospital in Collin County to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Jerri Garison is president of Baylor Plano. For more information, or a physician referral, call toll free 1-800-4-BAYLOR or log onto www.BaylorHealth.com/Plano.
About Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Health Care System is a faith-based supporting organization providing services to a network of acute care hospitals and related health care entities that provide patient care, medical education, research and community service. Baylor recorded more than 2.6 million patient encounters, $3.8 billion in total operating revenue, $4.4 billion in total assets and $513.5 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2010. Baylor's network of more than 260 access points includes 26 owned/operated/ ventured/affiliated hospitals, 23 joint ventured ambulatory surgical centers, 50 satellite outpatient locations, four senior centers and 156 HealthTexas physician clinics.
Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System's subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano or Baylor Health Care System.
CONTACT:
Kayci Prince
469-814-2109
Kayci.Prince@BaylorHealth.edu
Janeen Browning
469.814.2107
Janeen.Browning@BaylorHealth.edu
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 53 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com