Assessment and Care Management

CST nurses evaluate each patient's medical condition as well as offer cancer-related nursing care such as blood pressure and weight monitoring, checking surgical wounds or helping patients with nausea and fatigue. Nurses also talk with patients' doctors and other health care providers as needed so that patients receive comprehensive, coordinated services.

Pain and Symptom Control

CST nurses offer information and guidance on controlling pain and other symptoms related to the cancer diagnosis. They also help patients manage the side effects of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Nutritional Guidance

CST nurses discuss with patients healthy diets and ways to manage nutritional problems that may result from a cancer diagnosis and related treatments.

Education

CST staff educates patients and families in a variety of ways:

• By providing information about particular cancer diagnoses, and answering questions about treatment options that medical providers may offer.
  
  
• By giving out printed materials about cancer-related issues.
  
  
• Through our annual Women's Health Awareness Luncheon featuring internationally renowned speakers on cancer-related issues and concerns.
  
  
• Via workshops on topics such as survivorship and cancer-related community resources.
  
  
• With Life Lines: A resource for cancer patients & their families - the only guide to local, regional and national resources- available free of charge.

Counseling /Support Groups

A CST social worker provides counseling to individuals and families on the impact of a cancer diagnosis. Our social worker can discuss emotional concerns, changes in family relationships, caring for young children when one has cancer, employment issues and more.

Our ongoing support group for women with ovarian cancer meets monthly at our office. Though there is no cost, pre-registration is required. For more information, contact our office at 914-777-2777 or view our "upcoming events" link on the left. We can also tell you about other support groups throughout Westchester County.

Information about Community Resources and Government Benefits

CST staff members provide information about community resources to help patients and families cope with a cancer diagnosis. They can answer questions about federal and state government benefits such as Social Security Disability and Department of Social Services assistance. They inform patients and families about other organizations that provide support for those with cancer and refer patients to those organizations for additional services.

CST staff members advocate for patients and families in order to make sure they receive cancer-related care and services. For example, they contact government offices to help patients get the benefits they need- such as health insurance. They work with other agencies in the community so that patients may obtain a variety of supportive services.

CST provides limited financial assistance to eligible individuals who need help paying for cancer-related items and services that are not covered by their insurance such as transportation and medical equipment. CST staff members also discuss with patients and families other financial assistance programs that may be able to assist them.

For family members and friends of individuals with cancer who have been served by CST, our social worker provides counseling to help cope with the loss of the loved one.

CST volunteers offer patients friendly visits, help with errands like food shopping, and rides to radiation and chemotherapy appointments within Westchester County, New York.

CST staff members also discuss with patients and families additional ways to obtain help with transportation needs.

This warm, inviting library, located in the CST offices, provides a comfortable environment where patients and family members can locate books, pamphlets and resource guides on specific cancer diagnoses, ways to cope with side effects of treatments, and organizations that offer help to cancer patients and their families. Books can be read on site, or borrowed.