Additional Support Programs

BID Plymouth

275 Sandwich Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-746-2000

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Our Cancer Support Services

At the Jordan Hospital Club Cancer Center (Cancer Center) at BID Plymouth, your emotional and support needs are just as important to us as the treatment of your cancer diagnosis. Our dedicated and caring support staff is here to help you every step of the way in your recovery.

Support systems include:

Nurse Navigators: Our nurse navigators make a significant difference in the care of cancer patients by serving as a single point of contact, an advocate, and a teacher throughout the process of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Nurse Navigators improve patient preparedness for treatments, provide logistical support and facilitate the referrals process. They can also work with patients and their families to address their ongoing concerns, issues, desires and needs.
Breast Center Nurse Navigator, Katelyn McNair - 508-732-8770
Cancer Center Nurse Navigator, Molly MacKay - 508-830-2226

Nutrition Support

BID-Plymouth Nutritionists can work with cancer patients on an individualized dietary plan. They can help you maximize your nutrition to keep your strength while undergoing treatment and assist you in maintaining caloric intake while choosing healthy options to improve your overall health. Call Bridget Mahoney R.D., at 508-830-2380.

Pain Management

Sometimes, even after receiving the best medical care, patients still feel pain. The Beth Israel Deaconess - Plymouth Pain Management Center offers a wide variety of progressive treatment options for any type of pain that does not respond to conventional therapy.

After the cause of your pain is evaluated, one or more of the following treatments may be offered to you at the Pain Management Center:

Injection Therapies
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Acupuncture

For more information or to make an appointment, call 508-830-2870.

Exercise Programs

Keep it Moving

Keep it Moving provides a supportive environment for those wishing to stay active during cancer treatment and beyond. Keep it Moving is not just for survivors, it’s also for spouses, family members and friends--anyone who wants to join the battle against cancer. Sessions run for eight weeks and meet one weekday evening and on weekend mornings outdoors in the Plymouth area.

To register call Katelyn McNair at 508-732-8770.

Rehabilitation Services – Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy

Our emphasis is on restoring and improving the quality of life for the patient with cancer throughout the course of their care. With that in mind, all patients seen in the Cancer Center can benefit from a rehabilitation services consult at some point during their care regardless of their primary diagnosis or treatment received. Rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help with post surgical incisions, post radiation restrictions, balance and gait, lymphedema, fine motor skills, and cognitive retraining.

For more information call 508-830-2182.

Reiki

Reiki is a form of therapy that uses simple hands-on, no-touch, and visualization techniques, with the goal of improving the flow of life energy in a person. Reiki claims to provide many of the same benefits as traditional massage therapy, such as reducing stress, stimulating the immune system, increasing energy, and relieving the pain and symptoms of health conditions. Reiki can be used by doctors, nurses, psychologists and other health professionals to bring touch and deeper caring into their healing practices.

For more information call 508-830-2390.

Cancer Center Social Worker

The Cancer Center Social Worker can provide support and link patients to resources needed during treatment and beyond.

Call Kathi Horsman at 508-830-3019 or 508-732-1651.

Patient Support Group - Suspended Due to COVID-19 Restrictions

A support group for patients currently undergoing treatment. The group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.

Call Kathi Horsman at 508-830-3019 or 508-732-1651 for the BID-Plymouth Funkhouser B Conference Room.

Caregiver Support Group - Suspended Due to COVID-19 Restrictions

A support group for loved ones of cancer patients. The group meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

Call Kathi Horsman at 508-830-3019 or 508-732-1651 for the BID-Plymouth Sgarzi Conference Room.

Survivorship Planning

Cancer and its treatment can have a long-lasting or late-onset effect on your body. A survivorship plan empowers survivors to take charge of their renewed health and teaches them how to educate their family and healthcare team regarding their needs. This relieves a survivor from having to recall all the details of treatment and ensures all future healthcare providers are working as a team in their care.

The Breast Cancer Survivorship Program is the first survivorship program offered by the Cancer Center. The plan is to eventually provide this type of program to all cancer sites. The survivorship care plan is individualized, recognizing that one size does not fit all. Patients in the program receive the care plan following completion of acute treatment (surgery, chemo, radiation) for breast cancer. The first component of the plan is the assessment of needs. The survivorship plan will then be created from the information provided in this assessment ensuring individual needs are met.

Survivorship Care Plans include information on:

Cancer diagnosis
Treatment summary (type of treatment, drugs, dosages, possible adverse effects and responses)
Experienced treatment toxicities
Expected short-term and long-term effects from therapy
Potential late effects from therapy
Signs and symptoms of cancer recurrence
Lifestyle modification recommendations
Psychosocial, spiritual, and sexuality concerns
Recommended cancer surveillance and screenings
General health follow-up care with scheduled primary care follow-up visit
List of providers and contact information
Resources

The Breast Cancer Survivorship visit addresses the following topics:

Review the individualized survivorship care plan and follow up recommendations
Address patient needs and establish mutually agreed upon goals for healthy living
Make referrals as needed, i.e.: behavioral health, integration therapies, support groups, community services
Provide survivorship resource packet including Livestrong program offered at YMCA
Ensure the patient has an appointment established with primary care physician
Encourage participation in ongoing program offerings

Additional Resource:

Cancer Treatment & Support

Palliative Care team

Palliative care, delivered by an interdisciplinary team, focuses on improving life and providing comfort to people of all ages with serious, chronic and life threatening illness. Palliative care will enhance quality of life; reduce pain and other distressing physical symptoms. It provides attention to spiritual comfort, psychosocial support for patients and care providers.

Bereavement Support

For people who have experienced a loss through cancer, Cranberry Hospice offers bereavement support groups. The groups meet twice a month and provide an opportunity for people to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences with others who are grieving. There are three groups: children, pre-teen/teen and adult.

For more information call 508-746-0215.

Cranberry Hospice

For people in the final phase of a terminal illness, the caring staff of Cranberry Hospice helps patients live with a focus on quality of life and comfort. Our staff works closely with physicians to coordinate hospice care to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families. For more than 25 years, Cranberry Hospice & Palliative Care has offered hospice and bereavement support services to the patients and families of Plymouth County, the South Shore and Cape Cod.

A clinical nurse supervisor is available to speak with patients, family members, and physicians to answer any questions regarding hospice. Visit the Cranberry Hospice website to learn more.

Diane’s Gift Resource Center

Diane’s Gift is a resource center located in the Cancer Center offering an array of products and services that help meet some of a patient’s needs during cancer treatment. The shop is staffed by specially trained volunteers who make the experience of picking personal items like a hat, wig or camisole, convenient and comfortable. Prosthetic and wig fittings as well as consultations on skin and hair care during cancer treatment are available by appointment in the shop.

For hours and more information, please call 508-732-4693.

Healing Garden - A Garden of Hope and Walkway of Remembrance

Designed to be an oasis of rest, relaxation, and reflection, the Garden and Walkway are a celebration of life and a place to honor loved ones. The garden is located adjacent to the front entrance of Beth Israel Deaconess - Plymouth’s PIDC Pavilion.

Mentors for Hope Program

The Mentors for Hope Program pairs long term cancer survivors with newly diagnosed patients for support during treatment. Pairs are matched based on diagnosis, treatment and wishes of the patient and survivor. They communicate via email, telephone and in person at the Cancer Center. The mentors attend specialized training and complete a mentorship program at Beth Israel Deaconess - Plymouth. Their primary role is to listen to and provide support to current patients.

Call Molly MacKay, RN, OCN, Nurse Navigator at 508-830-2226 for more information.

I Can Cope Lecture Series

I Can Cope Programs are free educational programs for adults facing cancer – either personally, or as a friend or family caregiver. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about what is happening during cancer diagnosis and treatment, the better equipped you will be to handle each step of the journey. I Can Cope Programs can help dispel cancer myths by presenting straightforward information and answers to your cancer-related questions. The programs are held monthly in the Cancer Center and are sponsored by the American Cancer Society and coordinated by our Nurse Navigators.

Call to register for the programs:

Breast Center Nurse Navigator, Katelyn McNair - 508-732-8770
Cancer Center Nurse Navigator, Molly MacKay - 508-830-2226

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