Introduction
	Taking Care of the Whole Person
	A Bridge to the Medical Care Team
	New Roles and Responsibilities
	Relationships and Intimacy
	Resources
	Education of Oncology Social Workers

Introduction

For people diagnosed with cancer, an oncology social worker is an important member of the health-care team. An oncology social worker provides services, such as counseling, education, and information and referrals to community resources, including support groups. An oncology social worker often acts as a liaison between people with cancer and the medical team, and helps people find ways to navigate the health-care system. He or she works with the medical team to make sure people with cancer get the information they need to make informed choices about their care, and the support needed to manage the day-to-day challenges of living with cancer.

Taking Care of the Whole Person

An oncology social worker is a professional who has specialized training in how a diagnosis of cancer affects a person and his or her family and friends. An oncology social worker understands that there are many aspects of a person’s life outside of cancer, and that cancer affects each person in a different way. The oncology social worker’s expertise is a comprehensive view of the person living with cancer that is respectful of each individual’s ethnicity, spirituality, family situation, unique strengths and challenges, and it is his or her job to represent a person’s interests and needs to the medical team.
For most people, a cancer diagnosis brings with it new feelings and experiences. Talking to a professional who has helped other people manage similar situations may help a person find ways to improve quality of life, manage fears, and find hope. A social worker talks to people about the different aspects of adjusting to the cancer, and helps find strategies to adapt to, and manage health-care concerns. This can happen through individual, couples, and family counseling; support groups; and referrals to community agencies that have additional support programs.

A Bridge to the Medical Care Team

An oncology social worker has advanced training in cancer treatment, as well as in how treatments affect people living with cancer. Many people with cancer find that information that may have been easy to read and absorb in a textbook is much more difficult to understand when it pertains to their own health. A social worker helps gather the information people need to make decisions about their care. He or she may arrange a family meeting with the medical team, at which people’s care and treatment options may be discussed. A social worker can also refer people to additional educational resources and to community organizations that have information about cancer and treatment.

New Roles and Responsibilities

People may wonder how their parents, children, friends, and coworkers will react to their cancer, and how they will feel about that reaction. People may also wonder if there will be changes in their ability and desire to keep up with the many responsibilities of their life, such as a demanding job, taking care of young children, or helping an older parent. A social worker can arrange a meeting to talk about how those roles and responsibilities might change, and about what kind of support he or she wants and needs while going through treatment.

Relationships and Intimacy

People living with cancer may have questions about how their treatment will affect their relationship with their spouse or significant other. One part of this relationship is sexual intimacy. People may have questions about whether there will be any changes in their abilities and desires; a social worker can help find those answers.
In addition, he or she can provide couples counseling, during which people with cancer and their partners may talk about the emotional changes they are going through, how they want to handle those changes, and what kind of support they want from each other and from other people.

Resources

An oncology social worker helps people connect to the resources they need to better negotiate the health-care system and access the support they need. For some people, this involves a referral to the financial aid office of the hospital, or instructions for applying for disability, or an explanation of rights are covered under the Family Medical Leave Act. For others, it means learning about support groups at a local community wellness center.

The Education of Oncology Social Workers

Oncology social workers have a Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited university, as well as several years of additional training in cancer care through continuing education and on-the-job experience. An oncology social worker is available to provide the confidential support and resources people want to help manage their cancer in a way that is respectful of their individual needs and wishes.

To learn more, please visit the People Living With Cancer Web site at www.plwc.org

Additional Resources:

• National Association of Social Workers
• Association of Oncology Social Work
• Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers

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