Supportive Care

A nurse navigator is a registered nurse who helps coordinate your care, guides you through treatments, and teaches you about anything you need to know. The Roswell Park medical oncology nurse navigator is specially trained to consider all your needs. They can help you with tasks like:

• Learning about your cancer and your cancer treatment
• Scheduling appointments
• Managing treatment side effects
• Organizing transportation
• Getting psychological support
• Working with insurance companies and setting up payment programs

Your nurse navigator is your personal helper and a compassionate partner. They help you stay on the road to recovery and take care of your entire well-being.

Cancer treatment, particularly immunotherapy, can affect your blood cell count, leaving you tired and with a weaker immune system. It may also prevent your blood from clotting, which can make bleeding dangerous. Infusion therapy of blood products like plasma and red blood cells can help you feel better and strengthen your immune system.

At Ellis Medicine, we offer outpatient infusion therapy in a comfortable setting. A full staff of nurses, physicians, and pharmacists are available to support you through your therapy.

Many types of cancers require surgery to remove lymph nodes that contain cancer cells. Lymph nodes help regulate lymph, a fluid in your body used by your immune system. If you are missing lymph nodes, you might have an uncomfortable amount of fluid build up in your arms or legs, called lymphedema.

As part of our supportive care, we offer lymphedema management for people in active cancer treatment as well as cancer survivors. Your lymphedema management program might include physical therapy, compression sleeves, and specialized skincare. These programs can reduce discomfort and improve the health of your limbs.

Palliative care physicians specialize in improving your quality of life during cancer treatment. They can help reduce pain and other side effects you may have from either your cancer or cancer treatment. You can receive palliative care at any point in your cancer treatment and while undergoing active treatment.

Our palliative care team includes physicians, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, and more who work together to help you feel better. Through compassionate care, they can help you continue to enjoy activities you love even while fighting cancer.