Oncology Social Workers: A Gifted Resource
There is a special group of medical professionals who can be of inestimable support to the lymphoma patient and, perhaps more importantly, to the family member/caregiver.
This special person is the oncology social worker (OCW). The OSW is a counselor whose support and advice is so very important during the multiple phases of diagnosis and treatment. These phases might be arbitrarily divided into the following: 1. responding to the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma; 2. selection of treatment or non-treatment (often difficult as the patient must decide amongst varied therapeutic options); 3. emotional and physical duress during active treatment; and 4. the follow-up period.
I urge all NHL patients to enquire whether their physician's office or treatment facility has an OSW. You will feel better having the benefit of the oncology social worker's warmth and expertise.
Mort