The Palliative Care Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital focuses on symptom management and quality of life concerns for adult patients with serious chronic progressive or terminal illnesses. We center our care on patients and families, and help them deal together with their loved ones’ physical issues such as pain, fatigue, and nausea, as well as with psycho-social issues like depression, disruption of family life, and financial concerns. Each patient consultation includes a comprehensive review of medical records and medical history, a physical examination, and a discussion of the symptoms, goals, values, social interests, and spiritual needs of the patient and his or her family. Ongoing evaluation and follow-up care are then provided as needed. Palliative care uses many approaches, depending on the individual patient’s symptoms, needs, and wishes. It might involve the following: Medications Pain management Complementary techniques, including breathing exercises, massage or Reiki, acupuncture, art or music therapy Mental health services and coping strategies Relaxation techniques Spiritual support and guidance Nutritional support Family support Discharge planning The palliative care team includes expert physicians and advanced practice providers who partner with social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, care coordinators, and other clinical staff members to offer an additional dimension of expertise. Our staff is experienced in helping patients and families manage distress in the face of serious illness, as well as at life’s end. It’s important to note that unlike hospice care, which is meant specifically for those approaching the last stages of life—usually the final six months—palliative care can complement ongoing treatment at any stage of illness. Palliative care does not mean that active treatment to cure a disorder or prolong life will end. All care will continue through any stage or time in each patient’s illness. Bereavement Service Yale New Haven Hospital Bereavement Services provides care and support to families and friends to help you learn how to live life without your loved one. Grief is a natural response to loss, but the way we grieve is unique to each person. Our experienced staff of clinical social workers can help with learning and understanding more about grief which will help with healing. Services Telephone outreach Monthly bereavement seminars Bereavement support groups Information and referral for bereavement resources Hope for the Holidays (support for coping during the holiday season) Annual Memorial Service (a formal service to remember your loved one, conducted in collaboration with Spiritual Care and Patient Relations) For more information, contact: Andrea Lucibello, LCSW Coordinator of Bereavement Services 203-688-0726 Outpatient Palliative Care The Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic at Smilow Cancer Hospital uses an interdisciplinary team approach to provide an extra layer of support for both patients and thei

The Head and Neck Cancers Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital provides total care, as well as innovative and organ-sparing treatment options to patients with cancers of the head and neck. Our team sets the tone nationally and internationally for clinical trials and state-of-the-art cancer care. By carefully balancing treatment efficacy with quality-of-life, our collaborative approach to care personalizes treatment for tumors affecting the neck, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), oral cavity (mouth), ear, sinuses, tonsils, and salivary glands, as well as cervical (neck) lymph nodes or neck structures. Our multidisciplinary team includes head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, a smoking cessation specialist, dentists, a physical/lymphedema therapist, advanced practice nurses, and social workers. Functional outcome is an important element in deciding which treatment approach is recommended. Our program offers a promising new surgical technique, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), that can be used to remove certain throat cancers while avoiding skin and bone incisions. This approach speeds healing and shortens a patient’s hospital stay. Likewise, patients with certain laryngeal cancers, who a few years ago would have lost their vocal cords and their voices, can often be treated with less invasive surgeries. Patients who undergo these treatments maintain their ability to speak, although they may need to alter their diet or learn new swallowing techniques. At Yale, rehabilitative specialists work with patients to help them adjust to and overcome some of these swallowing impairments. In many cases, radical neck dissections have been replaced by less radical surgeries that preserve the nerves, arteries, and muscles in the neck. Patients continue to move, speak, breathe, and eat normally after less radical surgeries, without sacrificing cure rates. Additionally, in recent years, the field of reconstructive surgery has achieved many breakthroughs, yielding previously unattainable cosmetic and functional outcomes. Medical Oncology Our medical oncologists have unique expertise in head and neck cancers and dedicate their practice entirely to cancers of the head and neck. The integration of chemotherapy with radiation has become very important for patients with head and neck cancers that involve the lymph nodes or is locally extensive, and this approach can lead to organ preservation and increase the chance of cure for many patients. Breakthroughs in targeted therapy and biomarkers allow a personalized approach that can avoid the toxicities of conventional chemotherapy in some cases, and new treatments to prevent recurrence in high-risk situations are also being studied. For patients with recurrent disease, new anti-cancer drugs and immunotherapies are also available. A study led by Yale Cancer Center revealed that the checkpoint inhibitor pembroli

The Psycho-Oncology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital is available to help patients experiencing challenges such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and decreased energy levels while undergoing cancer treatment. This program includes specialists in evidence-based psychotherapy and medication management. Our providers focus on teaching solution-focused interventions, such as problem-solving and coping strategies, to be used in daily routines to help patients improve their quality of life and better manage their cancer treatment and care. Individual psychotherapy Issues addressed include: Adjustment to diagnosis Changes in mood (depression, anxiety) Fear of cancer recurrence Managing physical symptoms of cancer or side effects of treatment, such as pain, insomnia, and “chemobrain” Stress management Transitioning back to life after cancer treatment Couples and family psychotherapy Receive support and learn tools to help manage the stress that a cancer diagnosis can have on the entire family. Group psychoeducation and support Support Groups Video archive Medication management