Integrative Medicine & Cancer Patient Support
Appointments
Support Resources for Cancer Patients
The Sophia Gordon Cancer Center offers a range of support resources to patients and their families as they navigate cancer.
Integrative Therapy
Acupuncture is a component of traditional Asian medicine, which promotes natural healing in the body through a comprehensive approach of evaluation and treatment for the whole person.
Acupuncture is proven to be effective in treating these conditions:
- Relief of symptoms associated with cancer treatments such as nausea, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy
- Neurological ailments such as migraines and nerve pain
- Musculoskeletal pain including back pain and pain from arthritis
- Emotional distress including stress and depression
- Digestive problems such as indigestion, constipation and diarrhea
- Respiratory ailments such as asthma and allergies
- Physical injuries including chronic pain and acute sprain
- Chronic disease management
Acupuncture can also be effective for:
- PMS symptoms
- Infertility
- Smoking cessation
- Many other chronic ailments
The initial consultation is $120, and treatments are $85 per session, which in some cases may be covered by insurance. You would need to submit a claim yourself, as Lahey does not bill insurance companies for acupuncture services. For an appointment or more information, please call acupuncturist Jonathan Ammen at 781-259-1165.
Jonathan Ammen brings more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, educator and researcher to his work in Acupuncture and Traditional Asian Medicine at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. He has devoted much of his career to integrating acupuncture and traditional Asian medicine with conventional Western healthcare. He currently sees patients in Oncology, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and the Spine Center.
Expressing one’s self through art to improve or restore functioning and a sense of personal well-being.
Treatment of the soft tissues of the body by use of pressure, friction or kneading to help with muscle flexibility.
A special technique to reduce stress and enhance relaxation, administered by the “laying on of hands.”
A six-week program for the renewal of body and spirit.
An exercise program at all levels of activity for breast cancer patients.
Helpful Resources for Patients with Cancer
- Psychosocial Support (connects patients to resources and helps with financial, emotional and social concerns):
- Annemarie Brady, LICSW at 781-744-8113 (M-W)
- Lisa Carlson-Hill, LICSW at 781-744-8604 (W-F)
- Alison Locke, LICSW at 978-538-4807 (Peabody)
- Outpatient Counseling (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine): 781-744-8610
- Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy Department): 781-744-8800
- Palliative Care (supportive care aimed at controlling symptoms and improving quality of life): 781-744-7011
- Patient Education
- Cancer Resource Room (for educational materials): Located on 3 Southeast, open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
- Additional Resources: Nellee Fine at 781-744-3132
- Ostomy Support: Donna Loehner and Kerry Casey at 781-744-2694
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center offers many support groups, such as those listed below, for patients with cancer. For information on current groups, call Annemarie Brady, LICSW at 781-744-8113 (M-W) or Lisa Carlson-Hill, LICSW at 781-744-8604 (W-F) (Burlington) or Alison Locke, LICSW at 978-538-4807 (Peabody), unless otherwise noted:
- Breast Cancer Support Group for patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer
- Warm Hugs Project (support to newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer when they are discharged from Ambulatory Surgery at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, North Shore)
- Breast Cancer Support Group for women who have been living with breast cancer
- Look Good/Feel Better Program (free professional help using cosmetics to hide appearance-related side effects from chemotherapy or radiation)
- Carcinoid Cancer Support Group (location varies)
- Brain Tumor Support Group (call Michele Lucas at 617-726-1061)
- Ostomy Support Group (run by the Ostomy Association of Boston; call Beth Abelow at 617-522-0920) For more information on support groups near you, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.
The following agencies can arrange for Meals on Wheels, household help, transportation and other services:
- Minuteman Senior Services: 781-272-7177 (serves Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn)
- Mystic Valley Elder Services: 781-324-7705 (serves Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham and Wakefield)
- Greater Lynn Senior Services: 781-599-0110 (serves Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus and Swampscott)
- Elder Services of Merrimack Valley: 978-683-7747 (for people aged 60 and older in many towns of the Merrimack Valley)
- North Shore Elder Services: 978-750-4540 (serves Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody and Salem)
- Springwell: 617-926-4100 (serves Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley and Weston)
- Massachusetts Elderline: 1-800-243-4636
- SHINE: 781-221-7029 (offers health insurance counseling for seniors)
- American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Volunteer Driver Program: 1-800-227-2345 (ask for your local office)
- MBTA The Ride: 617-222-5123
- Lexpress (Lexington’s bus service): 781-861-1210
- Roadrunner (for residents in the Lowell Regional Transit area): 978-459-0152
- If you have MassHealth and need help with transportation, call Pam Reznick at 781-744-8113
- ABC Homecare: 781-665-0119
- Associated Home Care: 978-922-0745
- Best Home Care: 781-224-3600
- Metropolitan Home Care: 781-643-9115
- Minutewoman Home Care: 781-862-3300
- Partners Private Care: 617-267-5858
- Privatus: 617-275-4050
Winchester Hospital’s Lifeline Program provides peace of mind, early intervention and security, helping people live independently while ensuring help is just a button push away, 24 hours a day. To call for help, you simply press a personal help button you wear as a pendant or wristband. For more information, please call Winchester Hospital Lifeline at 781-756-4752.
Caregivers Plus (an emergency response button for those who live alone): 781-937-0310
Winchester Hospital is proud to offer A Caring Place for people with cancer, a retail store that carries wigs, prostheses, head coverings and much more. Winchester Hospital’s professionally trained staff is available to help you select the best products for your individual needs.
A Caring Place carries the following products:
- Head coverings
- Wigs
- Shampoo
- Styling products
- Mastectomy products (i.e. bras, post-surgical camisoles, breast prosthesis)
- Compression sleeves
- Compression stockings
- Compression bandages
- Jewelry
- A Caring Place: 781-756-5088
- Lady Grace
- Malden: 781-322-1721
- Danvers: 978-774-7141
- New England Hair Illusions and Breast Form Clinic (Tyngsboro): 978-649-7228
- The Women’s Image Center
- Leominster: 978-534-0200
- Worcester: 508-754-8705
For a complete list of suppliers, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.
- A Caring Place: 781-756-5088
- American Cancer Society Wig Bank (free wigs): 1-800-227-2345
- Carolyn’s Wigs (Wakefield): 781-246-2818
- Hairmate Salon (Woburn): 781-938-0495
- New England Hair Illusions and Breast Form Clinic (Tyngsboro): 978-649-7228
- Nick George’s Hair Studio (Danvers): 978-750-8200
- The Women’s Image Center
- Leominster: 978-534-0200
- Worcester: 508-754-8705
For a complete list of suppliers, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.
Insurance Information
If you have limited or no insurance, or have a billing question, please call Lahey Hospital & Medical Center financial counseling department at 781-744-8815.
Prescription Programs
For those with limited or no insurance coverage for medicines:
- Prescription Advantage (for patients who are disabled or aged 65 and older): 1-800-243-4636, ext. 2
- Programs through pharmaceutical companies: NeedyMeds
The Theodore R. and Betsy Harpley Endowment Fund
The Theodore R. and Betsy Harpley Endowment Fund was initially established as the Theodore Raymond Harpley Endowment Fund in 1992 by Betsy Harpley in memory of her husband. In 2021, their adult children changed the name of the fund to include their mother in recognition of the care both parents received at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. This fund helps patients with cancer and their families meet the expenses of needed care and services, for example: personal care attendants or home health aides, room and board at a hospice house, and/or other supplementary services that are part of a patient’s treatment plan. For information, please call 781-744-3496 or email us.
The Ellie Fund
The Ellie Fund provides funding and resources for women and families who are undergoing breast cancer treatment in Massachusetts. For information, call 781-449-0100 or visit the Ellie Fund website.
- American Cancer Society: 1-800-227-2345
- Breastcancer.org
- CancerCare: 1-800-813-4673
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: 1-800-955-4572
- Lung Cancer Alliance: 1-800-298-2436
- National Cancer Institute: 1-800-422-6237
- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: 1-888-682-7426
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: 1-877-272-6226
- People Living With Cancer
- Social Security Hotline: 1-800-772-1213
- Us Too (prostate cancer support group): 1-800-808-7866
Support Groups
The Departments of Social Services and the Sophia Gordon Cancer Center offer a variety of support groups for patients.
Support Group | Day | Time | Location | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
ALS | 2nd Monday of the Month | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center | Stacey Kohler, LICSW: 781-744-8114 |
Blood Cancer | 2nd Monday of Each Month | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Peabody, Second Floor Conference Room, North Wing | Alison Locke, LICSW: 978-538-4807 |
Blood Cancer | 2nd Monday of Each Month | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Karyotins Conference Room | Lisa Carlson-Hill, LICSW: 781-744-8604 |
Breast Cancer | 1st Tuesday of the Month | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Kariotis Board 3 West | Annmarie Brady, LICSW: 781-744-8113 |
Breast Cancer | 4th Tuesday of the Month | 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Lahey Medical Center, Peabody, Sophia Gordon Cancer Center Conference Room | Alison Locke, LICSW: 978-538-4807 |
Cancer Caregiver Support | 3rd Wednesday of the Month | 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Peabody, Sophia Gordon Cancer Center Conference Room | Alison Locke, LICSW: 978-538-4807 |
Cardiac Support Group | 4th Tuesday of the Month | 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 5W Conference Room | Stacey Kohler, LICSW: 781-744-8114 |
COPD Lecture Series | 2 x Annually | TBD | TBD | Stacey Kohler, LICSW: 781-744-8114 |
COPD Support Group | First Tuesday of the Month | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Alumni Conference Room | Liz Naughton, LCSW: 781-744-7838 |
Diabetes | Education Series | TBD | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 5J09, 4 SE Urology Conference Room | Call 781-744-3496 for more information |
Head & Neck Cancer | 3rd Tuesday of the Month | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Radiation Oncology | Annmarie Brady, LICSW: 781-744-8113 |
General Cancer Support Group | 3rd Friday of the Month | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Peabody, Sophia Gordon Cancer Center Conference Center | Alison Locke, LICSW: 978-538-4807 |
Gynecological Cancers | 2nd Tuesday of the Month | 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 3 West Kariotis | Annmarie Brady, LICSW: 781-744-8113 |
Kidney Transplant | 3rd Thursday of the Month | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Lobby Conference Room | Merle Kushner, LICSW: 781-744-8628 |
Liver Disease | 1st Wednesday of the Month | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Lobby Conference Room | Eric Richman, LICSW: 781-744-5335 |
Look Good, Feel Better Program | 2nd Tuesday of the Month | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center | Annmarie Brady, LICSW: 781-744-8113 |
Look Good, Feel Better Program | 3rd Tuesday of Every Other Month | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Peabody | Alison Locke, LICSW: 978-538-4807 |
Lung Cancer | 4th Thursday of the Month | 1:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 5 Central Conference Room 5J 101 | Lisa Carlson-Hill, LICSW: 781-744-8604 |
MS Support Group | 3rd Tuesday of the Month | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Lahey Outpatient Center, Lexington | Jayne Kraslin, LICSW: 781-744-7756 |
Stroke Survivor & Caregiver | Last Tuesday of the Month | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Lobby Conference Room | Jayne Kraslin, LICSW: 781-744-7756 |
Urologic & Prostate Cancer | 3rd Tuesday the Month | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 4 SE Urology Conference Room | Lisa Carlson-Hill, LICSW: 781-744-8604 |