A breast cancer diagnosis can impact many important aspects of your life, whether physical, mental or emotional. At the OSUCCC – James, we know that people who feel supported in all facets of their cancer care have more successful treatments and better outcomes, so we want to make sure you’re taken care of beyond the medical clinic and operating room.
That’s why we host a variety of specialty programs and clinics created specifically to serve the unique needs of those with breast cancer and their families. These services, along with your expert oncology team, will be there to help you every step of the way from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship.
Some of these programs provide support services, such as scalp cooling for those undergoing chemotherapy, whereas others offer care to people with specific types of breast cancer. Breast cancer programs and clinics include:
Diagnostic Breast Clinic
This specialty clinic serves those who have symptoms, such as breast pain, nipple discharge, breast mass, skin changes or underarm abnormalities, that infrequently lead to a breast cancer diagnosis but still need to be evaluated. It also follows those with certain abnormal mammogram results. If you meet the criteria for evaluation in the diagnostic clinic, you’ll have direct, expedited access to examination and testing provided by a team of oncology-trained advanced practice providers and nurses.
High-Risk Breast Cancer Program
As central Ohio’s longest-standing comprehensive cancer risk assessment and management program, the High-Risk Breast Cancer Program replaces fear with fact by providing high-risk individuals with critical information and expert advice. Our program meets the needs of people at increased risk of breast cancer by providing assessments, genetic counseling and personal care plans for breast cancer screening and risk reduction.
Chemotherapy orientation
We offer this educational opportunity for people who will undergo chemotherapy as part of their individualized treatment plan. These classes will teach you and any of your caregivers what to expect during chemotherapy and how to best manage any side effects of the treatment.
On-site scalp cooling
Scalp cooling is a process used to cool your head before, during and after chemotherapy sessions to limit hair loss caused by the treatment. This service, which requires you to wear a cooling cap for certain periods of time, is available at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center or The James Gynecologic Oncology Mill Run for those who are candidates to receive it. Also, it’s important to note that Medicare and most commercial insurers won’t reimburse for the expense of scalp cooling, but financial help may be provided by a patient assistance program.
Download more information about scalp cooling.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program
As an often-misdiagnosed form of aggressive cancer, inflammatory breast cancer requires a unique expertise and multidisciplinary team to identify and treat it. Our IBC program is one of only a few in the country — and one of a kind in the Midwest — that is focused solely on the special needs of those with IBC, giving them access to advanced treatments and an improved chance for successful outcomes. Learn more about the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program.
Living Well with Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic
The Living Well with Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic exists to serve all the unique needs of those diagnosed with advanced, or metastatic breast cancer. It offers you and your family an invaluable opportunity to explore supportive care and treatment options in a thoughtful environment while ensuring everyone understands the breast cancer diagnosis and the services available.
Lymphedema Center of Excellence
Lymphedema, which is a mobility-limiting swelling of extremities or other parts of the body, can occur when lymph nodes are removed as part of cancer treatment. We have one of the nation’s leading treatment centers for lymphedema care, where we offer personalized and innovative therapies to prevent and treat lymphedema. Learn more about the Lymphedema Center of Excellence.
Oncology rehabilitation
Many people with breast cancer require specific physical therapy and occupational therapy to maintain the best quality of life after treatment and minimize side effects of that treatment. The OSUCCC – James has a large, multidisciplinary team of physical and occupational therapists, who have specialized training in oncology rehabilitation and providing these services to fit your unique needs as a person with cancer.
Adolescent and Young Adult Program
If you’re between the ages of 15 and 39 and receive a cancer diagnosis, the Adolescent and Young Adult Program can help you through treatment and any adjustments that may need to be made due to your age. We can also help you learn independence, navigate school, maintain relationships and family plan while dealing with cancer. We understand a cancer diagnosis at this stage of life can be complicated and isolating.
Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) Clinic
The CARE Clinic works with older people who have cancer and the unique needs they have. The clinic team provides each person with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment plan that addresses quality of life, optimized nutrition, sensory loss, cognition, mental health and wellness, medication management, symptom management, physical-function needs, home safety and caregiver support.
Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Program
The Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Program treats the sexual and emotional health needs of cancer patients and survivors. The clinic offers individual consultation and education sessions, as well as individual and group psychotherapy.
Oncofertility Clinic
Cancer treatment may sometimes cause infertility and impact your ability to have children in the future. While you may not be thinking about your desire to have children at the time of treatment, we can walk you through what’s happening to your body and discuss options, such as egg freezing or sperm banking, for preserving your fertility before treatment starts.
Clinical Survivorship Clinic
Cancer survivorship begins the day of diagnosis and continues throughout the balance of life. Living with cancer often presents many new physical and emotional challenges and impacts all areas of life. Our goal in this clinic is to help you manage these issues and improve your quality of life, longevity and general wellbeing.
Integrative medicine
You’ll have access to the full range of services offered at the Integrative Health Clinic, which includes services like acupuncture, massage and nutrition, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. These integrative health experts can help complement the work the cancer physicians and researchers do every day.
On-site Psychosocial Oncology
Our Psychosocial Oncology experts at The James are available to assist with your emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. You may find it helpful to meet with a professional counselor, which we can help you access, to learn ways to deal with any difficult situations that may be caused by your diagnosis and cancer treatment
Anticoagulation Clinic
Sometimes people with cancer need to be on blood thinners or anticoagulation medications as part of their cancer treatment. These medications require close observation and management by pharmacists, in consultation with supervising physicians. All the pharmacists within our anticoagulation management program have special training in this type of therapy.
Smoking cessation
Quitting smoking or tobacco use might be part of your treatment plan, and if you need help to do that, we have several smoking cessation services available, including individual assessments to discuss medical history and follow-up visits to track progress or discuss strategies.