At City of Hope, you’ll get compassionate care every step of the way
The City of Hope® team understands that you’re more than your diagnosis. You’re an individual who deserves personalized care and that makes your treatment goals and preferences as much of a priority for us as they are for you. Our doctors and clinicians provide compassionate, whole-person care for you as part of a mission founded on world-class expertise and state-of-the-art therapies and treatments. City of Hope is dedicated to offering integrative care that nourishes the whole you — mind, body and soul.
City of Hope care is centered on you
At City of Hope, our expert clinical team includes surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and other specialists who are renowned in their fields — all dedicated to providing cancer care that’s tailored to you.
From your first appointment, your team will work with you to understand your medical history, the next steps in diagnosing your cancer and what your hopes are for treatment and recovery. By involving you in every decision related to your care plan, we’re here to help you make the right decisions for you throughout your treatment.
Depending on your needs and goals, your care team may also include supportive care clinicians, such as pain management physicians, registered dietitians and/or other care providers trained and experienced in helping patients manage the physical and emotional side effects of cancer and its treatments.
Treating the Whole You: That’s the City of Hope Way
Cancer impacts your body and your overall health. But it also affects your emotional health and your plans for the future. That’s why our comprehensive, integrative approach includes evidence-informed supportive care services that help you manage the physical and emotional side effects of cancer before, during and after treatment.
Managing side effects like nausea, fatigue and stress, as well as weakness, numbness or pain, can help you achieve physical, emotional and spiritual wellness before, during and after treatment.
Evidence-informed Supportive Care
Our multifaceted supportive care program, which serves as the model for hundreds of similar programs across the country, is designed to help:
- Ease the side effects of cancer and its treatment
- Keep your body nourished
- Promote your independence
- Avoid delays or interruptions in your treatment regimen
Our Comprehensive Program, Personalized to You
The supportive care program at City of Hope has many options available to improve your health and well-being and may be part of your integrated care plan. Learn more below about the comprehensive program supporting the whole you at City of Hope.
Behavioral health
Behavioral health is an important part of integrative cancer care at City of Hope. It focuses on the ways emotional, mental, social and behavioral factors may directly affect your physical health.
Our licensed mental health and clinical social work professionals offer therapeutic support to help you and your caregiver respond to a cancer diagnosis and treatment regimen in empowering and stress-reducing ways.
Nutritional support
Treatment for cancer can cause side effects such as weight loss, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, low blood counts and increased risk of infection. These side effects can inhibit your ability to stay nourished and interfere with your treatment. A registered dietitian may recommend a personalized diet to help your body stay nourished, prevent malnutrition, rebuild body tissue and support immune function.
Oncology rehabilitation services
Oncology rehabilitation includes a wide range of therapies designed to help you build strength and endurance, regain independence, reduce stress and maintain the energy to participate in daily activities that are important to you. City of Hope offers a range of oncology rehabilitation therapies, including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Manual therapy (which may include massage and chiropractic therapies)
- Lymphedema prevention and treatment
- Support programs related to healthy living, weight management and sexual intimacy
Pain management
Some patients experience pain from cancer itself or as a side effect of cancer treatment. The pain management physicians at City of Hope can help you anticipate and proactively manage cancer-related pain by troubleshooting the side effects of pain medication, such as nausea, drowsiness and constipation.
Spiritual support
Our spiritual care team consists of chaplains who reach across cultures, beliefs and religious backgrounds to provide personalized spiritual support services for you and your loved ones. They offer support for visitation, counsel, prayer, patient rights issues and grief and bereavement counseling.
We’re happy to arrange for a minister or clergy member of your faith to visit you during your treatment and you caregivers and family members may also talk with the spiritual care services team at any time.
Naturopathic support
Upon your doctor’s recommendation, a naturopathic support provider may suggest strategies to support your metabolism and digestion during cancer treatment and help relieve side effects. Patients may explore options, including herbal and botanical preparations and dietary supplements designed to reduce side effects such as nausea, fatigue or trouble sleeping.
Your Comfort Is a Priority at City of Hope
City of Hope’s cancer hospitals and cancer care locations across the country offer a place of healing and hope for you and your loved ones. We strive every day to provide a warm, welcoming environment with a variety of amenities and services to help make your visit more comfortable.
From the moment you walk through our doors and throughout your stay, you’ll see and feel the City of Hope difference.
The following is a sample of what’s available.
Travel and Accommodations
If you’re traveling to your nearest City of Hope location, our goal is to welcome you and make sure your travel and lodging is as pleasant, comfortable and affordable as possible. A call to City of Hope patient advocate is all it takes to hear which travel or accommodation benefits may be available to you, based on a variety of factors, including your health insurance coverage, your unique diagnosis and which City of Hope cancer hospital or cancer care location is convenient to you and tailored to your needs.
Travel costs to some City of Hope locations may be subsidized, depending on your insurance coverage type and your specific situation.
Culinary Services
Nutritional support is a critical component of your treatment plan at City of Hope. Each of our cancer centers houses a modern cafe and dining room. Our team works with licensed and registered dietitians to provide affordable and healthy meals for you and your caregiver as you undergo treatment, meet with your care team, undergo testing or attend to other site-visit needs.
Activities and Support Groups
Our cancer centers and outpatient care clinics offer a variety of activities and classes for you and your caregivers throughout your treatment, including yoga, movie nights, cooking classes and more. City of Hope also has multiple support groups for both patients and loved ones, allowing you to connect with others and find emotional support during your journey.
Support During Your Visits
Every City of Hope hospital includes patient support staff who can help you and your loved ones during your visit, whether you need help finding your way to an appointment, details about supportive services we offer or contact information for specific clinical or administrative teams. A member of our team can assist you with various questions during your visit, including directions to nearby stores and restaurants, transportation options, where to go for fax, mail or shipping services and how to find the right clinical or supportive resources on-site.
City of Hope Compassion Is With You Every Step of Your Journey
You have your own patient navigator
From your first appointment to your treatment visits and recovery needs, you’ll have the support of a City of Hope patient navigator to answer your questions, obtain test results in a timely manner, help you schedule your appointments and offer guidance and practical support — becoming an invaluable resource during your cancer journey, available with just a phone call.
Your Personal Wellness Plan Begins Day One
At City of Hope, promoting optimal health begins with your first visit. We work with you to assess your health and identify potential short-term, long-term or late effects of your specific cancer treatment. After the assessment, you receive an individualized wellness plan that includes help with managing medications and side effects, as well as nutritional, physical and emotional education and support.
Introducing Cancer Fighters:
Your community of support for all stages of your journey
Another resource, created by our patients 30 years ago, is the Cancer Fighters® program. The Cancer Fighters Community offers truly amazing connections and support from wonderful people who know what you’re going through. Cancer Fighters are patients, caregivers and those on a cancer journey who have volunteered their time to offer support to fellow patients like you during their journey. Your team can connect you with a caregiver or cancer survivor who has gone through treatment at City of Hope, so you can hear his or her experience firsthand. The Cancer Fighters Community is available to you, your loved ones and caregivers to support, empower and inform you throughout your cancer care and beyond.
Learn more about becoming a patient at City of Hope
City of Hope is one of the largest and most respected cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, renowned for breakthrough innovations that have led to therapies being used around the globe.
Our team of cancer experts offers the kind of care and support that has led to higher survivor rates than the national average for many patients — care we’re making available to more people around the country.
Learn more about our cancer expertise and innovative treatmentWe strive to make becoming at patient at City of Hope as easy and stress-free as possible. Find out what your experience as a City of Hope patient will be like, step by step.
Learn more about what to expect, step by stepThe modern era of cancer treatment is constantly evolving, with new breakthroughs and discoveries changing the course of cancer care at a rapid pace. Our cancer experts treat cancer with a wide range of standard of care and innovative techniques and approaches, including sophisticated diagnostic tools, targeted radiation therapies, minimally invasive surgical techniques and treatments identified through the tools of precision medicine.
Learn more about cancer diagnostic and treatment options