As a breast cancer patient, you most likely feel overwhelmed. Cleveland Clinic's breast cancer specialists want to help you manage your disease, from beginning to end. In addition to offering cutting-edge diagnostic techniques and breast cancer treatment methods, our breast cancer specialists also offer an array of resources that can help patients cope with the demands of breast cancer. Patients are encouraged to take advantage of these resources to ease the burden of managing breast cancer and breast cancer treatment.
Psychosocial Services for Women with Breast Cancer
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be devastating. Times of particular challenge include when you are first diagnosed, when you have finished your breast cancer treatment or if you experience a recurrence of your cancer. It is normal to feel shock, anxiety, or sadness in reaction to breast cancer. Even if you have a supportive network of family and friends, you may need a place to discuss your feelings. Counseling can be especially helpful when breast cancer disrupts your relationships, sex life or plans for childbearing. It can be comforting to hear another woman’s story, and feel less alone. If you experience depression or anxiety, you may improve more rapidly with the help of brief counseling or medication.
Breast Cancer Support Group
Rene Barrat Gordon, M.S.S.A
216.444.2260
Ongoing monthly drop-in group to provide mutual support for breast cancer survivors. This group does not include family members. There is no charge.
Place: Cancer Center
Room: T1-20 (1st floor T area)
Day and Time: third Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Social Work Counseling
Angela Hinton-Clay, LISW
Breast Center
216.444.6552
Rene Barrat-Gordon, M.S.S.A.
Cancer Center
216.444.2260
Nancy Fenner, M.S.S.A.
Radiation Oncology
216.444.6888
This is individualized counseling to help with the day to day problems encountered during treatment. There is no charge, but an appointment is necessary.
Psychotherapy providing a more intensive treatment for emotional reactions to breast cancer is also available. A woman may benefit from several sessions of counseling if she feels overwhelmed, if the diagnosis brings up issues from her past, or if it causes conflict in couple or family relationships. There is a charge for this service, but many insurance companies cover at least a portion of the cost.
Other Resources
Referrals to the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology are available to evaluate and treat depression, strong anxiety or other emotional problems that may require medication or intensive psychiatric treatment. Please discuss this with your medical team or call 216.444.5812.
For women who have a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, and are concerned about genetic risk factors, information and counseling are available through our Risk Assessment Program at 216.444.5686.
Ask your social worker about other local support services. Frequently requested numbers include:
Reach to Recovery
(American Cancer Society, Cuyahoga County)
216.241.1177
The Gathering Place, Seeds of Support Group
(Cleveland Clinic)
216.444.9825
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice or as a replacement for a consultation with a Cleveland breast cancer specialist. It has not been designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient.
