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Hi everyone, I’m Dr. Victoria Mercer. I’m one of two licensed clinical psychologists providing psychological support services at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Cancer Center here at Tahoe Forest.
We provide a whole bunch of different comprehensive support services for anybody diagnosed with cancer, or their loved ones or caregivers who are impacted by the cancer experience. So coming to see us looks very different for everybody, depending on what they need. We really try to create individual support services to help people navigate the entirety of the cancer, and that’s very individual. No person going through cancer experiences exactly the same things.
So somebody comes in who is getting newly established for care will be introduced by staff to the support services that myself and my colleague provide, and that includes a lot of different things. It can be individual therapy if that’s what interests them. And then it can be services for family or couples, as well as a variety of different group services. And so at multiple points during treatment, staff will be on the lookout for anybody who they think would benefit from care and help them get connected with us at any point along the way, as well. People who know that they’re interested in support services can always just pick up the phone and call us, or let any staff member know that they’d like to be introduced to us or the variety of services that we can provide.
In terms of what therapy looks like, if it’s individual therapy that interests you, we sometimes meet with people during their infusions or after their radiation care, whatever works best for them. Group therapy is also offered right on site. At any given time, we’re offering group therapy for prostate cancer patients, people with breast cancer, caregiver support group. Sometimes it’s very clearly an emotional or psychological issue that they’re looking for support around. And early on with that initial diagnosis, people feel very overwhelmed. They’re very afraid. They’re very worried about what that care is going to look like and how it’s going to impact them and their loved ones. But the fact is, cancer doesn’t discriminate, and it doesn’t pick a time for people to be going through treatment.
There’s a lot of different ways that we support patients going through cancer, in addition to therapy. So part of the psychosocial support services includes therapeutic services, including massage, acupuncture, Pilates, yoga, exercise for energy. So movement is one of the things that we know really helps with fatigue. Acupuncture can help with common side effects from treatment, including neuropathy, and massage can help with lymphatic drainage and whatnot.
When the Gene Upshaw Cancer Center was formed in the first place, it was very important to those who created the foundation of that center that all of the psychological support services and the support services be free of charge. We wanted to be able to make them accessible, and we didn’t want anything to preclude somebody’s ability to participate and receive the benefits of that care. And what’s really amazing and notable for that cancer center is that’s still true. So when somebody needs to or wants to engage in the support services, we do not bill insurance, and that allows us to provide that care for everyone, independent of insurance or financial need.
So I’m really proud of the cancer center’s effort and commitment to reducing any barriers to care that may exist, and allow those services to be widespread and accessed by every patient that needs or wants them. We’re here to support you, and we look forward to connecting.
