Cancer Resources and Support

• Cancer Patient Help Line: Ochsner Cancer Center has a direct phone number (504-842-3910) for patients to contact the oncology team for urgent symptoms and health issues, 24 hours a day.
• Chemotherapy Education Resource
• Chemotherapy Care Companion Program: Chemotherapy Care Companion is a new program that is being offered to Ochsner’s early phase clinical trial research patients and high-risk chemotherapy patients. The program is used to monitor patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and to observe the differences in obtained baseline information prior to chemotherapy treatment to determine issues related to or exacerbated by receiving chemotherapy. Watch Our Video
• Infusion Services: Depending on a patient’s situation and the drug, he or she may get chemotherapy once a day, once a week or once a month. Chemotherapy is often given in cycles. A patient may, for example, get therapy for six weeks, and then have time to rest before the next cycle begins. Whether treatment is for cure, control or palliative care, this dedicated team will support you and your family during this difficult time.
• O Bar: The O Bar, the first retail experience of its kind, offers the latest in cutting-edge, interactive health technology to help patients seamlessly manage their health and wellness.
• Urgent Care for Our Cancer Patients
• Patient Guide to Immunotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
• Explaining Your Cancer Treatment to Children

• Support Groups and Classes: Ochsner offers a wide range of free support services for cancer patients including the following:
  • Support groups: Ochsner offers multiple free classes and support groups for patients and their families before, during and after cancer treatment.
  • Chemotherapy Class: The Ochsner Cancer Institute offers a free Chemotherapy Class for patients who will be receiving chemotherapy as part of their treatment plan. The class is available online or in person.
    • To schedule a class before your chemotherapy treatment, call 504-842-3910 and ask to speak with the oncology nurse navigator.
    • You may also watch our video to prepare for chemotherapy treatment by clicking here.
    • For more information on chemotherapy at Ochsner, click here.
  • Meditation course open to all cancer survivors
  • Nutrition classes are available for anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis to help maintain good nutrition throughout treatment.
  • Acupuncture helps reduce pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. It also helps improve post-radiation symptoms and behavioral health.
  • National resources for support groups and classes can be found at Support Groups, Cancer, Patients, Information, Resources (cancercare.org)

Healing yoga classes are offered to help relax your mind and center your thoughts, and they are open to all cancer survivors, both men and women. You can wear casual or exercise attire, and the class is free for patients. Just bring a mat, and no prior yoga experience is needed. However, it's advised to consult with your provider before participating. For upcoming events, check our online calendar.

Locations

Ochsner Fitness Center – Harahan (Zen Lab)
1200 S. Clearview Pkwy
Harahan, LA 70123
Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

• Free parking available in the main or rear parking lots.
• Please enter through the Fitness Center main entrance.
• Participants must stay for the full class period.
• Maximum 15 participants per class. All classes are first come, first serve. No pre-registration required.

The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center
Third Floor Multipurpose Room (Room 3M705)
1515 River Road
Jefferson, LA 70121
Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

• Free parking in the Cancer Center lot or Patient Parking Garage.
• Please enter through the Cancer Center main entrance on River Road.
• All participants must wear facemasks.
• Participants must stay for the full class period.
• Maximum 12 participants per class.
• Pre-registration required. Please contact Lacy Mills at 504-842-3910 for more information or to register.
• A caregiver is welcome to accompany a patient to class and participate.

We know that hospital and physician bills along with health insurance claims can be confusing. Additional information about the billing and financial services at Ochsner is provided in this section of our website to help you better understand our patient billing process and to answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive.

• Financial Resource Center
• Billing and Financial Resources
• Patient Financial Resources: Ochsner Health is committed to caring for our patients’ health and well-being, including their financial needs. We want all patients to know about the tools and resources that are available to answer questions about care costs.

• Breast Cancer Patient Guide: Developed by the team at the Tansey Breast Center, this guide helps breast cancer patients stay organized and informed about their care.
• Diarrhea and Constipation Patient Instructions: This guide for patients provides recommendations if you experience constipation or diarrhea.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Patients®
• Oncology Patient Evacuation Guide: This guide helps you organize your medical information and plan your next steps while out of town.
• Patient and Family Caregiver Guide: This guide helps patients and their family caregivers navigate through the Ochsner system and contains information on cancer services, programs and support at Ochsner.

• Nutrition and Meal Planning:
  • For Patients with Cancer and Diabetes
  • For Muscle Support for Cancer Patients
  • For Weight Gain Muscle Support for Cancer Patients

• HiFu at Ochsner for Prostate Cancer
• Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery: Whenever possible, Ochsner thoracic surgeons employ minimally invasive surgical techniques. For our patients, this translates into shorter hospital stays and a quicker recovery time.
• Radiation Oncology: Offering the most advanced radiation treatment procedures and equipment in the Gulf South, with customized treatments for each patient.
• Robotic Surgery: This cutting edge, minimally invasive treatment option is available for certain patients with prostate cancer, kidney cancer, urology conditions and gynecology conditions.
• Cancer Surgery: Ochsner offers procedures not available elsewhere in the community by a team of talented surgical oncologists who treat the whole person, not just the disease.
• Precision Medicine: Our individualized approach captures information about each patient’s health by studying their genes, environment and lifestyle.

It is never too early to think about what is most important to you should your health change. While it can be hard to think about a time when you are sick or unable to make decisions for yourself, the earlier you plan, the better chance we have of giving you the medical care that is right for you.

• Advance Care Planning

• All in Against Cancer Podcast: Join Dr. Jonathan Mizrahi as we talk to healthcare experts each episode about what you need to know should you or a loved one receive a cancer diagnosis.
• Elly App: Elly is an empathetic audio companion for patients with cancer and includes daily summaries and sessions on a variety of topics. Click here for the brochure.
• Healthy State of Mind: A video series and podcast by Ochsner Health. The mission is to educate individuals on mental health and wellness, from better sleep practices to reducing workplace toxicity by establishing boundaries and work-life balance.
• Chemotherapy Companion Care App: The program is used to monitor patients who are undergoing chemotherapy or immunotherapy and to observe vital signs during therapy to determine issues related to or exacerbated by receiving therapy.

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, there’s a lot more to consider then treating the disease. Our Oncologic Shared Services are programs and specialties within your oncology team that support you through the treatment, providing side effect relief, psychological support, nutritional guidance, and many other benefits.

We strongly encourage our patients to take advantage of any of these services that may make this journey easier. We are happy to review them with you during your consult or follow up visits. They are always available to our patients at any point during or after their treatment. To find out more information about how to customize your care team to suit your personal needs, visit Our Comprehensive Team Approach page.

• Patient's may stay at Ochsner's Brent House Hotel, a full-service hotel with guest rooms and suites adjacent to Ochsner Medical Center.
• Patients and a caregiver may also stay at the American Cancer Society’s Patrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge.

• Sexual Activity During Cancer Treatment – Women
• Sexual Activity During Cancer Treatment - Men

Oncology support groups provide a safe place for cancer patients to interact and support each other. The guidance of a support group leader helps you reap the full benefits of these meetings.

Research has shown oncology support groups and classes can help improve quality of life and survivorship in cancer patients.

No, any patient with a history of cancer, regardless of who they see for their oncologic care, can participate. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for everyone on this journey.

The chair-based yoga class is tailored to beginners. If you cannot participate in certain parts of the class, that is OK. Simply do what you can.

No, there is no need to know anything about music or be musically inclined to join this class. Our instructor is a music therapist, and her classes are designed to decrease anxiety, pain and tension while encouraging relaxation.