Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion has a dedicated program, survivorship classes, fitness groups and more for our cancer survivors

Your cancer treatment is complete. You’ve rung the bell. But then, the questions start: What do I do now? Can I get back to the person I was before treatment?

Survivorship refers to the phase of care that begins after your active cancer treatment is complete.

“I think a lot of cancer survivors feel lost after treatment,” says Jaina Gandhi, physician’s assistant at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. “There’s relief but also a question of what comes next once appointments become less frequent and patients are left to navigate life on their own again.”

That’s why at the LCRP, we support cancer survivorship in many ways that go beyond just having the latest technology and treatments. We also help survivors with the physical, emotional, social and financial aspects of going through a cancer diagnosis.

One such way we do that is through our dedicated survivorship program, which Gandhi leads. She meets with patients to provide them with comprehensive support and a personalized care plan for their goals now that their cancer treatment is complete.

During your meeting, you can expect:

• A review of your cancer diagnosis and treatment history.
• A complete physical exam and medical history assessment.
• Discussion of any physical or emotional side affects you may be experiencing.
• Education on healthy lifestyle choices, including nutrition, exercise and weight management.
• Information about available support services, such as counseling, support groups and resources for coping with the challenges of survivorship.
• Development of a personalized Survivorship Care Plan, which includes a summary of your treatment, recommendations for follow-up care and tips for optimizing your health.

“We look at the acute affects someone may experience after treatment, such as lingering pain, neuropathy, weight control, health optimization – trying to get them as close to their baseline as we can or help them define and cope with what may be their new normal,” Gandhi says. “Our team is dedicated to helping patients thrive after cancer.”

Patients do need a referral to be seen in our survivorship clinic.

Support groups and fitness classes

The Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion also offers support groups and fitness classes for patients and survivors. Our general, online support group returns in Savannah later this spring, with plans in motion to start a support group in Bluffton.

The gynecologic cancer support group meets the fourth Monday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room at the LCRP. Another cancer-specific support group held at the LCRP is the Prostate Cancer Support group, which meets the second Wednesday of every other month also in the LCRP conference room.

We currently have two ongoing fitness classes – Qigong gentle fitness and chair yoga for cancer survivors. You can see all the dates and sign up for our upcoming classes on our website.