Cancer Care Cancer Support & Resources

Cancer Support & Resources

Some degree of depression, anxiety or fear is normal when patients and families are coping with cancer. These feelings range in intensity from person to person and from one day to the next. You may find that counseling helps ease these feelings. An oncology social worker, support groups and spiritual support are available to help patients and families manage their distress. Monument Health Cancer Care Institute has a variety of other resources available to patients, their families and the community.

Available Resources

Our Patient Support Team is here to provide emotional support for you and your family. We work with your cancer providers to make sure you are as comfortable as possible at any stage of your cancer diagnosis by providing pain and symptom management services. We can also help you work through everyday stressors and burdens so you can focus on what is truly important to you.

We have a number of support groups and educational classes available for patients and family members. For more information, call (605) 755-2300.

Coping with Cancer Support Group

The Coping with Cancer Support Group is a chance for cancer patients and those affected by cancer to talk with others who have had similar experiences. It’s meant to be a supportive and confidential environment for people to talk about their experiences and bounce ideas off one another. This support group is facilitated by one of the Patient Support Team social workers or a nurse practitioner.

Coping Skills

This class will introduce a variety of coping skills such as deep breathing and distraction techniques that will assist in managing anxiety due to a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment or everyday stressors.

Fighting Fatigue

A major symptom of cancer and cancer treatment is fatigue. This class will go over techniques that can help lessen fatigue and gain/conserve energy. You will learn tactics to get better sleep, practical ways to schedule activities and other methods for fighting fatigue.

Children and Cancer: Navigating the Conversation

Explaining cancer to children can be one of the most difficult issues that arise during your cancer journey. If you or loved one are struggling to talk about cancer with children, please join Cancer Care Institute social workers for an educational class on talking to children about cancer. Social workers will discuss tips and ideas on how to help navigate this discussion for children of all ages.

Guided Imagery

Guided Imagery is the practice of using your imagination to focus on the positive and to relax your mind and body. Guided Imagery can come in many forms, such as someone reading a script, listening to a CD or watching a YouTube video. It can also include things such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.

Comprehensive rehabilitation services are available by referral to help cancer patients obtain the best quality of life possible. Certified Cancer Rehabilitation specialists work together with your physician to assess and manage specific physical symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment.

These services include:

  • Therapy ServicesMonument Health Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital is proud to offer comprehensive rehabilitation for those recently diagnosed, going through treatment, or survivors of cancer.

    Our cancer rehabilitation team is made up of physical and occupational therapists who are trained to address musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and functional problems that may arise. The most common physical symptoms associated with cancer treatment are fatigue, stiffness, weakness and pain. All of these issues can be lessened, resolved, or prevented with rehabilitation. During your evaluation, the therapist will assess your pain, fatigue, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, lymphatic and functional impairments. You and your therapist will design a treatment plan specific to you to address current impairments and those likely to develop as a result of cancer treatment. Treatment programs can include upper and lower extremity and core strengthening, prescriptive aerobic exercise, extensive long term stretching, manual fibrosis therapy, lymphedema risk reduction, self-care and comprehensive home exercise program.

    Benefits of cancer therapy rehabilitation include decreased pain, decreased fatigue, improved strength and mobility, improved cardiovascular function, reduced soft tissue restrictions, improved balance and decreased fall risk, and reduced risk of lymphedema.

  • Home+ Home Health promotes healing in the comfort of the patient’s home while providing a comprehensive range of high-quality services and professional care.
  • Pain Management
  • Lymphedema Clinic
  • Massage Therapy
  • Nutrition Services

Salon Services coming soon!

Right now, the Cancer Care Institute is seeking licensed professionals to partner with to provide these special salon services through a license agreement.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

  • Wig and scarf fitting
  • Haircuts
  • Head shaving
  • Shampoo, cut and style (human hair and wigs)
  • Blowout services
  • Beard trim and shave
  • Waxing
  • Microblading

For more information contact:
Kristi Gylten, Director, Cancer Care Institute
353 Fairmont Blvd., Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone: 605-755-2314
Email: kgylten@monument.health

Social Workers

Contact Us

Cancer Care Social Workers
605-755-2365

Monument Health Cancer Care Institute 353 Fairmont Boulevard, Rapid City, SD 57701 605.755.2300 Location Details

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