Care Plans for Cancer Survivors

Our goal is to help cancer survivors resume life as quickly and fully as possible. We will work closely with you to understand your treatment history and any current or future long-term side effects resulting from cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. From there, we develop a comprehensive survivorship care plan to help you reclaim your quality of life.

Survivorship Care Plans

If you are a cancer survivor, a survivorship care plan is one of the most important aids to have in your toolbox. Survivorship care plans are written summaries of cancer treatment and serve to monitor and maintain your health. To obtain your personalized survivorship care plan, simply ask your oncologist, nurse navigator or primary care provider.

Survivorship Clinics

General Cancer Survivorship Clinic

LIFE Clinic for Cancer Survivors

Our LIFE Clinic helps cancer survivors deal with the long-term health consequences of radiation, surgery and chemotherapy treatment. We welcome all cancer survivors from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or any cancer treatment facility throughout Southern California and beyond.

Survivors may be seen in the LIFE Clinic any time following completion of cancer treatment. Survivors still receiving limited hormonal or targeted anti-cancer therapy after conventional cancer treatments may also be seen in the LIFE Clinic.

When you schedule a visit at the LIFE Clinic, your in-person or telehealth appointment will include an examination and detailed discussion about any cancer treatment side effects you may currently be experiencing. We will also help you understand how your cancer treatments may affect your future health. Our team will provide recommendations for improving your health and quality of life. All the information you receive will be summarized in your personalized survivorship care plan, which will also be shared with your cancer treatment team and primary care provider.

Our LIFE Clinic experts collaborate closely with your cancer care team, oncologist and primary care provider to understand all aspects of your treatment plan and health history. The LIFE Clinic gives you access to a world-renowned team of cancer specialists and cutting-edge research and treatment breakthroughs.

To visit our LIFE Clinic, call (323) 865-3300.

For questions, email life@med.usc.edu.

Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic

Eileen McGeever Breast Cancer Survivorship Program

We understand that life after breast cancer is a unique journey. If you have completed chemotherapy, radiation and/or breast surgery, you may be eligible to take part in our Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic. Our specialists provide comprehensive care and support for breast cancer survivors as they navigate the path to reclaiming their lives. Our compassionate team of healthcare professionals empowers you with tools you need to thrive physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and financially.

Our services include:

• Personalized survivorship care: A written plan tailored to meet your unique individual needs, addressing physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and financial well-being.
• Wellness program: From nutritional counseling to stress management, our holistic approach ensures a well-rounded recovery, focusing on mind, body and spirit.
• Physical rehabilitation: Specialized programs designed to restore strength, flexibility and overall physical well-being, including lymphedema therapy services.
• Multidisciplinary team approach: A collaborative team of healthcare professionals including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, oncologic surgeons, social workers, plastic surgeons, psychologists, nutritionists and rehabilitation experts, working together to provide the most comprehensive and coordinated care possible.

Contact information:

Ronald Stein, MSN, NP-C

Oncology nurse practitioner

(323) 865-0820

Christine Wang, RN, BSN

Oncology nurse navigator

(323) 276-3777

Educational Programs

Our educational programs are designed to empower you and provide fundamental knowledge on how to deal with many short-term and long-term side effects of cancer treatment, such as:

• Anxiety
• Bone problems
• Cancer-related fatigue
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression
• Heart problems
• Lung problems
• Lymphedema
• Neuropathy
• Nutritional deficits
• Impaired physical functioning
• Sexual health
• Weight changes

We offer education on a wide range of topics that impact life after finishing cancer treatment, including going back to work and managing health insurance.

Patient Resources

The Cancer Survivorship Program helps you access a network of resources designed to provide support throughout survivorship.

Physical Therapy

Our physical therapists use physical activity to help cancer survivors manage the side effects of cancer treatment and related problems. Research has shown that physical therapy can help reduce or improve the physical consequences of cancer and its treatment, including before and after cancer surgery.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy practitioners can help maximize patients’ function and participation in activities of daily living, both physically and psychologically, regardless of a cancer survivor’s stage of recovery. Occupational therapy practitioners help cancer survivorship patients address common side effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment, including cancer-related fatigue, cancer treatment–related cognitive impairment, cancer-related pain, cancer-related peripheral neuropathy, weakness and debilitation, fall prevention, return-to-work needs, psychosocial concerns and lymphedema.

The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at USC

The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at USC (AYA@USC) is a collaboration between the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles General Medical Center. Our mission is to improve health outcomes and quality of life of adolescents and young adults with cancer through supportive care and research, ensuring that young people with cancer do not feel helpless or isolated.

Genetic Counseling and Testing

Approximately 5%-10% of cancers are caused by inherited susceptibility genes. Specialists work together to examine your personal and family history and check for features of hereditary syndromes. Our services include genetic testing, screening, prevention and treatment. Whether you’re looking for individual genetic testing or you also need care for your extended family, we will be by your side for all your cancer prevention, detection and treatment needs.

Nutrition Counseling

At USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, registered dietitians help patients manage their nutrition needs during all phases of cancer treatment and survivorship. Registered dietitians support cancer survivorship through nutrition interventions that help manage the side effects of cancer treatment, promote well-being and quality of life and reduce cancer risk. Your registered dietitian will work closely with you to provide personalized recommendations and interventions using current, evidenced-based practice guidelines.

Fertility

We provide cancer survivors resources for fertility assistance. We connect our patients with reproductive endocrinologists and other specialists in family planning.

 USC Institute for Arts in Medicine (I_AM)

Art can be an important part of the recovery and healing process. Keck Medicine of USC’s Institute for Arts in Medicine (I_AM) provides an array of creative services to patients, including poetry, music and a walk-in art studio at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. We even offer virtual reality (VR) experiences designed to lift spirits. We support patients through the arts, even in the face of overshadowing diagnoses.