Coletta Cancer Patient & Family Resources

Discovering that you or a loved one has cancer can be overwhelming with emotional and physical stress, leaving you feeling lost and unsure. Our support services team is here to support cancer patients and their families every step of the way. This service, available at no cost to cancer patients, provides personalized support.

Oklahoma City Cancer Resources 

The cancer team at Mercy in Oklahoma City combines specialists who treat specific cancers and a variety of experts who address your needs during treatment and beyond. This team meets regularly to discuss your care in detail and design your personalized cancer treatment plan. The Resource Center at Coletta Cancer Center provides a wealth of information to help patients and their families learn about cancer as well as Mercy's resources for fighting the disease. These resources include the following.

Our nurse navigators are trained oncology nurse specialists and are dedicated members of your care team. They facilitate personalized, patient-centered care, connecting and advocating for each patient from the time of diagnosis to survivorship. The nurse navigator is there to coordinate any pre-consultation testing needed to help get patients from diagnosis to treatment as quickly as possible. Each nurse navigator serves as a resource and information specialist. After assessing patients' individual needs, they will provide:

  • Connections with social workers, dietitians, chaplains, tobacco cessation navigators and financial counselor/benefits
  • Recommendations for Mercy services
  • Access to local community resources
  • Customized resource information
  • Cancer educational materials
  • Coordinate pre-consultation testing, appointments, and treatments
     

To learn more about the nurse navigator program or if you have questions please call our Cancer Resource Center at 405-752-3388.

Nutritional services, led by our oncology outpatient dietitians, can help guide patients and families through the eating challenges that can be associated with cancer treatments. Individual counseling and group classes are available, including Wellness Wednesdays. A newly designed demonstration kitchen where classes take place to teach patients about healthy eating before, during, and after cancer treatments.


Before and after treatment, patients may have different nutrition concerns to address, such as weight loss or gain. A clinical registered and licensed dietitian is available to help address these concerns. Dietitian services are free of charge at any point for all Coletta Cancer Center patients.


Mercy’s oncology dietitians can provide: 
 

  • Therapeutic diet when on cancer treatments
  • Healthy eating education for those interested in tweaking diet before, during or after treatment
  • Therapeutic diet education for cancer patients with diabetes decreased kidney function and swallowing difficulty
  • Diet education for cancers and related diets, such as a low-fiber diet
  • Information about any nutrition concerns you may have before, during and after treatment
  • Referral to outpatient diabetes education program for specialized care
  • Dietary guidance on the management of treatment-related side effects
  • Weight loss education for those looking to lose weight going forward after treatment


To learn more about the dietician services or if you have questions please call our Cancer Resource Center at 405-752-3388.

When a person is diagnosed with cancer there is so much emphasis on the person’s physical well-being: treatments, side effects, doctor’s visits, tests. But we know there are other parts of life affected by cancer: self-image, work, family, friendships, and your approach to living. Oncology social workers understand these complex issues raised by cancer. Our Oncology Social Workers are available to help face-to-face, or on the telephone, free of charge.


Mercy’s oncology social workers help patients, families and caregivers deal with the experience of facing cancer. They are educated and skilled to assist with the psychological, social, emotional and spiritual issues that people face with a cancer diagnosis. Social workers are there to help patients with practical needs – such as finding resources within the facility and the community, as well as with such complex needs such as adjusting to an illness, dealing with transitions and decision-making, navigating cultural issues, and communicating with family members, friends, and health care providers. Our social workers meet with patients and family members individually and/or as a family, and work as part of the oncology care team.


To learn more about the social worker services or if you have questions please call our Cancer Resource Center at 405-752-3388.

Genetic testing services, led by our genetic counselors, to assess risk for breast cancer.

Our center provides interdisciplinary tumor boards, where a medical team that includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists discuss patient cases together in a holistic way.


Meet Our Nurse Navigators

The Coletta Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary, comprehensive & coordinated approach to cancer provides patients with peace of mind. The Coletta Cancer Resource Center is here to assist you through the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges of fighting cancer.