For example, by assessing such issues as whether the patient is in a healthy or troubled marriage, and if older children within the family are psychologically equipped to provide support, the social worker can determine if there is, reliable support for the patient within the family unit. This is usually an issue once treatment is completed. In addition, the problems of a gynecological diagnosis for a postmenopausal woman are very different from the problems of a woman of child-bearing age. Social workers also help patients and families find the resources they need to understand their illnesses and discuss their diagnosis and treatment options with their doctors. The social worker's goal is to help patients acquire information that is important to making informed treatment choices and to maintaining their hope for a positive outcome.
Social workers move in and out of patients' lives depending on their medical and psychosocial needs.
The department is looking forward to developing its own web site, organized by topic and life style. For example, one section of the site may be designed specifically for young people with children. Another section may be designed for the elderly, another for gay and lesbian patients and so on. When I first began my career as an oncology social worker, all anyone talked about was death and dying. Counselors were actually referred to as death counselors.