Child Life services are available to cancer patients who have a child under the age of 18. A Child Life specialist is clinically trained to support children and teens experiencing the stress and uncertainty of their loved one’s diagnosis through developmentally appropriate illness education, therapeutic interventions and coping skills development.

Additionally, our Child Life specialist can help you navigate tough conversations with your child, including how to tell them you have cancer and how to support them if a diagnosis is terminal. Connections to community resources and financial support is also available.

Our mental health specialists deliver effective, compassionate care to people in need of counseling. We help children, teens, adults and families discover well-being and enjoy an improved quality of life.

UVM Cancer Center partners with the American Cancer Society to offer free accommodations for patients and their families who are coming to us for treatment. Hope Lodge is for patients age 18+ and families who live more than 40 miles outside of the Burlington area. Located next door to University of Vermont Medical Center, this home-away-from-home provides a supportive, healing environment. You’ll find amenities such as private guest rooms and bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and free laundry facilities.

For pediatric patients and their families, the Ronald McDonald House in downtown Burlington, VT provides a comfortable place to stay with home-cooked meals every evening. 

Health coaches work with adult patients to identify health goals and create a plan for adopting healthy habits. We connect patients with trusted resources, educate and empower individuals to make behavior change, and serve as accountability partners. Health coaching is rooted in a holistic approach to health.

Integrative therapies like yoga, acupuncture and massage may be available to pediatric and adult patients to give you additional options for relief from lingering symptoms and side effects. Some of these therapies may be offered through the Osher Center for Integrative Health.

The Comprehensive Pain Program is based on an integrative medicine model that combines a variety of therapies in group and individual settings. Experts in specialized treatments come together to help you optimize your health and function. We care for people who have had chronic pain for three or more months. Many of our patients have conditions affecting the bones, joints and muscles, including pain from chemotherapy.

Some cancers can make eating difficult. Others affect your appetite or ability to digest food. Our registered dietitians help you navigate nutrition challenges. We provide personalized recommendations to help you get the nutrients your body needs to support healing.

Culinary Medicine is a helpful resource for our patients seeking nutrition guidance, healthy recipes, educational workshops, videos and more.

Palliative care relieves symptoms of cancer or cancer treatment for anyone with a cancer diagnosis. Our adult palliative care specialists and Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) design treatments that align with your care preferences, values and treatment goals. They also help you get relief from lingering discomfort with pain management services.

When therapies are no longer curative, we coordinate hospice (end of life) care that prioritizes comfort and quality of life.

Social workers specialized in meeting the unique needs of our cancer patients are available to help at any time. Whether you have concerns about daily life or need emotional support, we provide guidance throughout your cancer care journey. We also help solve practical challenges, like finding local, low-cost lodging for people coming to us from far away.

Support groups help our adult cancer patients, survivors and caregivers learn more about cancer topics and connect with other patients to share successes, challenges and helpful tips. 

Discover support groups

Steps to Wellness is a medically-informed-rehabilitation and group-exercise program that serves the unique needs of patients with cancer. This strength and endurance training program is available at no cost.

Cancer and treatment can impact your ability to go about your daily life. Cancer rehabilitation includes specialized therapies that help you remain as independent as possible, both during and after treatment. You receive services from highly skilled professionals in areas such as:

• Physical therapy: Involves exercises to stretch or strengthen muscles that enable you to perform basic tasks. Therapists can help you feel steadier on your feet or prevent muscle tightening that can affect your range of motion.
• Occupational therapy: Includes techniques for completing daily activities so you can maintain as much independence as possible. This may involve special devices to help you put shoes on, feed yourself or get out of bed.
• Speech and swallow therapy: For people with cancers affecting the mouth, neck and esophagus. We help you improve your ability to communicate and swallow safely.

Lymphedema is a buildup of fluid in arms or legs that can occur when cancer treatment disturbs lymph vessels. This condition may cause swelling and discomfort that can be difficult to treat. Our team includes physical therapists with special training in lymphedema therapy who can help you get relief.