Social work intervention???

I was not offered any such service.

No, we weren't offered anything like this, but thinking it might have been helpful.  Although you are in a state of information overload at the beginning!  

They just scheduled everything, and we followed like good kids!

lizdeli said:

Support

MD Anderson has a support system that offers what you described. I was told about it and recieved information about it.  But is wasn't incorporated into my treatment plan per say.  It was up to me to reach out if I wanted it.  I didn't. Not sure why now that I look back.  I think I too was in auto pilot - "let's get this done".  Looking back I would say I needed it more post treatment.  They did include a nutrionist and that was part of the treatment plan....I had to show up or she tracked me down!!

Liz

Immediately after meeting the radiation oncologist I was shuttled over to see her.  I was assigned another one and I met with her once.  We didn't click.  10 months later when I realized something more must be wrong with me since I was not recovering from the tx like otherin I sought someone else out.  I saw them up until my dx of ataxia was confirmed.  

This word processor makes things up. It's quite annoying.

All services were free ofcharges.

jcruz said:

I don't recall being offered

I don't recall being offered the help of a social worker or a nurse navigator.  They would both have been helpful but I didn't even know those people existed.  I too was basically on auto-pilot, numb and just following any direction given by the doctors.  I did have a patient education session with a nurse practioner but that was mainly about treatment, drug side effects, a shopping list of OTC meds and other helpful supplies, nutrition, etc.  I don't recall that she told me about the services of a social worker.  

I have recently learned that both a social worker and a nurse navigator work in my medical oncologist's office when I contacted my doctor needing advice on finding a therapist.  He put me in touch with the social worker and I had a good conversation with her while we went over a list of potential therapists.  The nurse navigator is for breast cancer patients but the doctor told me a few months back that he'd like to expand that service to other patients and develop more survivorship support services.  

I was automatically assigned an appointment with a social worker after my diagnosis. I was so scared, angry, resentful, etc. that I immediately cancelled. I didn't want to talk to--or especially get advice from--some optomistic stranger.

Frequently, while waiting for radiation, a cheerful woman with a fluffy dog would visit the waiting room and talk to patients. The first time she started to approach me, I gave her a look that said "I will twist that dog's head off if you come any closer." Actually, I love dogs and have one myself but was not feeling very sociable, to say the least. She avoided me after that. Personally, I can't think of anything worse than having to make small talk with a social worker, but that's just me.

Lorikat said:

My insurance company offered

My insurance company offered me a "social worker" to help plan my treatment etc.  call me not trusting, but I declined!

I sort of agree with you.  My ins. co. has nurse "case managers" who try to steer people to certain providers, etc.  To me, it's the equivalent of "phishing."  I think they look for any little thing a patient might say in order to throw up a red flag, resulting in denial of claims.  I am non-trusting of ins. co's. after working in healthcare for many years and dealing with them. 

When I had the intestinal obstruction back in late January, I first called the nurse hotline provided by my ins. co. hoping to get some feedback about what my pain could be and what I should do.  I might as well have just picked a number out of the phone book and called a perfect stranger for advice, as the nurse I spoke with was unable to tell me anything.  I presume this is all because of potential legal issues.  So my question would be, why do you even have this service if it's of no use to anyone? 

I don't trust ins. co's. any further than I can spit, which isn't far!

I am in Australia and when my partner was first diagnosed with anal cancer an appointment was immediately set up with the hospital social worker. 

This has been a brilliant help. She helped us with insurance paperwork, sorted out Sickness benefits for us. Even got me a small carers allowance, free fuel vouchers to get to and from hospital. Arranged to have $500 of our household bills

taken care of and put us in touch with other agencies who could help us financially if needed.

My partner was the sole breadwinner and this helped enormously with the stress we were feeling as he has not been able to work due to severe reaction to radiation.

eihtak said:

jubileee....

That is great and exactly the kind of help many would appreciate. It sounds like some others were also offered such a service. How nice to have someone to help relieve some stress at that time. I hope that this type of service is made known to others who may be interested and not just assumed that every patient will have the energy or "know how" to seek it on their own. 

I hope your partner is recovering, unfortunately radiation problems seem to continue for some time after treatment is done.

I agreed to have a "case manager" and found this "free service" of Blue Cross to be totally useless. I actually thought it was going to be helpful, but found when I got my first phone call and actually asked for some assistance, such as what would be a good hospital to go to for a second opinion, the response was "you should get a recommendation from your Chemotherapist."  Duh. Then I would receive an occasional phone call to ask me how I was doing, and also got a couple of really dumb letters with great suggestions like "talk to your Doctor, make sure you get enough rest, make sure you get enough nutrition, make sure you maintain your hygiene."  Duh.  And they sent me a packet one time where it seemed they were just trying to collect additional information from me; I suspect as does Martha that there was another agenda going on with this "service".  And social workers - don't trust them any further than I can throw them. Sorry for my negative attitude. Just based on my life experiences....