Supporting cancer survivorship at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

Recovery from cancer continues long after treatments end.

That’s why the Tate Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) provides supportive, post-cancer services through its Survivorship Program.

The program includes a team of clinical providers, an oncology social worker, a registered dietitian and rehabilitation therapists. It focuses on education, symptom management and health promotion and connects participants to valuable recovery resources.

“When patients receive cancer therapy, whether it’s chemotherapy, radiation or surgery, they have a lot of support from their care teams,” said Harvinder Singh, MD, medical director, oncology and hematology at UM BWMC and coordinator of the Survivorship Program. “When therapy is done, patients typically don’t see their doctors again until their follow-up appointments. There is more to cancer recovery than follow-up appointments. By tending to survivors’ needs, we help them achieve optimal physical and psychological health after treatment.”

Each patient who completes treatment at the Tate Cancer Center has access to supportive care services which include social and emotional support, access to a monthly support group, rehabilitation services, educational seminars and preventive cancer screenings. In addition, the program celebrates its survivors at an annual event in June.

“Patients often have multiple unmet physical, social and psychological issues after they finish their cancer therapy,” said Dr. Singh. “We are here to ensure they are supported and that all their recovery needs are met.”

For more information about the survivorship program and its services, or to make an appointment at the Tate Cancer Center, please call 410-553-8179.