Cancer Support

Lymphedema Treatment

Finishing up a successful breast cancer treatment is one of the greatest accomplishments in a survivor’s journey, but we often don’t hear about the lingering side effects that can go along with treatment. One of these side effects is a condition called lymphedema, which can happen months and even years after breast cancer treatment has ended. Lake Charles Memorial Outpatient Therapy has a lymphedema therapist to help manage the effects of lymphedema and get you back to feeling your absolute best.

While removing lymph nodes and radiation therapy are successful ways to treat breast cancer, they can damage the vessels through which lymph – the fluid that circulates throughout the body to remove wastes and toxins - moves. This can cause a backup of lymph fluid in certain areas, causing swelling– typically in the arm and hand.

While there is no cure for lymphedema once it has begun, there are ways to successfully manage it so that the swelling does not persist, the risk of infection is reduced and the discomfort and disruption to daily life does not continue.

Cancer Navigator

Patient Navigators take the cancer patient through every step of the process striving to eliminate barriers to care and individually assess each person to determine what specific help they need. The critical window of opportunity, when patient navigation is most effective, is between the point of an abnormal finding and the point through diagnosis and treatment. Timely movement of an individual across the entire healthcare continuum is promoted from prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, support and through to survivorship and, in some cases, end of life care. As a patient of Memorial’s Cancer Center, all of our navigator services are provided - free of charge - to the patient.

Camp Bluebird

A unique experience for adult cancer patients, Camp Bluebird is a 3-day, 2-night camp held every fall at the Lake Arthur Camp Retreat Center. Enjoy beautiful lake views, magnificent cypress trees and comfortable accommodations. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, campers receive support in a creative, educational atmosphere. For more information, contact Karla David at (337) 494-2121 or kdavid@lcmh.com or Ashley Rene at (337) 494-4644 or arene@lcmh.com.

Support Groups

Life, Hope, Courage Cancer Support Group

This group is open to those diagnosed, undergoing treatment or who have completed treatment. Meetings often have a speaker on topics ranging from importance of exercise, diet, emotional health as well as music therapy, and many other topics. The meetings are held once a month and more details can be found by calling Ashley Rene at (337) 494-4644.

Look Good. Feel Better.®

A free program that helps women look their best during cancer treatment. Volunteer beauty professionals can help you with skin care and makeup application; wig selection and care; scarves, turbans and hat tips; as well as general style advice! Workshops are held quarterly. For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Sisters Surviving Cancer Support Group

A breast cancer support group for African-American women, but open to any woman regardless of race. For more information, call (337) 477-4508.