Cancer: Patient and Family Resources
At the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, we treat your cancer — and care for you as a whole person. We offer a range of services to make your treatment and follow-up care as comfortable and successful as possible.
OHSU services and resources
Therapies, programs and support
- Acupuncture
- Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program: We offer support and services specifically for patients diagnosed with cancer between ages 15 and 39. It’s the only program of its kind in Oregon.
- Bone marrow/stem cell transplant patients. We have resources for you.
- Cancer registries: Participate in research and learn about the latest advances.
- Education
- Support groups
- Genetic counseling
- Life after cancer: We offer a range of survivorship services to help you transition to life after cancer.
- Nutrition: Our cancer dietitians can help you prepare for surgery, manage side effects, and support you through treatment and after.
- Palliative care: Our specialists support your needs and help you manage symptoms. You do not have to be terminally ill. Anyone may benefit.
- Rehabilitation: Physical therapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists can help you reach your full potential after treatment.
- Social work: Our social workers can provide emotional support to you and your family, and help with needs such as lodging and transportation.
- Smoking and vaping: One of the best things you can do for your health is to quit smoking or vaping. We can help you.
- Women's sexual health: We offer the area's only program to support the sexual health of women affected by cancer.
Coping with side effects
- Help with chemo brain
- Help with preserving fertility
- Help with hair loss
- We have hats, wigs and headscarves. Call social worker Tina Johnson at 503-346-4279 or ask your care team.
- Help with lymphedema
- Help with other physical side effects
- Help with depression
- Help with anxiety
- Help with other social and emotional side effects
Campus services
- Concierge services: Friendly specialists can answer questions and help you find your way. The main concierge desk is in the ninth-floor lobby of OHSU Hospital. Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
- MyChart: Our secure online tool lets you manage appointments, get results, request prescription refills and communicate with your doctor.
- Patients and Visitors: Find information on billing, preparing for your visit, language services, where to eat, spiritual services and our gift shop.
- Pharmacies: We offer pharmacies on our campuses and in the community.
- Rood Family Pavilion: OHSU’s guest house offers accommodations to out-of-town patients.
- Resources for children and families at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital
Patient guides
Visiting OHSU and OHSU support services
Starting chemotherapy at OHSU
Transplant therapy, immunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy
- Introduction to Transplant Therapy | Download PDF
- When Your Stem Cells Come from a Donor | Download PDF
- About Immunotherapy | Download PDF
- Cytotoxic Chemotherapy | Download PDF
- Managing Symptoms and Side Effects After Transplants | Download PDF
- Introduction to CAR T-Cell Therapy | Download PDF
- Transplant and CAR T-Cell Therapy – Staying in the hospital | Download PDF
- Transplant and CAR T-Cell Therapy – Your care in the clinic | Download PDF
- Nutrition for Transplant and CAR T-Cell Therapy | Download PDF
Clinical trials
The Knight Cancer Institute is always researching better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. Your care team can answer questions about whether a trial is right for you.
Services in the community
Information lines
- Call 800-227-2345. American Cancer Society specialists answer questions 24/7. Learn more.
- Call 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237). Specialists at the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service will answer your cancer questions in calls, live chats or emails.
Organizations
- American Cancer Society in Oregon
- The American Cancer Society’s support page provides information on help with lodging, rides, looking good during cancer treatment, and other support services.
- CancerCare
- First Descents, adventures for young adults affected by cancer and other serious conditions
- Stupid Cancer, support for young adults with cancer
- Triage Cancer
Support for caregivers and family members
- Caregivers and Family, American Cancer Society
- Caregiving, CancerCare
- My Cancer Circle, tool for organizing help
- Support for Caregivers of Cancer Patients, National Cancer Institute
- Help for Cancer Caregivers
- National Alliance for Caregiving
- Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer, American Cancer Society
- Support for Teens When a Family Member Has Cancer, National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute booklets:
Websites with cancer information
- National Cancer Institute
- American Cancer Society
- Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CancerCare
- Triage Cancer
- Stupid Cancer, support for young adults with cancer
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
- Glossary: Definitions & Phonetic Pronunciations, American Cancer Society
Resources by topic
Insurance and finances:
- Cancer Finances, Triage Cancer
- Cancer Finances; A Toolkit for Navigating Finances After Cancer, Triage Cancer
- Health Insurance, Triage Cancer
- Financial and Co-Pay Assistance, CancerCare
- FindHelp.org, help with the cost of food, housing, health care and more
- The Samfund, financial help for young adults after cancer treatment
- Disability Insurance, Triage Cancer
- Estate Planning, Triage Cancer
Help with medication costs:
Other:
- Work & Employment, Triage Cancer
- Educational Guides & Resources, Triage Cancer
- Oregon Resources, Triage Cancer
- Free publications by topic and by diagnosis, CancerCare
For patients
Call 503-494-7999 to:
- Request an appointment
- Seek a second opinion
- Ask questions
Refer a patient
- Refer your patient to OHSU.
- Call 503-494-4567 to seek provider-to-provider advice.