Cancer patients face many decisions after the initial diagnosis is made. Fear, anxiety and confusion are natural reactions if you or someone in your family is diagnosed with cancer. Knowing what to expect, both physically and emotionally, during the course of treatment supports both the cancer patient and their caregivers during a difficult time. 

You now have a valuable resource - the Matria Healthcare Oncology Program . This voluntary program is available to you and your family - with your consent and cooperation -  at no out-of-pocket expense to you. All information you share is completely confidential.

While you are in treatment, Matria will provide you with additional support and assistance that can help you:

• understand information about your disease and treatments;
• understand possible side-effects of your treatment;
• prepare for visits to the doctor and assist in your understanding of the information you receive from the doctor;
• access the support services you may need;
• understand and better use your health care benefits.

The Support You Need, Twenty-four Hours a Day 

Maybe you're experiencing pain or nausea. Or maybe you'd like some support to help you deal with hair loss or other side-effects from chemotherapy so you can try to lead as normal a life as possible during your cancer treatment. Perhaps you are confused by the treatment your physician recommends and how it will be covered by your benefits. Maybe you're having difficulty finding foods you can eat and in maintaining your weight or you're having difficulty filling your prescriptions in a convenient manner. Maybe you think you might be much more comfortable receiving services in your own home or perhaps you have a family member who would appreciate having someone to talk with.

Support for these and other issues is just a phone call away. Matria's Care Managers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Helping You Navigate Online Information - www.cancerpage.com

The Internet can be a valuable resource for those with the time and patience to wade through all the junk. Health information on the Internet is a top destination for many web surfers. Yet, finding medically sound information can be a frustrating endeavor even when you know exactly what you are looking for.  For instance, putting the term "chemotherapy" into an Internet search engine can return more than 700,000 sites. If you even had time to look at all those sites, how do you judge the validity of the information they provide? Some sites promoting particular products or untested treatments may disguise their true agenda - to sell you their products - by offering what appears to be unbiased medical information. 

Matria offers its Internet connected patients and their loved ones a a good starting point for the newly diagnosed. www.cancerpage.com offers easy to understand yet medically sound information about cancer, treatment options, managing side-effects, news on the latest developments in cancer treatment research, and a web resources page of websites vetted by our editors to help you find all the information you want. The cancerpage Marketplace lists books that our editors and care managers believe may be of help to you and your family at this time of need.  Regularly scheduled support group chats give you an opportunity to talk online with other patients and survivors. 

How Do I Contact The Cancer Care Management Program?

As soon as you are diagnosed with cancer, you may contact the program toll free. When you call, you'll be assigned to a Matria Care Manager, a licensed registered nurse who is familiar with your insurance benefits and specializes in caring for cancer patients.

What If I Don't Think I Need Services At This Time?

Even if you don't feel you need additional support at the time we first contact you, you can change your mind at any time and still participate in the program. If you don't anticipate needing to call our Care Managers, you can still participate in the program and your Care Manager can call from time to time to see how you are feeling and can offer assistance in the event circumstances change.