Medical oncologist Matthew Matasar leads a clinic specially designed to help lymphoma survivors address any long-term health conditions that might arise.
At Memorial Sloan Kettering, we know that a diagnosis of cancer affects you and your loved ones in many different ways. We’re committed to supporting you and maintaining your well-being in every way we can — physically, emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise — for as long as you need us.
Our doctors work closely with a team of specialists who address various needs that may arise during diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship of a patient with lymphoma.
Survivorship
Thanks to major advances in the understanding and treatment of lymphoma, more people than ever are enjoying productive lives for years, sometimes decades, after being declared free of the disease. But even with improvements in delivering treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, lymphoma patients may be at higher risk for heart disease, skin cancer, lung conditions, and other complications.
Lymphoma Survivorship Clinic
Recognizing that some lymphoma patients develop long-term health conditions, MSK established a program to quickly identify and address these issues. Our Lymphoma Survivorship Clinic welcomes MSK survivors of all ages, as well as people initially treated for the disease at other institutions. Housed within the Lymphoma Service at MSK’s 64th Street Outpatient Center, the clinic focuses solely on survivors of lymphoma, as soon as three years after you end treatment.
Depending on the types of treatment you received and your general health when you were diagnosed with lymphoma, we monitor for:
- heart disease
- the development of second cancers, such as leukemia or breast, lung, or skin cancer
- thinking and memory problems (commonly known as “chemobrain”)
- lung health
- bone health
- stroke
- problems with teeth and gums
- reduced thyroid function
- dry eyes, cataracts, and other eye issues
- emotional and psychological health
These experts are at the top of their field in survivorship issues, such as heart, lung, and reproductive health. The clinic is also able to offer access to clinical trials and other research that can help people facing the late effects of lymphoma treatment.
Other Survivorship Resources
Learn About MSK's Adult Survivorship Program
We’ve built a program designed for cancer survivors and their families. Our Adult Survivorship Program has many services for you and your loved ones, including support groups, follow-up programs, educational resources, and more.
Plus, our Resources for Life After Cancer Program offers individual and family counseling, lectures and support groups, and practical guidance on employment and insurance issues, among other services. Visit the Adult Survivorship Program to learn more.
Rehabilitation and Exercise
Cancer treatment can sap your strength, flexibility, mobility, and endurance. Our rehabilitation specialists can teach you therapeutic exercises and training programs that can help you heal. Our state-of-the-art facilities are specially tailored to the needs of people who’ve undergone treatment for cancer.
Supportive Care and Pain Management
At Memorial Sloan Kettering, we focus on all aspects of comprehensive cancer care, not just treating the disease. Our specialists in supportive care can help you cope with the side effects of therapy. These include pain, nausea, and fatigue. We can also help with the emotional and spiritual needs that often come up during and after cancer treatment.
Learn more about how our Supportive Care Service can help you throughout the cancer experience.
If you are in pain during your treatments or even after they’re over, we have pain specialists who can help. We will build a plan that makes sense for you and your needs. Our experts can work with your doctor and pharmacists to give you solutions for both acute physical pain, which comes on suddenly, as well as chronic pain, which can linger. Our goal is to keep you as comfortable as possible.
Counseling and Support
Sometimes, you and your loved ones just need someone to talk to, someone who’s trained to help you make sense of your experience before, during, and after treatment for cancer.
Our Counseling Center offers both individual and group counseling sessions to help you and your family cope with your disease. These sessions can be a healthy, productive way to work through the stress and anxiety that are sometimes a part of treatment and recovery.
Learn more about how we can support your emotional well-being.
Integrative Medicine
Medical treatments — things like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery — are often the best way to treat your cancer. Their whole purpose is to get you healthy again. But at MSK, we know that complementary services can also help soothe and heal not only your body but also your mind and spirit.
Our Integrative Medicine Service can be a valuable part of your formal treatment plan. Programs we offer include massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, visualization, music therapy, and nutritional counseling. Formal classes include yoga, tai chi, and chair aerobics.
Learn more about the variety of complementary services we offer.
Older Patients
Cancer and its treatment are a challenge for anyone, regardless of age. But if you’re over 65, you may face unique issues that only affect people in your age group. We’re committed to providing cancer patients of all ages with the treatment, facilities, and support they need.
Your treatment team will include healthcare professionals who have the specialized training and experience to effectively treat older patients. Every aspect of your care — diagnosis, treatment, recovery, support — will be tailored to meet your particular needs.
Nutrition
Many people with cancer have questions about diet and nutrition. Our food and nutrition team is trained in helping you understand and cope with a variety of conditions relating to cancer treatment.
Our expert dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy that can help you manage digestion problems, changes in taste, your weight, and other issues. They’ll work closely with your treatment team to customize a dietary plan that fits your own specific needs.
Learn more about our nutrition services for patients and survivors.
Fertility
Fertility is an important and very personal concern for many of our patients. Our experts can help explain how different treatment options can affect the ability to have and bear children. We also go over the many choices we can offer — both before treatment and during it — to give you the best chance of preserving your fertility.
Tobacco Treatment
Beyond the many other health issues it causes, smoking is a serious risk factor for many types of cancer. It can also make cancer treatments less effective. If you smoke, we want to help you stop — now — to reduce your risk of developing a second cancer or impairing your treatment.
The Tobacco Treatment Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering is ready to help if you’re ready to quit. Giving up tobacco is hard. And quitting while in treatment presents a unique challenge. But it’s a challenge you can overcome, and we can help you do it. We’ll also help family members who want to quit with you.
Learn more about how we can help you quit using tobacco, for good.
