The social work programs are an essential feature to care for our cancer patients. Social services include psychological assessment and treatment of patients who may have emotional, social or economic issues related to cancer. Social workers can also help patients and family members access community services, such as home health care, nursing homes and counseling. Cancer Family Care and St. Luke partner to provide onsite counseling in the Breast Center.

When you are in need of medical care, you may also need to purchase items to help you deal with changes your body might be going through. These could include medical supplies, such as walkers, breast pumps or nebulizers; or accessories like wigs, prostheses or compression stockings.

To help care for your physical, mental and emotional health, The St. Luke Hospitals social work department can help put you in touch with resources that provide these services for you and your loved ones. Some of these companies can even deliver the items you need to your hospital room or home. For more information, please contact the social work department at:

St. Luke East 859-572-3207
St. Luke West 859-212-5290

Registered dietitians, available with a physician referral, can address the role of nutrition in cancer prevention and treatment; and provide information about healing foods, vitamins, minerals and supplements, achieving and sustaining healthy weight, and personalized menu planning.

In some cases, cancer patients need physical therapy, ostomy care, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy. The St. Luke Hospitals are able to provide these services to patients with a physician referral.

Massage therapists are available to provide much needed relaxation and relief of muscle tension in a totally private atmosphere. Your massage therapist can customize your massage to meet your specific relaxation goals.

St. Luke understands that cancer patients need more than just high quality physical medical attention. They often need emotional, spiritual and social support as well. Our pastoral care department is here to make sure spiritual needs are met.

Cancer center and social work staffs can help patients and their families choose a hospice service that best fits their medical, residential and financial needs. St. Luke has partnered with Hospice of Northern Kentucky to provide an inpatient hospice unit and also make referrals for hospice home care when appropriate.

Financial counselors are available to answer financial and insurance questions and to assist in completing financial forms.

Genetic counseling can help you learn about the impact of family history on health. We have a partnership with The Heredity Cancer Program, a long-standing program at Children's Hospital Medical Center, The University Hospital and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Your physician may recommend genetic counseling for you and/or your family members.

The Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine (AIIM), a Health Alliance affiliate, is a holistic-based healing and wellness center, located in Kenwood. The physicians at AIIM do not view alternative and conventional medical treatments with an either/or philosophy. They believe in the use of healing techniques that integrate the best of both worlds. Physicians at AIIM are careful to point out that the expectation of integrative medicine may not be to cure cancer, but rather to utilize these therapies to improve an individual’s ability to heal and quality of life. This ultimately may translate into a better survival rate.