Supportive Care Clinic

We believe that treating the whole person is as important as treating the cancer itself. That’s why we have a team of professionals, all in one place, to provide supportive care alongside your primary cancer team. UAB Medicine’s Supportive Care Clinic helps patients manage the symptoms and side effects often associated with serious illnesses such as cancer, advanced heart failure, and advanced lung disease. Whether patients have completed or are still receiving treatment, our goal is to help them fulfill their maximum physical, emotional, spiritual, vocational, and social potential. The clinic is staffed by a diverse group of professionals, including:

• Physicians and nurse practitioners who have special expertise in managing complex symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite, and pain syndromes.
• Nurses who support patients by facilitating the clinic visits and responding to phone calls. They are the front line of patient care.
• Physical therapists who develop individualized programs for each patient to help improve coordination, balance, strength, endurance, flexibility, and range of motion.
• Cancer counselors who are experienced in designing a variety of counseling sessions that meet the specific needs of each patient, such as cancer-psychological counseling to manage distress or to quit smoking. Individual, couples, and family sessions are available. 
• Nutritionists who have expertise in helping ensure that patients with serious illness receive proper nourishment.
• Massage therapists who are trained in many types of massage, including oncology massage, which is a specialized approach that supports the body’s health before, during, and after cancer treatment.
• Chaplains who confidentially and compassionately support the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones, regardless of their faith.

Referrals to the Supportive Care Clinic can be made by any treating physician or nurse, and individuals may self-refer as well. The clinic accepts a wide range of insurance plans and offers flexible appointment scheduling based on patients’ needs.

The clinic is located on the second floor of The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital. To make an appointment, please call 205-801-8624.

The UAB Medicine Cancer Rehabilitation Program serves patients before, during, and after treatment. Starting the program early can reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments on physical and mental abilities. The program helps cancer survivors who have finished treatment and need to improve their ability to walk, exercise, and more. It also teaches patients and their caretakers how to safely complete daily care tasks, allowing them to continue their cancer journey at home rather than in a hospital. For more information about the Cancer Rehabilitation Plus Program, click here.