Your Cancer Team in La Crosse

Our Oncology team in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is committed to helping you and your family through every step of the cancer journey — physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

Team and roles

Our multidisciplinary team of experts includes physicians, nurses, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, physicists, research nurses, dietitians, chaplains, social workers and volunteers. You will be asked to make important decisions at a time when you might not be feeling your best. As part of your cancer care plan, all members of your cancer team are committed to helping you navigate through the health care system to identify when options are to be considered and help you understand them so you and your family can make fully informed decisions.

The nurse navigator will:

• Introduce the scope of cancer services, including integrative therapies.
• Complete a holistic assessment of personal strengths and needs.
• Explore tips for healthy living and coping skills to help you during your treatment and beyond.
• Offer early referral to other support team members or appropriate services.

The social worker will:

• Offer psychosocial and emotional support.
• Assist in connecting you to local, regional and national resources available such as:
  • Transportation support (provided by the American Cancer Society)
  • Lodging support
  • Financial assistance
  • Home care and hospice
  • Support groups
  • Power of attorney for health care and advanced directives

The dietitian will:

• Assess your nutritional status to develop a plan to meet your nutrition needs during and after cancer treatment.
• Offer counseling and support to help reduce treatment side effects.
• Provide information about nutrition for cancer prevention.
• Present educational programs on nutrition and cancer.
• Provide supportive counseling and emotional support.

The chaplain will:

• Offer emotional and spiritual support to you and your family throughout your cancer journey.
• Help you discover meaning and hope through diagnosis and care.
• Provide spiritual practices in coping and healing.
• Help children understand illness and loss.
• Answer faith-related questions and exploration
• Address grief and loss concerns
• Explore faith, and community interests and connections
• Help complete power of attorney for health care and advanced directives

The clinical nurse specialist will:

• Work closely with your cancer support team and family.
• Help you manage symptoms related to your cancer or treatment.
• Schedule survivorship visits.
• Help you verify your insurance coverage.

The volunteers will:

• Offer a caring presence and support.
• Provide reassurance and a listening presence.
• Coordinate hospitality services.
• Play relaxing harp music.
• Give a hand massage through Caring Hands.