Support & Resources

At Hoag, we offer a variety of support services led by a caring clinical and social work team.

Urologic Cancer Clinical Nurse Navigator – Sandy Southerland, BSN, RN, OCN

Clinical Nurse Navigators are a unique asset at Hoag. As a Clinical Nurse Navigator for Hoag’s Urologic Cancer Program, Sandy serves as a guide for patients, answering questions, providing education, identifying social resources to overcome any barriers to care and providing support through each phase of treatment and recovery.

As the Urologic Cancer Clinical Nurse Navigator, Sandy provides:

  • Emotional support and guidance for the newly diagnosed urologic cancer (prostate, kidney, bladder) patient and their family
  • Education for patients and family members about urologic cancers
  • Information about community resources and Hoag support services
  • Help in coordinating the patient’s multidisciplinary care plan
  • Assistance in navigating the healthcare system during and after treatment

Bladder Cancer Support Group

Join Sandy and other bladder cancer survivors for a special offering of a support group, centered on education and guidance.
Offered the 2nd Monday of every other month*, from 1-2:30 PM
Patty & George Hoag Cancer Center

*Every other month – February, April, June, August, October, December

Ostomy Support Group

Offered the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 5-6:30 PM
Patty & George Hoag Cancer Center

Outpatient Care and Support for Ostomy Patients

Hoag's Ostomy Care Program offers patients the education and support to successfully manage their ostomies so they can resume normal daily activities. We strive to provide ostomates with all components of high quality care. Our Certified Ostomy Nurses are available to patients to provide expert care, presurgery and postsurgery education, as well as support. The services available through Hoag range from pre-operative site markings, presurgery education on ostomy products, as well as an outpatient clinic that ostomates can receive education on home care management. Our ostomy program is designed to give ostomates the best possible surgical and quality of life outcomes.

Pelvic Floor Therapy

Offered through Hoag's Pelvic Health Program, individuals undergoing neobladder reconstruction can greatly benefit from prehab (therapy prior to surgery) to assist with continence strength following surgery.

Integrated Cancer Support Services

Integrated Cancer Support Services offers a variety of classes to support and educate patients during and after cancer. These classes and workshops are all free of charge:

  • One-On-One Counseling with an oncology social worker
  • Fitter Image Exercise Programs, including yoga, pilates and energizing cardio and toning
  • Workshops for Well-Being, including free flow writing, meditation, reiki and creative art classes
  • Image Enhancement Programs
  • Rehabilitation Services, for fatigue and other treatment side effects
  • Respiratory Care Services
  • Spiritual Care Services
  • Oncology Dietitians

Community Resources

American Cancer Society (Sexuality for the Man or Woman with Cancer)
Phone: 800/ACS-2345 (866/228-4327 for TTY)

National Cancer Institute
Phone: 800/4-CANCER / (800/422-6237)
TTY: 800/332-8615

National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Hoag Wound Healing/Hyperbaric Medicine Center - Providing outpatient ostomy care Wednesday afternoons
(949) 557-0100
16405 Sand Canyon Ave., #230
Irvine, CA 92618

Womanology + RESTOREHIM - Providing continence & sexual recovery services
Newport Beach (949)764-7277
Irvine (949) 557-0190
Fullerton (714)446-9924

United Ostomy Associates

OSTOmysecrets provides specialized clothing for ostomates, such as undergarments, bathing suits, and inspirational videos on life after treatment.

Ostomy Support Groups:

Saddleback Valley
Laguna Woods, CA
949-654-1964
Email: [email protected]
Facilitator: Karyl Barnes

Orange County
Garden Grove, CA
714-637-7971
Email: [email protected]
Facilitator: Teri Stickel

Inland Empire
Riverside, CA
951-789-0811
Email: [email protected]
Facilitator: Sandee Green

North San Diego County
Oceanside, CA
760-470-9589
Email: [email protected]
Facilitator: Leslie Schwartz