The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Patient and Family Advisory Board is a group comprised of patients, family members, caregivers, and members of the cancer center care team. The board meets quarterly to share information, discuss topics of importance, and collaborate on ways to make a positive impact on patient care and the patient experience at Holden.
The advisory board gives our patients and their families a voice regarding changes that occur throughout the hospital. It is a safe forum where board members can voice concerns, provide feedback, and offer suggestions that will help improve the care experience for others who rely on the cancer center for their health care needs.
Help make a difference
Our goal is to form a collaborative relationship between patients, families, and their health care team that is culturally sensitive, respectful, and compassionate.
The advisory board strives to have representatives from a variety of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and care experiences to:
Talk about barriers to care, treatment, and services
Suggest ideas and solutions that will enhance the care experience
Give the patient and family perspective
Help us better plan and educate other patients and families on support services available to them
Interested potential applicants to the board must:
Be a current cancer patient or family member of a current cancer patient (patients/family members who are not currently receiving care but have received care within the past year may also be considered)
Be committed to regularly attending meetings, which are held quarterly
Sign an advisory board statement of confidentiality
For caregivers, this group will be a blend of open discussion, as well as educational information to help with practical advice and guidance from both health-care professionals and other caregivers themselves.
This gathering offers support and open discussion around a diagnosis of leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma for patients, family members, friends and survivors.
Caring for a loved one with cancer presents a unique set of challenges.
Family and friends who are taking care of a cancer patient are invited to attend therapy group for caregivers.
In these groups, caregivers will offer support, exchange ideas, and learn strategies to cope with the stress that comes with caring for a cancer patient.
Provides free house cleaning once per month for four months during the time the woman is in treatment, and helps women who are going through cancer treatment
We offer group therapy for men and women of all ages who have a cancer diagnosis. The therapy sessions provide a safe environment for supportive interactions, education, and sharing of experiences. The groups practice mindfulness, acceptance, and self-compassion. Wherever you are in your cancer journey—recently diagnosed, in active treatment, or finished with therapy—please join us.
A group or individual counseling program for people with cancer and/or their families. Patients and family members are welcome to come to group counseling or may set up individual appointments.
Call for more information on meeting dates and locations.
This group is open to any cancer survivor in the community. Participants must submit a signed medical waiver prior to starting. Waivers can be faxed or emailed. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring your own yoga mat.
Iowa's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Iowa. This designation recognizes our ability to offer Iowans more cancer treatment options than most U.S. cancer centers, including a vast array of clinical trials of some of the newest therapies.
An emerging body of evidence suggests that treatment at a comprehensive cancer center may offer patients better chances for long-term survival.
The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC)
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of the nation’s longest accredited cancer centers from the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
To achieve CoC accreditation, cancer centers are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet standards that evaluate the services offered by the program.
As a CoC-accredited cancer center, Holden applies a multidisciplinary approach and treats cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation and collaboration among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other health care professionals that specialize in cancer care. Patients benefit from having access to clinical trials, screening and prevention events, palliative care, genetic counseling, rehabilitation, oncology nutrition, and survivorship services.
