Behavioral Health Services

Coping with cancer can be challenging. At UMC Cancer Center the Behavioral Health Team is available to help you and your family.

The team

The Behavioral Health Team within the UMC Cancer Center is available to help you and your family in several ways, including:

• Coping with depression, anxiety, stress and more
• Relaxation and mindfulness training
• Help with quitting smoking or using smokeless tobacco using the Breathe Easy and B.E.S.S.T (Stop Smoking Today Program) Tobacco Cessation Program
• Help with improving the quality of your sleep
• Emotional and grief support
• Assistance with non-medication pain management options
• Assistance with communicating with your doctors, friends, and/or family

B.E.S.S.T Program

The B.E.S.S.T method is a smoking cessation program available to all UMC Cancer Center patients to help them live free of tobacco dependence. This program can be utilized to stop smoking, vaping, or using smokeless tobacco products. The program lasts 8 weeks and starts with an in-person meeting with one of our behavioral health specialists, followed by weekly phone conversations. Most patients who apply the principles learned in the program can successfully stop using tobacco products. The best part of the program is that it comes at no cost to patients. 

For more information regarding the program call 806.775.8290.
Several local and online support/community groups for patients and their loved ones are also available upon request. 

The Cornerstone Support Group

The Cornerstone Group is being offered on the 3^rd Thursday this year instead of the 3^rd Wednesday.

The schedule for the Cornerstone Group this year is as follows:

January 19^th focusing on Malignant Hematology
February 16^th focusing on Head and Neck Cancers
March 16^th focusing on GI Cancers
April 20^th focusing on Breast Cancer
May 18^th focusing on Lung Cancer
June 15^th focusing on Caregivers and Family Support
July 20^th focusing on Malignant Hematology
August 17^th focusing on Head and Neck Cancers
September 15^th focusing on GI Cancers
October 19^th focusing on Breast Cancer
November 16^th focusing on Lung Cancer
December 15^th focusing on Caregivers and Family Support

Each month the UMC Cancer Center hosts the Cornerstone Support Group. This group is welcome to all patients, families, and friends. The Cornerstone group provides information on various topics and disease-specific cancers to help cancer patients, friends, families, and their communities manage life with cancer. Topics change monthly and include mindfulness and relaxation, art therapy, exercise, dietary concerns, coping with side effects of treatment, and more. Join us in sharing patient experiences and learn how to live a fulfilling life while on your cancer journey. 

For more information, please call the UMC Cancer Center at 806.775.8290

Chair Yoga Class

We offer a biweekly chair yoga class to help our patients remain active during their cancer journey. The class involves light physical activity combined with guided meditations. All poses are seated or standing. No yoga mat or special equipment is necessary. The class is physically low impact, but provides opportunities for light exercise and improved mindfulness. All patients and family members are welcome. The class is offered here at the UMC Cancer Center, on alternate Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.

The schedule is as follows: