Cancer Survivorship Program

UConn Health's Multidisciplinary Survivorship Program, part of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, is dedicated to helping you find expertise, education and support to help manage issues related to surviving cancer. This includes managing the risk of secondary cancers, understanding the long term effects of treatment and addressing the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial concerns.

Your continued needs and quality of life beyond treatment are important, and the Cancer Survivorship Program can help you move beyond treatment and on with your life.

Supporting Survivors

Your cancer journey doesn't just end after your last treatment. Many survivors, such as breast cancer patient Sandy Theriault, experience late or long-term physical or emotional side effects. UConn Health has a multidisciplinary team dedicated to helping patients manage issues related to surviving cancer.

What’s Next?

The team at UConn Health’s Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center understands that cancer treatment and side effects don’t end with your last treatment. The Multidisciplinary Survivorship Team works to educate survivors on prevention, detection and management of complications resulting from cancer treatment, along with focusing on health promotion, cancer prevention and supportive services. Patients are evaluated and counseled by a specialized survivorship team including a nurse practitioner, social worker, registered dietitian and physical therapist. Prior to the clinic visit, the team reviews the patient's past cancer diagnosis and treatment history.

During your personalized care visit, you can expect:

  • An evaluation of the ongoing effects of your cancer diagnosis and treatment
  • A review of your health care team and coordination of follow-up care
  • A summary of your background information (including genetics), type of cancer diagnosis and treatment received
  • A discussion about prevention of recurrence, new cancers, and potential late treatment side effects
  • A review of surveillance guidelines for cancer screening as well as generalized health care
  • An individualized treatment summary and survivorship care plan with customized recommendations in the following areas:
    • Individualized surveillance and screening guidelines
    • Health and wellness education personalized to cancer type and treatment history
    • Psychosocial support for survivors and their families
    • Exercise and lifestyle modification recommendations
    • Nutritional counseling
  • Patient-centered conversation and opportunity to receive referral based services for cancer survivors including:
    • Mental health providers
    • Health psychologist for lifestyle coaching
    • Genetic counseling
    • Smoking cessation
    • Lymphedema clinics
    • Community resources and financial assistance
    • Cancer support groups
    • Sexual health
    • Specialty providers (Cardio-Oncology, Neuro-Oncology, etc.)
  • At the conclusion of the visit, a comprehensive summary of recommendations will be provided and entered in your electronic medical record. A copy of this plan is also sent to your cancer doctor and primary care provider.

When Can a Survivorship Visit Take Place?

This usually takes place three to six months after the end of primary cancer treatment. Many patients may still be taking medications, such as hormonal therapies for breast cancer, and are still welcome to our program.

Discover Care as Unique as You

UConn Health’s Cancer Survivorship Program offers personalized services to meet the unique and ongoing health care needs of cancer survivors.

“I think the Survivorship Care Plan is an excellent tool. I found after the interview, someone was going to know what I had been through and would be following me after my treatments ended. It puts all the contact information in one place rather than all the business cards in my wallet. The diagnosis and procedure information is helpful to my family to have for future reference. Thank you for developing this program for me and for all future participants.” Marie W., breast cancer survivor

Our Specialists

Sarah Loschiavo
Sarah Loschiavo, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ACHPN
Nurse Practitioner
Program Director
Email: loschiavo@uchc.edu

Christie Fiori, MSW, LCSW
Christie Fiori, MSW, LCSW
Oncology Social Worker
Phone: 860-418-7644
Email: fiori@uchc.edu

Olga Nesta, ACNP-BC
Olga Nesta, ACNP-BC
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Email: onesta@uchc.edu

No photo available
Anne K. Megson, APRN, ACHPN
Nurse Practitioner
Email: megson@uchc.edu

Inpatient Physical Therapist

Tiffany Palmisano, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
Tiffany Palmisano, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
Rehabilitation Services
Phone: 860-679-4119
Email: tpalmisano@uchc.edu

Health Psychologist

Judith L. Cooney, Ph.D.
Judith L. Cooney, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Phone: 800-579-7822

Registered Dietitian

Natalie Ranelli, R.D., C.D.N.
Natalie Ranelli, R.D., C.D.N.
Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
Phone: 860-679-7558

Nurse Navigators

Ashley Aust
Ashley Aust, B.S.N., R.N.
Gynecologic Oncology and Genitourinary
Phone: 860-505-9104
Email: aust@uchc.edu
Fax: 860-676-3442

Tori-Lynn Pacelle, B.S.N., R.N.
Tori-Lynn Pacelle, B.S.N., R.N.
Bile Duct, Brain, Colon, Endocrine Neoplasia, Gall Bladder, Head and Neck, Liver, Pancreatic, Rectal, Gastric
Phone: 860-466-9760
Email: pacelle@uchc.edu
Fax: 860-676-3434

Meg Savage, B.S.N., R.N.
Meg Savage, B.S.N., R.N.
Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma
Phone: 860-308-4483
Email: savage@uchc.edu
Fax: 860-676-3434

Wendy Thibodeau, M.S.N., R.N., O.C.N.
Wendy Thibodeau, M.S.N., R.N., O.C.N.
Lung, Skin, Sarcoma
Phone: 860-692-8455
Email: wthibodeau@uchc.edu
Fax: 860-676-3434

Evelyn Wong, R.N., B.S.N.
Evelyn Wong, B.S.N., R.N.
Breast
Phone: 860-480-1981
Email: evwong@uchc.edu
Fax: 860-676-3437