Supportive and Palliative Oncology
The Supportive and Palliative Oncology team at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is here to care for you and your family while you live with cancer. We focus on treating the whole person — not just the illness — using proven medical care along with compassion and understanding.
Cancer and its treatments can affect many parts of life. You may experience pain, side effects, stress, worry or questions about what comes next. Our team works alongside your cancer doctors to help you feel more comfortable, supported and informed at every step.
How We Help
- Manage pain and other symptoms
- Support emotional, social and spiritual well-being
- Help patients and families cope with the challenges of cancer
- Guide advance care planning and future goals
- Explain treatment options so you can make choices that fit your values
Our goal is to help you live as well as possible — at any stage of your cancer journey.
Meet Your Care Team
Rajiv AgarwalBA, MD
- Cancer,
- Gastrointestinal,
- Hematology/Oncology,
- Liver Cancer,
- Medical Oncology,
- Metastatic Cancer,
- Palliative Care
Heather J. JacksonFNP-BC, MSN, BSN, PhD
- Acupuncture,
- Cancer Pain Management,
- Pain Management,
- Pain Medicine
Why Choose Supportive and Palliative Oncology at Vanderbilt
- Support through every step of care
Our main goal is to reduce pain and prevent suffering. This guides everything we do, whether you are receiving cancer treatment or need support and comfort near the end of life. Our care team listens to you and focuses on your individual needs to help you feel as comfortable as possible.
- Expert care you can count on
Our team members are experts in managing cancer-related symptoms and providing supportive and palliative care. We work together to give you the highest quality care based on the best medical evidence.
- Team-based care from trusted experts
We care about you as a whole person, not just your illness. Our team includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other specialists who work together to support you. We listen to your needs and work closely with you, your medical team and your loved ones. Even if you do not meet every team member, we work together behind the scenes to ease discomfort, support your goals and help you live as well as possible.