Couples Coping Together Against Cancer
Couples Coping Together Against Cancer is offered to patients and their committed partner receiving care at City of Hope®. The Couples Program is available through self-referral or at the request of your clinical team. Building on strong empirical evidence for committed couples working together, this strengths-based program enhances the relationship to best manage the challenges of cancer and maximize the benefits of medical care.
A cancer diagnosis not only affects the individual diagnosed, it impacts that person’s partner and family, as well. Even the most loving and secure relationships can struggle with emotional support, communication and problem-solving during a serious illness. In order to better support couples throughout the process of diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, the Department of Supportive Care Medicine has created the innovative Couples Coping Together Against Cancer program. The couples program is one of the only programs of its kind, and is offered as part of the normal continuum of care provided to patients and families at City of Hope. It is tailored to the unique needs of English-and Spanish-speaking couples facing a cancer diagnosis together, regardless of sexual orientation or relationship status.
The Couples Coping Together Against Cancer program has been assisting couples since its inception in 2013, and satisfaction survey data has shown that 98% of patients and partners would highly recommend this program to other couples. Physicians also note that couples who participate in the program seem calmer and better able to focus on medical information during their subsequent medical appointments.
The couples program has published in Oxford University Press, Psycho-Oncology and Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer. This innovative model has been presented at international and national professional conferences, including the 19th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and the Association of Oncology Social Workers.
Specialized Programs for Couples
Founded in 2007 as a patient-led support group in the breast clinic and expanded to a formal program in Women’s Cancers in 2016, the Couples Program offers personalized support for people living with cancer and their committed partners. A dedicated multidisciplinary team helps couples navigate the physical, emotional, and psychosocial challenges of cancer with a focus on shared decision-making and goals of care.
Launched in 2023, partnering with the Brain Tumor Program, Couples Coping Together Against Cancer focuses on personalized support for patients and their committed partners living with brain cancer. The dedicated multidisciplinary team focuses on supporting couples through the physical, emotional, and cognitive changes associated with a brain cancer diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing shared decision-making and aligning goals of care.
Launched in 2025, this program builds on the success of City of Hope’s established specialty couples programs to provide personalized support for young adults, ages 18-39, and their committed partners. Demonstrating City of Hope’s dedication to treating cancer across the lifespan, the multidisciplinary team addresses the unique medical, psychosocial, and developmental challenges of young adult patients and partners through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship with an emphasis on goals of care and long-term well-being based on this important phase of life.
What to Expect as a Patient or Partner
When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, his or her partner matters! A partner is an important component of the patient’s support system during a cancer diagnosis and throughout treatment. At the same time, partners often experience as much distress as the patient — if not more — while trying to juggle the demands of daily life in the midst of supporting their loved one.
A couples program clinician sees patients and their partners for a joint session before their first visit with the physician. During this session, the clinician shares wisdom from past patients, partners, research and clinical experience, as well as practical behaviors that will help them best support one another and problem-solve together.
The session focuses on the following to help couples strengthen their relationship during times of high stress:
- Increase knowledge about specific techniques to enhance open and honest communication.
- Practice effective problem-solving skills.
- Focus on the unique strengths that each individual brings to the relationship, and how they can use these strengths to better cope as a team.
- Prioritize opportunities for couples to live the relationship they have always wanted.
For many couples, one session is sufficient in providing the education and support needed. However, some couples benefit from additional support. When this is the case, couples are offered the opportunity to:
- Attend the Couples Coping Together Against Cancer support group. This group is open to all City of Hope patients and partners.
- Meet for follow-up couples counseling sessions with a member of the couples program team.
- Learn about other educational and problem-solving resources available through members of the supportive care team.
Philanthropic Support
We would like to extend our profound gratitude to the donors and foundations whose support has played a critical role in the growth and success of the Couples Coping Together Against Cancer program. Their generous contributions enable us to enhance our program and services so we can reach more patients, partners and families in need.
Meet Our Team
Contact Information
If you are a patient or partner and would like more information or feel you would benefit from the support of one of our clinicians please reach out to be connect to our program.
Medical and mental health professionals are also encouraged to contact our team for more information about implementing couples-based interventions in their own oncology settings. Professional resources will be made available.