Lynda Mandell M.D. PLLC

 
"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within."
-Maya Angelou

Psycho-Oncologist

The fight against cancer is an uncharted course, which has the potential for having an unprecedented psychological and emotional impact, at any stage along the way, from the very first diagnosis to surviving the illness in a disease-free, treatment-controlled, or symptom-managed state. Distressing feelings and emotions such as anxiety, fear, depression, low self-esteem, anger, shame, and guilt may result in disturbances which affect one's overall sense of well-being and coping mechanisms. Dr. Mandell has the expertise to provide you with specialized support, counseling, and guidance to meet the challenges met along the cancer journey.

Psycho-oncology is a subspecialty of cancer which deals with the emotional and psychological needs as well as symptoms patients suffer from at all stages of their illness. This specialty also includes handling the stresses on their loved ones and clinical treatment team. Psycho-oncologists are behavioral health and allied professionals who are trained and available to meet the non-physical aspects of cancer.


Psycho-Oncology Practice

Dr. Mandell, as a dual-boarded psychiatrist and radiation oncologist, is trained to treat and understand the physical aspects of cancer, as well as identify and manage the psychological and emotional impact of cancer's stressful, frightening, and overwhelming effects on physical affronts. In keeping with her expertise as a treating oncologist, psycho-oncology remains an important focus of Dr. Mandell's psychiatry practice. Consultations and treatments will be tailored to address the specific needs of those individuals directly or indirectly affected by cancer. The mission of Dr. Mandell's psycho-oncology practice is to alleviate cancer-related psychological distress with the following treatments and managements:

Dr. Lynda Mandell
1) Educational Support, Advice, and Guidance
2) Psychotherapeutic Intervention
3) Psychiatric Medications Such As Antidepressants, Anxiolytics, and Sleep Aids
4) Individual and Group Psychotherapy: Supportive Therapy, Interpersonal, Cognitive Behavioral, Family, and Relationship Therapy

Medication Management

Dr. Mandell's ability to deliver safe psychopharmacologic therapy in addition to psychotherapy and psycho-oncology consulting services when clinically indicated is of importance in the psychiatric management of cancer patients. Her dual expertise and training in oncology, psychiatry, and psychopharmacology allow her to not only recognize non-physical, emotional symptoms, and underlying mental disorders in cancer patients, but to treat them safely with carefully chosen psychiatric medications.

These medicine decisions take into account drug to drug interactions to prevent unsafe and undesired reactions, as many cancer patients commonly receive chemotherapy. Hormonal and radiotherapy may have comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders for which medication management is required and whose efficient and safe doses may be negatively impacted by certain psychiatric drugs if not carefully selected and prescribed.

Educational Consultative Oncologic Services

This service addresses specific issues, concerns, and questions that may arise during one's experience with cancer from the initial diagnosis, workup testing, and studies, to treatment options and side-effects. Dr. Mandell also handles cancer-specific related variables, the risk of available treatment options for relapse recurrence of the disease, and living with cancer recovery.