14 MD Anderson patient and caregiver amenities and services you might not know about

From postal services to art classes and spiritual care, MD Anderson offers patients and their caregivers many amenities. 

Some of these are only available at our Texas Medical Center Campus, but others are available at all of our locations around Greater Houston or can be accessed virtually. 

Here are more than a dozen services and resources at MD Anderson that you might not know about.  

Get creative in our new Art Space for Patients and Caregivers

Patients and caregivers of all ages can enjoy instructor-led classes, self-directed art projects or virtual tutorials in our new Art Space for Patients and Caregivers, which opened last year.  

If you’re at the Texas Medical Center Campus, drop by the space in the Main Building, Floor 2, near Elevator D, to unleash your inner artist. The Art Space is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, not including MD Anderson holidays. All supplies and activities are free, and art-to-go kits are available. 

“I love it because it’s a calm, quiet place that doesn’t feel like a hospital,” says leukemia caregiver Carley Exiga. “I definitely spend a lot of time there. I even take art supplies to go on the nights I stay in the hospital with my younger brother. It’s a great distraction.”  

Take a load off at Cancer Connection 

Cancer Connection provides a comfortable setting to take a break between medical appointments or treatments or visit with volunteers who are either cancer survivors or caregivers themselves.

Enjoy free beverages, snacks, cozy chairs and good conversation at either location: 

• Main Building, Floor 2, near Elevator B  
• Mays Clinic, Floor 2, near Elevator T 

“We talk about our favorite local restaurants and the closest stores,” says Wally Dawid, a chronic myeloid leukemia survivor. “Sometimes, I’ll ask visitors if they know who MD Anderson is. If they don’t, learning about him can provide a welcome distraction from their cancer treatment. We also have warm blankets and pillows available for people who just want to rest in a quiet area.” 

Find something good to eat

Our Texas Medical Center Campus is home to our hospital and many outpatient centers. With eight different options spread among the Main Building, Rotary House, Mays Clinic and Duncan Building, visitors will have plenty of dining choices. Those include:  

• Apicius, a full-service restaurant in the Rotary House, on Floor 2  
• Cool Beans, a coffee bar in the Duncan Building, Floor 2  
• Bleni Blends/Farmer’s Fridge, a self-service kiosk offering fresh salads, bowls and wraps, real fruit smoothies and dairy-free coffee, 24/7, on Floor 2 of the Mays Clinic, near the Pressler Street parking garage  

But patients and caregivers can also find food options at almost all of our locations. 

Healthy snacks, fresh soups, grab-and-go salads, sandwiches and beverages, for instance, are all available at our 1941 Marketplace. It's open from 7:30 a.m. until at least 4:00 p.m. at: 

• MD Anderson The Woodlands (Floor 2, near the elevator) 
• MD Anderson West Houston (Floor 1, near the elevator) 
• MD Anderson Northwest Houston Surgical & Specialty Care (Floor 1, near the elevator)  

Visitors to MD Anderson League City can step right next door (through a climate-controlled walkway) to eat at UTMB’s cafeteria. 

MD Anderson inpatients and their guests, meanwhile, will soon be able to order meals from a new plant-based menu. And, vegan and vegetarian options will be offered for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snack items. 

Visit our Dining Services page for more details on MD Anderson eateries, including hours of operation. 

Wash your laundry

A self-service laundry room is available in the Main Building for caregivers who would like to wash their own clothes. Located on Floor 6, near Elevator F, it is open 24 hours a day.  

Find one-on-one support through myCancerConnection 

myCancerConnection is a community of trained survivor and caregiver volunteers who offer free, one-on-one support by phone to cancer patients, caregivers and survivors, regardless of where they might be receiving treatment.  

You can request this service directly through MyChart, by calling 800-345-6324 or by emailing myCancerConnection@MDAnderson.org. Our team will match you with someone who can relate to your experience. 

“Over the years, I’ve really come to understand why talking with others is so important when facing cancer,” notes Ben Sanders, a melanoma survivor. “It’s not because myCancerConnection volunteers give particularly sage advice or impart some special wisdom. It simply allows us to be real with each other.” 

Get spiritual support

Patients and caregivers who want spiritual encouragement can attend worship services at our Freeman-Dunn Chapel in the Main Building or watch them from the privacy of their hospital rooms on MDA-TV, Channel 24. They can also visit one of our designated meditation or Muslim prayer rooms.  

Jewish inpatients will receive a Shabbat Box containing grape juice, challah bread, two candles and some mints each Friday. They’re also asked if they’d like a representative from the Jewish community to contact them while receiving care. If so, we can coordinate it. 

Patients and caregivers may request the private services of a chaplain, too, either through MyChart or by calling the Spiritual Care Office at 713-792-7184.  

“One of our most surprising — and meaningful — interactions at MD Anderson was with the chaplain,” says myelofibrosis caregiver Diane Crutcher. “She created a special prayer just for my husband, Bill. I stood at the foot of his bed while she read the prayer aloud. It was a very emotional and uplifting moment.” 

Chaplains are available 24/7 to care for patients at their bedsides, receive prayer requests and lead support groups. To make a prayer request, email PrayerRequest@MDAnderson.org.  

Request assistance with emotional or financial issues  

Licensed clinical social workers can help our patients and caregivers cope with the effects of cancer. Services are free and can be provided either in person or over the phone.  

You can talk to our social work counselors about many topics, including:  

• feeling overwhelmed
• adjusting to a cancer diagnosis
• advance care planning
• not feeling safe at home
• the financial impact of an illness/treatment 
• intimacy
• sexuality
• relationships
• transitions in care  

You can request a referral to Social Work either in person or through MyChart.  

“Senior social work counselor Djuana Fomby was a lifesaver,” recalls oral cancer survivor Jeannie Hopper. “She helped me stop worrying about bills and kids and everything I was mentally piling on myself. She helped me focus on today and understand that I had to let everything else go.” 

Educate yourself about cancer

Librarians and health educators are available to provide resources and answer patient and caregiver questions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at The Learning Center’s two locations: 

• Mays Clinic, Floor 2 near Elevator T 
• Main Building, Floor 4, near Elevator A  

You can print, fax, copy or scan documents at either center for free. 

Patients and caregivers who wish to learn more about cancer or its treatment and side effects can also request information electronically by sending a message to “Ask the Library” through MyChart or by emailing AskTLCstaff@MDAnderson.org directly. 

“The Learning Center has handouts and other information about pretty much every medical condition even remotely associated with cancer,” recalls Gillian Kruse, an acute myeloid leukemia survivor. “The information is written in plain English so it’s easy to understand, and there are some materials in Spanish and other languages as well for people who understand those better.” 

Do some shopping or use our postal services 

Need some retail therapy? Just visit one of our gift shops to indulge that craving. Most are open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Offerings include tasty snacks, cozy apparel and the latest MD Anderson-branded products. You can also shop online. 

Visitors may also purchase stamps and other postal services using cash, check or credit card at our Mail Services center in the Main Building. Located on Floor 1, near Elevator E, it’s open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Get help coping with grief  

MD Anderson has support available for anyone grieving the death of a loved one.  

If you’re an adult who has lost someone in the past two years, you can join the Circle of Hope support group.  

Spiritual care chaplains are also available for virtual and in-person consultations. Call  713-792-7184 to schedule an appointment. 

Obtain good advice on dietary issues

Not sure about what to eat or how to deal with treatment-related nausea or changes in appetite? Need advice on tube-feeding, IV nutrition, special diets or food allergies? 

Our dietitians can help.  

“The texture of some foods is what gives me the most trouble,” explains throat cancer survivor Mark Teague. “Fortunately, I’ve been working with dietitian Patricia Rosemond. She’s given me practical advice at every turn. Take bread, for instance. I really like it and I missed eating it. So, she recommended I toast it. And just that small change made a huge difference.” 

If you have a specific question related to your diet, ask for a referral from any member of your care team, either in person or through MyChart. Or, call 713-792-2254 or 713-563-5167. 

De-stress, find pain relief or just relax with massage or acupuncture

Seeking relief from neuropathy, cancer pain or even the stresses of everyday life? An oncology massage or acupuncture might help.  

Eligible MD Anderson patients can schedule a massage with one of our three full-time therapists or an acupuncture treatment through our Integrative Medicine Center. Ask your care team for a referral. 

“In some ways, MD Anderson doesn’t even feel like a hospital,” says breast cancer survivor Gretchen Herrera. “I actually looked forward to going there sometimes because I could go visit one of the gift shops and browse, pop into one of the cafeterias and eat, or even get a massage. These things kept my focus off of being sick, and redirected it toward living well.” 

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.