 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Archive for the ‘
Cancer ’ Category
By Stacy Collins, MSW, Senior Practice Associate
National Association of Social Workers
The Changing Landscape of Cancer Treatment
Most cancer treatment involves regular visits to an oncology office or hospital for intravenous, or IV, chemotherapy. But cancer treatment is changing and more and more, cancer treatment involves taking pills. Oral chemotherapy – taking pills to treat cancer – offers many benefits: fewer office visits; less time away from work and family and less interference with personal schedules. Patients welcome the absence of painful needle sticks that IV chemotherapy requires. But the advantages of oral chemotherapy are balanced – if not outweighed by – the responsibility for self-treatment of a serious disease.
Treating Cancer with Pills
When a person receives IV chemotherapy, the oncologist knows exactly how much medicine a person receives because the treatment is closely supervised by medical and nursing staff. But when treatment is done at home, the responsibility for adherence – ensuring that cancer medication is taken as prescribed – falls on individuals with cancer and their caregivers.
What Is Adherence?
Adherence means taking medications safely, timely, faithfully and accurately. It also means that:
- No doses are skipped
- No extra doses are taken
- No doses are taken in the wrong quantity, at the wrong time, or under the wrong conditions (e.g., with or without food)
Adherence is very important in cancer treatment. However, many adults have a poor track record with adherence. Recent research shows that more than 50 percent of Americans do not take prescription medicine as instructed. The numbers are even worse with cancer drugs – it's estimated that only 30 percent of people with cancer take their medication as prescribed. Non-adherence (not using medication as prescribed) is associated with more doctor visits, more hospital admissions, and longer hospital stays – all of which contribute to rising health care costs. The estimated cost to the U.S health care system of non-adherence to prescription medications is $100 billion – and rising.
Why Is Adherence to Cancer Medication So Important?
With any medication, non-adherence can have a serious impact on a person's health. But the stakes are often higher in cancer treatment. Not taking cancer medication as prescribed may mean that that drug won't work, since a certain amount of medication (referred to as a "therapeutic level") needs to be in the body in order for the drug to be effective. In many cases, cancer may return if a person takes the cancer medication occasionally, or stops taking it altogether. Non-adherence can also affect how the doctor views the patient's illness, and may result in unexpected changes to a patient's treatment.
The Challenge of Adherence
As simple as it sounds, adherence can be challenging. Many people have difficulty fitting medication-taking into a busy lifestyle, which may include work, family, and other obligations. Some people fear that cancer treatment will take away enjoyment and pleasure in life; others may feel burnout or "treatment fatigue" from long-term use of cancer medication.
Ways to Incorporate Medication-Taking Into a Busy Life
- Use weekly pill containers – These inexpensive tools allow you to organize your medications into daily doses, and are especially helpful if you are taking multiple medications or planning to travel.
- Explore electronic adherence tools – such as cell phone text reminders.
- Identify pill-taking cues – Consider taking your medication when you do other regular activities, such watching certain TV shows or brushing your teeth.
- Develop an action plan for unexpected and special events - such as weekends, vacations and celebrations.
- Ask your loved ones for help– Adherence is always easier when you have support from others.
Keep in mind – medication adherence is
difficult and everyone makes mistakes
at times. |
- Understand how your cancer drug interacts with food and other medications you are taking – A pharmacist is an excellent resource if you have questions about food and medication interactions.
- Maintain regular phone or face-to-face contact with your health care provider. Cancer medication instructions are often complex. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about your treatment. And remember to report side effects, as these can also affect adherence to your medication.
Special Considerations for Older Adults with Cancer
Older adults face special challenges in maintaining good adherence. Having more than one illness at the same time (often referred to as "co-morbidity") is one such challenge. For older adults, having multiple conditions (such as cancer and heart disease or diabetes) increases the number of prescription medications, which makes adherence more difficult. Older adults are also at increased risk for dementia or other cognitive problems, and may forget to take their medications or become confused about medication instructions. They may also have arthritis or other functional difficulties, which may make it challenging to open pill bottles.
Adherence decreases as the number of
daily medications increase. |
Ways to Improve Cancer Medication Adherence With Older Adults
Make sure to have clear instructions for all cancer drugs. A doctor or nurse should review the instructions in the office and also provide written instructions to take home. Be sure to ask questions if anything is unclear or confusing.
- Caregivers and loved ones should fully understand the medication instructions. Cancer medication instructions are often complicated, so it's helpful for caregivers and family members to understand the instructions as well, even if the person with cancer can take the medication without assistance.
- Have an updated, written list of medications in hand, when talking with health care professionals and caregivers.
- Ask the pharmacy to provide easy-to-open medication caps, pre-loaded medication dispensers and large print medication labels.
- Use a pharmacy that provides home delivery of medications, such as specialty pharmacies that ship overnight.
Resources
The National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) has some helpful tools to help you organize your medications. NTOCC has created My Medicine List for persons who take multiple medications or visit the doctor often, to help manage their medications and medical appointments. Visit www.ntocc.org/Portals/0/My_Medicine_List.pdf for more information.
###
Bio:
Stacy Collins, MSW, is a Senior Practice Associate at NASW, specializing in adult and pediatric health care issues. Ms. Collins has over 20 years of experience in health care advocacy, education, and direct service with national and community-based organizations. As one of the NASW staff covering oncology, Ms. Collins developed a web education course for social workers on promoting adherence in oral chemotherapy, in conjunction with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Prior to joining the NASW staff, she was the project director for a federally –funded initiative to develop community engagement strategies for large-scale cancer clinical trials. Ms. Collins holds an MSW from the Catholic University of America and a BA from the University of Virginia.
Tags: MSW, Social Work and Cancer, Stacy Collins, Taking Pills to Treat Cancer
Posted in
Cancer, Tip Sheets |
No Comments »
The survival rates for children with cancer have steadily increased due to life-extending therapies (Cox, McLaughlin, Steen, & Hudson, 2006; Friedman, Freyer, & Levitt, 2006). Reports indicate that 80 percent of children diagnosed with various forms of cancer in the United States today are expected to survive their disease and treatment (Greenlee, Murray, Bolden, & Wingo, 2000).
With continued funding and new treatment advances, members of CureSearch, the world's largest childhood cancer research organization, predict that the survival rate can be raised to 85 percent in the near future (CureSearch, 2007). There are currently 270,000 survivors of childhood cancers in the United States (National Cancer Institute, 2004); by 2010 an estimated one in every 640 young adults in the U.S. between the ages of 20-39 will be a childhood cancer survivor (Hewitt, Weiner, & Simone, 2003).
Adolescence is a unique developmental period where self-image is extremely important, and it is especially difficult for teens battling cancer, whose symptoms and treatment prevent them from experiencing a normal adolescence (Forsbach & Thompson, 2003).
Adolescents who survive cancer often experience physical and psychological late effects post treatment. Life-extending therapies which contribute to high survival rates are associated with multiple physical effects such as cardiotoxicity, additional malignancies, organ damage, neurocognitive and psychological impairment, osteoporosis, diabetes, and obesity (Bhatia &e; Sklar, 2002; Glover et al., 2003; Hoffmeister, Storer, & Sanders, 2004).
In addition to physical effects, adolescent cancer survivors may experience psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, poor peer relations, low school performance, loneliness, post-traumatic stress disorder (Stuber, 2006), and obsessive worrying (Hewitt et al, 2004; NCI, 2004) which contribute to low self-esteem and a poor outlook on life (Zebrack & Chesler, 2001).
Recent research has shown that the physical and psychological effects of cancer treatments are predictors of substance use among adolescent survivors (Cox et al., 2006). In addition, adolescent cancer survivors are smoking and drinking at comparable rates with healthy adolescents (Hollen & Hobbie, 2001). Substance use is a problem for all adolescents; however, adolescent cancer survivors are more prone to health problems associated with such risky behavior.
Substance use can greatly compromise the health of childhood cancer survivors. Adolescent cancer survivors who engage in substance use increase the risks of physical and psychological late effects due to cancer treatments (Cox et al., 2006; Hollen & Hobbie, 2001). The Children's Oncology Group (COG) released long-term follow up guidelines for childhood cancer survivors that suggest alcohol use could increase the occurrences of secondary cancers for childhood cancer survivors (CureSearch, 2007).
Studies investigating adolescent cancer survivors and substance use have only just begun. The few research studies that have investigated adolescent survivors' risky behaviors focus solely on physical and psychological effects as predictors of substance use. Researchers should continue to explore why adolescent cancer survivors choose to use substances, and what factors influence their decision-making processes. Adolescent survivors may try to adapt their behaviors to match the actions of their "healthy" peers. In other words, if their "healthy" peers are engaging in substance use, they may follow suit, to fit in with their desired social group. Therefore, the difficult process of readjusting to "normal adolescence" post-treatment may be one factor that causes adolescent survivors to engage in risky behavior.
A recent qualitative exploratory study of 12 adolescent cancer survivors conducted at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas resulted in four overarching themes that describe their experiences: finding meaning, identity paradox, need to belong, and substance use. Further analysis revealed nine secondary themes related to adolescent cancer survivors' adjustment: appreciation, personal growth, survivor identity, cancer identity, isolation, importance of family, friends, and health care providers, lack of support as a survivor, social support for substance abuse, and awareness of risk (Jones et al., 2008).
According to the results of in-depth interviews completed in this study, adolescent cancer survivors experience a different life journey than their healthy peers for many reasons. Adolescent cancer survivors are faced with mortality earlier and more frequently than their healthy peers. It was evident from the interview responses that many adolescent cancer survivors have lost very close friends with whom they have undergone treatment.
Dealing with this type of loss can potentially increase their levels of distress and put them at further risk for substance use and abuse. In fact, some adolescents may experience a deep sense of survivor's guilt. In addition, after lengthy periods of time when these adolescents must endure painful treatment protocols and missed opportunities for normal adolescence, they may rebel post treatment by engaging in substance use and other risky behaviors.
Since adolescence is a period for normal experimentation and the development of one's own identity, teen cancer survivors may repeat the tasks of adolescence at a later age after completing treatment. This risky behavior can be quite alarming to their family, friends, and health care providers given the gravity of their recent illness and the potential for harm to their future health.
Social workers need to be aware of the risks and reasons that adolescents who have survived cancer may engage in substance use, abuse, and other risky behaviors. Practitioners need to conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of the social and development needs of these young survivors. They need to be highly vigilant of the potential for substance use behaviors that may not fit the expectations of these adolescents who often appear more mature than their peers.
On one hand, these survivors have the wisdom and insight that comes from facing a life threatening illness. However, on the other hand, some of their development may have been halted by treatment and their interrupted adolescence. Social workers can also help families understand the unique dilemma faced by cancer-surviving adolescents.
All adolescent cancer survivors need to have a health care practitioner or team trained in the psychological and physical late effects of cancer. Fortunately, childhood cancer survivor clinics are becoming more and more available throughout the country. If a practitioner working with a cancer surviving teen identifies a problem with substance abuse (for example, in a school setting), an appropriate referral to an expert in substance abuse counseling should be made. In addition, practitioners should educate parents as to the signs and symptoms of substance use and risky behaviors in this population.
Social workers can engage adolescent cancer survivors in self-reflection about their cancer experience and the meaning they attach to their survival. Adolescent survivors can be involved in creative expressions, group support, and activities that build self-esteem. Connecting survivors with peers who have gone through cancer treatment can be done in person or online. Survivors can be encouraged to write or blog about their lives throughout this experience and find meaningful support. Ultimately, adolescent cancer survivors want to have a "normal" adolescence and young adulthood. Social workers can facilitate this transition by encouraging them to engage in life enhancing rather than life-depleting behavior sand activities.
Bhatia, S. & Sklar, C. (2002). Second cancers in survivors of childhood cancer. Nature Reviews: Cancer 2, 124-132.
Cox, C. L., McLaughlin, R. A., Steen, B. D., & Hudson, M. M. (2006). Predicting and modifying substance use in childhood cancer survivors: Application of a conceptual model. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33, 51-60.
CureSearch. (2007). Organizational fact sheet. Retrieved from http://nccf.org/uploadedFiles/About_Us/CureSearch_fact_sheet_04.17.pdf on February 1, 2007.
Forsbach, T., & Thompson, A. (2003). The impact of childhood on adult survivors' interpersonal relationships. Child Care in Practice, 9, 117-128.
Friedman, D. L., Freyer, D. R., & Levitt, G. A. (2006). Models of care of survivors of childhood cancer. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 46, 159-168.
Glover, D. A. et al. (2003). Impact of CNS treatment on mood in adult survivors of childhood leukemia: A report from the Children's Cancer Group. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21,4395-4401.
Greenlee, R. T., Murray, T., Bolden, S., & Wingo, P. A. (2000). Cancer statistics 2000. CA: Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 50, 7-33.
Green, D. M. (2003). Late effects of childhood cancer. In M. Hewitt, S.L. Weiner, & J.V. Simone (Eds.), Childhood cancer survivorship: Improving care and quality of life (pp. 49-89). Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Hoffmeister, P. A., Storer, B. E., & Sanders, J. E. (2004). Diabetes mellitus in long-term survivors of pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 26, 81-90.
Hollen, P. J., & Hobbie, W. L. (2001). Decision making and risk behaviors of cancer-surviving adolescents and their peers. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 13, 121-134.
Jones, B.L., Parker-Raley, J. & Barczyk, A. (2008). Adolescent cancer survivors: Meaning, identity and risk of substance abuse. Austin, TX: Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. (2004).Living beyond cancer: Finding a new balance. President's Cancer Panel 2003-2004 Annual Report. Washington, DC: Author.
Zebrack, B. J., & Chesler, M. (2001). Health-related worries, self-image, and life outlooks of long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Health and Social Work, 26, 245-256.
###
Dr. Jones is a co-director of The Institute for Grief, Loss and Family Survival and an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. She may be reached at barbarajones@mail.utexas.edu.
Jessica Parker-Raley, MA is a staff member of the Pan Am School of Communications at the University of Texas in Edinburgh. She may be reached at P2575@mail.utexas.edu.
Dr. Pomeroy is a co-director of The Institute for Grief, Loss and Family Survival and a professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of ATOD Specialty Practice Section Committee. She may be reached at bpomeroy@mail.utexas.edu.
Posted in
Cancer, Current Trends, Health And Wellness |
No Comments »
Introduction
Problems with memory and concentration, along with a general feeling of not functioning
mentally as well as usual, are informally referred to by patients as chemobrain. Health care
professionals call these symptoms cognitive deficits, from the word cognition which means
thought, and the word deficit which means falling short of.
If you are experiencing these types of problems, you may be experiencing chemobrain, and are
not alone.
- Memory loss
- Trouble paying attention
- Trouble finding the right word
- New learning
- Managing daily activities
People often notice these problems during chemotherapy treatment. Within one year of treatment, people often find these difficulties to greatly improve or no longer exist. However, for some people, chemobrain can continue for years following completion of treatment.
Causes of Chemobrain
Researchers are uncertain of the exact causes of these difficulties, but they are currently
studying this problem in order to find ways to both treat and prevent it.
The causes of long lasting chemobrain (more than one year after treatment) are not known.
However, there are a number of very treatable factors that can cause temporary but similar problems in people undergoing chemotherapy. These include:
- Low blood counts
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances
- Medication to treat side effects
- Hormonal changes resulting from some cancer treatments
So tell your doctor if you're having trouble with your memory or notice any other symptoms of chemobrain. He or she can help eliminate some of the factors that can also cause cognitive problems. For example, medication that treats nausea can make you less alert and affect your ability to think clearly. A simple change to your prescription may make a real difference in how you feel.
What Can You Do?
There are things you can do to help yourself. Please see CancerCare's Fact Sheet "Combating
Chemobrain: Keeping your Memory Sharp" for helpful tips.
Neuropsychologists
If one year has passed since you have completed chemotherapy and you have tried self-help techniques to cope but are still troubled by memory and related problems, you will need a professional evaluation. Professionals who are skilled at assessing and treating the symptoms of chemobrain are called neuropsychologists.
Neuropsychologists are psychologists with special training that prepares them to help people experiencing trouble in areas such as attention, new learning, organization, and memory. These doctors will do a complete evaluation and determine if there are any treatable problems such as depression, anxiety, medication, and fatigue. They also identify the areas in which you need assistance, as well as your areas of strength.
After their evaluation is complete, neuropsychologists may suggest cognitive remediation or cognitive rehabilitation. This process involves working with a professional on problem areas, and developing a plan that helps improve your functioning so you can better manage your daily life.
Remediation should also include practical ways that you can address your specific areas of concern.
How do I find a Neuropsychologist?
Professional organizations can refer you to a qualified neuropsychologist. These are listed in the
resource section of this hand-out. You can also ask your physician for a referral. Once you have found a neuropsychologist, work with him or her to determine your insurance coverage for an evaluation and cognitive remediation. Some Medicare and Medicaid plans, and private insurers pay for these services, but coverage varies so it is important to have this information before deciding on a treatment plan.
What Is the Role of Oncology Social Workers with Chemobrain?
Talking this over with a social worker who understands cancer issues can be very helpful.
Oncology (cancer) social workers are trained to help individuals cope with the emotional impact of these types of problems. CancerCare's staff of professionally trained oncology social workers can work with you to develop a plan to help you address these difficulties, including referrals to important resources. We offer detailed advice on the telephone, online, or in person to help you improve your functioning on many levels. CancerCare also offers free counseling, education, financial assistance.
Resources for Patients with Cognitive Difficulties
- CancerCare: CancerCare programs—including counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help—are provided by trained oncology social workers and are completely free of charge. We offer an online archive of telephone education workshops on topics such as chemobrain and improving memory, along with a series of chemobrain information fact sheets.
- American Board of Professional Psychology: Best website to obtain the name of a highly qualified psychologist who is an expert in neuropsychology and in providing both evaluation and treatment to people experiencing problems in areas such as memory, concentration, new learning, prioritizing, and other difficulties associated with "chemobrain."
- American Psychological Association: Has consumer section on how to reach each state's psychological association. Every state has a referral service, and can help you locate professionals with neuropsycholgy or rehabilitation medicine experience.
- Neuropsychology Central
 rovides information on neuropsychology evaluation, online support, rehabilitation literature, and treatment.
- CARF: The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission: Lists an accredited rehabilitation program in each state and qualifies programs in outpatient medical rehabilitation, occupational rehabilitation, and brain injury rehabilitation, all of which may be helpful to patients with chemotherapy-related cognitive deficits. These programs are also likely to have a rehabilitation specialist or neuropsychologist associated with them.
Made possible through a grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Posted in
Cancer, Health And Wellness, Tip Sheets |
No Comments »
Introduction
Talking to your doctor can be difficult, especially about symptoms of chemobrain. Not all
health care professionals know how to evaluate chemobrain, and may be unfamiliar with the
resources that are available to help. If you have problems with memory and attention, or
other problems related to chemobrain, speaking with your doctor is an important first step in
getting the care you need.
These are CancerCare's tips for communicating with your doctor:
- When you use the word "chemobrain," your doctor may not be familiar with it. Tell him or her that chemobrain refers to cognitive problems after chemotherapy.
- Bring someone with you. It is always helpful to have a second set of ears, especially if you have trouble remembering information.
- Write a list of the specific problems you are having and try to keep the descriptions short. For example: "I can't remember words," or "It's very hard for me to concentrate."
- Keep a journal to help you remember your symptoms. Come prepared with information about when your symptoms started and if they are getting better or worse.
- Write down the answers you get. This way, you can go over the information later when you have time to research and concentrate.
- If possible, bring a tape recorder. It is OK to ask your doctor if you can record your visit.
- Get a second opinion if your doctor doesn't seem to take your thinking and memory problems seriously. Your difficulties might go away, but if they persist, these symptoms should be evaluated by a neuropsychologist.
Here are some questions you may want to ask your health care team to help understand
your difficulties:
- How long do chemobrain symptoms usually last?
- Can you evaluate me to see if my chemobrain symptoms are related to anything that could be more easily treated, such as low blood count, or other medications I am taking?
- Can you refer me to a neuropsychologist to be evaluated?
- If you don't believe I need an evaluation now, when should I come back for follow-up if these symptoms persist?
- How might cognitive remediation* and/or medication help me with these difficulties?
- Do you know a professional who might help me develop some strategies to make up for my problems with memory, attention, and new learning?
- Is there anything else I should know? Is there anything I can read for more information on chemobrain?
- Show your doctor the CancerCare "Chemobrain Cognitive Problems after Chemotherapy" Fact Sheet.
- Ask your doctor about what he or she knows about resources in your community.
CancerCare Can Help
CancerCare's staff of professional oncology social workers can help you address individual issues you may have when communicating with your doctor about chemobrain. We understand the importance of this relationship, and our social workers offer you detailed advice on the telephone, online, or in person to help you foster the best possible relationship with your health care team.
CancerCare also offers education, information and referrals to other resources that help you improve communication with your health care team.
If you have questions about chemobrain or need more information, call CancerCare at 1-800-813-HOPE (4673) or visit us at www.cancercare.org .
Made possible through a grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
__________________
*Cognitive remediation: working with a trained professional to address problems related to thought processes.
Posted in
Cancer, Health And Wellness, Tip Sheets |
No Comments »
The most reliable, up-to-date information about cancer is now available in Spanish! The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is pleased to announce the launch of our new Spanish Web site, Cancer.gov en español.
NCI, the Federal government's premiere cancer research institute, is committed to reducing cancer health disparities by making cancer information readily available to underserved populations. The Web site features themes of prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship.
Highlights of the Web site include:
- Information organized by types of cancer
- Myths and beliefs
- Support and resources in your community
- Dictionary of cancer terms
For information about these topics and more, visit http://www.cancer.gov/espanol Or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). Cancer information specialists answer calls in Spanish or English.
Spread the word! Here's what you can do:
Link to our new Spanish Web site from your organization's Web site (http://www.cancer.gov/espanol).
- Feature Cancer.gov en español in newsletters and listservs
- Promote Cancer.gov en español to organization members, community partners, and the public
- Share this important informational resource with colleagues, family, and friends
Contact us at ncioc@mail.nih.gov to learn about promotional materials available to your organization.
Visit us today!
###
Posted in
Cancer, Current Trends, Health And Wellness |
No Comments »
The Wellness Community and The MetaCancer Foundation
Create an Online Support Group for People Living with Metastatic Cancer
The Wellness Community and The MetaCancer Foundation are pleased to announce a new and free online service that is available for individuals living with metastatic cancer.
“About one-third of patients with cancer (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers) have metastases that are detected at the time their cancer is first diagnosed.”1 To better provide for these individuals, TWC and The MetaCancer Foundation created an online support group, free of charge, for cancer patients with metastatic cancer, made possible by a grant from The MetaCancer Foundation. The service offers a weekly, 90-minute, password-protected, professionally-led support group for these individuals.
The new program will be conducted through The Virtual Wellness Community, which is designed to enhance access to free cancer support and services through technology and to minimize barriers, such as geography. The Online Support Group at The Virtual Wellness Community will have multiple features, including weekly scheduled meetings, a limited setting of 10-12 participants and a licensed professionally trained facilitator. The Virtual Wellness Community and the Online Support Group provided through the service are led by the Patient Active model, which states “People with cancer who participate in their fight for recovery from cancer will improve the quality of their life and may enhance the possibility of recovery.”
The new online metastatic cancer support group will be a great way to help individuals start their road to recovery and most importantly be able to do so in a comfortable setting. People with metastatic cancer, will now have easy access to psychological support, along with education and inspiration.
If you are living with metastatic cancer and would like to join an online support group, please visit, www.thewellnesscommunity.org
Posted in
Cancer, Current Trends, Health And Wellness |
No Comments »
Introduction
Millions of American women are the primary caregivers for their families. In addition to raising their family, they may also be caring for their aging parents. Unfortunately, when many of these women develop a serious illness such as cancer they may slight their own treatment because of their caregiving responsibilities. Here are some suggestions to help women focus on taking good care of themselves and surviving a cancer crisis.
Take responsibility for your emotional health as well as your physical health. Care about yourself as much as you care about others. For a while at least, and whenever necessary, put yourself at the very center of your “Circle of Caring.”
- Be precious to yourself. Do things that make you feel happy and good and give yourself time to health both physically and emotionally.
- Fear is a basic emotion. It is real and it is normal. It’s also manageable.
- Always chose hope – never its darker side of hopelessness. Remember that a hopeless person is a helpless person.
- Get as much information about your disease and treatment as you can, and insist on excellent care. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Get second opinions, and tell your physician or other health care professionals if you don’t like the way something has been managed. You would do this for other family members – why not do it for yourself!
- Lower your own performance standards when warranted. Remember that “good is usually good enough.” We don’t have to be perfect – perfect mothers, partners, employees or friends.
- Find a good support system. As hard as others might try, few can actually understand the personal trauma of a cancer diagnosis or the physical and emotional readjustment necessary. That’s why self help and support programs are so valuable.
- Remember that every crisis contains the seeds of opportunity. These hidden opportunities can help you grow beyond the crisis.
There are thousands of highly trained social workers with specialized training in cancer available to help women dealing with the disease. To locate a social worker in your area, please click here.
###
Related Articles:
Posted in
Cancer, Health And Wellness, Tip Sheets |
No Comments »
Introduction
(Washington, D.C.)—The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship's (NCCS) premiere patient tool, the award-winning Cancer Survival Toolbox, is now available FREE on iTunes (www.itunes.com). The Toolbox is a FREE self-learning audio program created by leading cancer organizations to help people develop important skills to better meet and understand the challenges of their illness.
The Toolbox features 10 modules that cover basic skills and topics including communication, finding information, negotiating, making decisions, solving problems, standing up for your rights, topics for older persons, finding ways to pay for care, caring for the caregiver, and living beyond cancer. While created primarily for people who have been recently diagnosed with cancer, the Toolbox can help anyone who is facing hard decisions and changes in life due to cancer. Family members and caregivers may also find the Toolbox helpful.
"The First Step to Cancer Survival™ is educating yourself through credible and accurate resources. At NCCS, we are trying to make the Cancer Survival Toolbox easily accessible to everyone," said Ellen Stovall, 34-year cancer survivor and NCCS's president and CEO.
After recognizing the need to teach cancer survivors how to seek information, make the best possible decisions about their care and interact effectively with their health care team, insurers, and employers, NCCS, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) collaborated to develop and launch the first edition of the Toolbox. To date, NCCS has distributed more than 600,000 Toolboxes (tapes and compact disc sets) to cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers, and thousands more have read the transcripts or listened to the modules online at www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org.
Currently the Toolbox is only available in English on iTunes. To download iTunes to your computer click here. To order the Toolbox in English, Spanish, or Chinese (transcript only) call the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship at 1.877.TOOLS.4.U. You can also read, listen, or download MP3 files of the modules online at www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org.
***
© 2006. National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. All rights reserved.
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 770, Silver Spring, MD 20910
877.NCCS.YES, http://www.canceradvocacy.org
Posted in
Cancer, Current Trends, Health And Wellness |
No Comments »
Introduction
Lance Armstrong isn’t riding in the Tour de France this year, but to a bicycling fanatic like me his carbon fiber footprints are all over the race.
He isn’t tearing up the time trials or climbing the Col de Tourmelet, but Lance is still out there wearing bright yellow.
After seven years of dominating cycling’s biggest, most grueling race, everything is measured against his performance. As the Americans struggle, the commentators keep coming back to the same question: What would Lance do?
I know, because I’ve watched nearly all this year’s tour, partly because chemotherapy has glued me to the LazyBoy for more days than I care to count.
But another reason is because this year, I’m tuned into Lance’s story in a whole new way.
Cancer does that to you, gives you a different perspective.
Here’s a guy who had just about the worst cancer prognosis imaginable — at age 25. He didn’t just have one small tumor like I did. He had metastasized cancer that had spread from his testicle through his lungs and into his brain. His doctors told him later they thought he had at best a 1-in-5 chance of surviving.
But he did much more than survive. He won seven consecutive Tours de France and, perhaps more importantly, founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation to help fight cancer.
Last week, I finally read his book It’s Not About the Bike, which tells the story of his struggle with and victory over cancer.
That’s what you want to surround yourself with when you’re in the cancer fight: success stories. And they don’t get much better than Lance’s.
Like many other cancer fighters, Lance had to go through hell to get better. Then, when the cancer was gone, he had to struggle with something called survivorship.
The National Cancer Institute says survivorship “covers the physical, psychosocial, and economic issues of cancer, from diagnosis until the end of life.”
Once you get cancer, in other words, you start a new life as a survivor. It’s something that I’m just beginning to understand.
But I’ve found — and this is another reason why Lance is looming so large for me right now — a good place to find support: the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Last week I logged onto www.livestrong.org and started reading. I highly recommend it. The site is built around helping patients fight the disease and helping survivors get on with their lives. It offers, among other things, a SurvivorCare program complete with a toll-free number and an e-mail link.
So I e-mailed in a question thinking I’d get some sort of boilerplate response. Instead, what I got a day later was a phone call from Lester Gallo, a very nice licensed clinical social worker.
Lester patiently answered my questions for close to a half-hour. Then he gave me his number and invited me to call back.
I have to say I felt not only reassured and better informed, but also grateful to Lance and his foundation for the support.
I don’t know if an American cyclist can win this year’s Tour, but a retired one and his foundation have won my gratitude and support.
From now on, I’m wearing yellow, too.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2393 or kmccall@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Reprinted with permission of the Dayton Daily News.
Posted in
Cancer, Health And Wellness |
1 Comment »
Introduction
At the San Diego Cancer Center, treatment isn’t just about pills, injections, radiation and surgery. It’s also about feeling good, having companions and enjoying life.
Art therapy, yoga, reiki, acupuncture and other courses are offered at the center’s nonprofit affiliate, the San Diego Cancer Research Institute. The institute’s Integrative Program is designed to help patients get the willpower and peace of mind to endure debilitating and painful treatments. They are not a substitute for conventional medical treatments given by the cancer center.
The theme of emotional support extends to the room designs and furnishings at the cancer center. Its “serenity room,” quiet and decorated with art, provides a place for delivering bad news. The “chemo room,” where patients receive infusions of chemotherapy drugs, resembles a parlor or salon, with coffee, munchies and magazines.
In short, the Cancer Research Institute and Cancer Center aims to treat the patient, not just the cancer. Reducing stress and strengthening a patient’s will to live can improve the patient’s quality of life, said Michele A. Rodgaard, a licensed clinical social worker at the center, which has offices in Vista and Encinitas.
Rodgaard co-founded the Integrative Program with Dr. Daniel Vicario in 2002. Vicario is medical director of the institute, and is conducting a clinical trial of the effectiveness of various kinds of prostate cancer treatment. Last month, 10News honored the duo for the program with a Leadership Award.
While the institute and cancer center advocate a connection between increased survival time and psychological boosts such as belonging to support groups, that has not been borne out in the medical literature. However, a study published in the Dec. 13, 2001, New England Journal of Medicine found that breast cancer patients who belonged to a support group had less pain and depression than those who didn’t.
A cancer patient’s emotional outlook can help determine how faithfully he or she adheres to the therapy regimen, said Dr. Lynette Cederquist of the cancer center. So even if indirectly, mood can bear on survival. Cederquist helped develop a class for chemotherapy patients on how to keep themselves as strong as possible.
“I would stress the importance of patients becoming actively involved in their care,” Cederquist said. “We can’t do everything for them, but we can educate them and advise them. They really have to be an active participant in taking care of themselves.”
– Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at bfikes@nctimes.com or (760) 739-6641.
San Diego Cancer Center/San Diego Cancer Research Institute
LOCATIONS: Vista and Encinitas
SPECIALTY: Integrative care, matching medical treatment with nutritional and emotional support
CONTACT: (760) 598-1700 (Vista), (760) 634-6661
ON THE WEB: www.sdcancer.org and www.sdcri.org.
Reprinted with permission of the North County Times.
Posted in
Cancer, Health And Wellness |
No Comments »
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
| | |
