2018 Coping With Cancer- Tools To Help You Live
COPING WITH CANCERTools to Help You LiveCANCERCARECONNECT BOOKLET SERIESWWW.CANCERCARE.ORG
Coping With Cancer:Tools to Help You LiveThe CancerCare Connect Booklet Series offers up-to-date, easy-to-readinformation on the latest treatments, managing side effects and copingwith cancer.To order free copies of this booklet, please use the online order form on ourwebsite, www.cancercare.org.TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction. 4Treating the Whole Person. 5Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization providingfree, professional support services and information to help people managethe emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. Our comprehensiveservices include counseling and support groups over the phone, online andin person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-paymentassistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workersand world-leading cancer experts.Coping: What It Really Means. 6CancerCare relies on the generosity of supporters to provide our servicescompletely free of charge to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. If you havefound this resource helpful and wish to donate, please do so online atwww.cancercare.org/donate. You may also mail a check, payable toCancerCare, to CancerCare, Attn: Donations, 275 Seventh Avenue,New York, NY 10001.CancerCare Can Help. 16Finding Financial Help.10Coping With the Emotional Impact. 13Frequently Asked Questions. 18Resources. 22EDITORThank you.CancerCare National Office275 Seventh AvenueNew York, NY 10001Learning About Treatment. 7Toll-free 800-813-HOPE (4673)Fax 212-712-8495Email info@cancercare.orgWeb www.cancercare.orgGlenn Meuche, MSW, LCSW,Social Work Internship Program Coordinator, CancerCareThe content of this booklet is independent, non-promotional and free of commercial influence and bias. 2018 CancerCare . All rights reserved. 02/182WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE3
What do I tell my family? Will I beable to continue working? How doI pay for treatment? What happensafter my treatment is finished?The answers to these questions are different for everyonebecause no two people experience cancer in the same way. Acancer diagnosis may make you feel worried, sad, confused orangry. Your world has changed and is now filled with informationand medical terms you never thought you needed to learn. Inaddition to the physical difficulties, there are emotional andfinancial issues that you must learn to manage. Without a doubt,cancer turns your world upside down.This booklet will help you understand the challenges that are apart of living with cancer and provide you with the tools you needto cope better with this experience. You will learn that you are notalone—there are sources of support available to you.Treating the Whole PersonWhen someone is diagnosed with cancer, it seems everyoneis focused, and rightly so, on the person’s physical well-beingespecially as it pertains to treatments, side effects, doctor’s visitsand tests. There are many aspects of your life that are affected bya diagnosis. For instance, cancer can impact your self-image, work,family, friendships and how you go about living life.Experts agree that the standard of care for all cancer patientsmust include not only addressing the practical impact on theindividual, but also how the diagnosis affects a person’s emotionaland spiritual well-being. CancerCare’s oncology social workersunderstand the complexity of issues raised by cancer. Moreimportantly, social workers know that finding ways to cope withthese concerns can bring an enormous sense of relief to both theperson with cancer and his or her loved ones.The Value of Oncology Social WorkersOncology social workers are professionals who provide emotionalsupport to people with cancer. Oncology social workers can helpindividuals living with cancer access practical assistance as well.Oncology social workers provide individual counseling, facilitatesupport groups and identify resources that can help with homecare or transportation. They can offer guidance and help peoplenavigate the process of applying for Social Security disability orother forms of assistance. CancerCare’s oncology social workersare available to help people, free of charge. People can accesssupport through individual, counseling and support groups.4WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE5
Coping: What It Really MeansLearning About TreatmentPeople sometimes mistakenly believe that “coping” with cancersimply means living with a problem, whether you like it or not,but coping actually means finding ways to adapt to a diagnosis.You can’t control the fact that you or a loved one has cancer,but you can manage how you respond and live with cancer.One of the biggest challenges for people with cancer is sortingthrough treatment options. As the science of treating cancerhas advanced, researchers have developed better and moreeffective treatments. This means patients have more choicesthan they did a few decades ago or even a few years ago.What Is Coping?One of the reasons why making choices can so often beoverwhelming and confusing is the vast amount of informationthat is available. Some of the information may be unreliable.Advertisements on television, health stories, literatureavailable on the internet, newspapers and magazines add tothe deluge of information. It can be difficult to sift througheverything. All this, in conjunction with your health care teamand well-meaning friends and family offering opinions, cancontribute to the stress people experience at times.Coping is Managing and understanding what you need to improveyour situation Making efforts to bring your problems under control Maintaining a healthy balance between realism andcautious optimismCounseling to Better Cope With aCancer DiagnosisOncology social workers can help you find ways to copewith the stress of a cancer diagnosis. They can provideguidance and help you and your loved one through theexperience of living with cancer. Seeking professionalcounseling is a strength and a good way to help you copewhen you are feeling overwhelmed and attempting to adjustto a cancer diagnosis. Face-to-face or telephone counselingprovides a safe space to share and examine situations thatyou may discover yourself challenged by.6WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE7
Here are some tips to help you better communicate with yourhealth care team: Recognize that as a health care consumer, it is your right tohave a good health care team that listens to your questionsand concerns. Get to know all the members of your team andlearn how each one helps you. Identify one person on the medical team who is in charge ofyour care and “funnel” all information through that person. As you visit different websites or hear about new treatments,write down questions as they arise. At your next medicalappointment, bring these questions with you so you can keeptrack of what you need to know. During your medical appointments, take notes or ask afamily member to take notes. Also, ask your doctor if youcan record your visits. This will allow you to go back laterand listen carefully to all the information presented byyour doctor. Ask your doctor to recommend additional resources andinformation on your diagnosis and treatment. For tips onevaluating websites, see the sidebar on the right. Find trustworthy educational programs about yourcancer. CancerCare offers free educational materials fromexperts on a range of cancer diagnoses and topics. Visitwww.cancercare.org to view all of CancerCare’s resources.How to Find CredibleInformation on the InternetThe information found on the internet is not a substitutefor medical care. The credible information you find onthe web should be used to help you communicate moreeffectively with your doctor. For a list of trusted websites,see the resources at the end of this booklet. Here are sometips on how to identify credible internet resources:Identify the purpose of the website. Is it educationalor commercial? For example, a website sponsoredby a pharmaceutical company isn’t likely to give youunbiased information about a competing drug. Butbecause that site must meet the standards of the U.S.Food and Drug Administration, it will be an excellentsource on a particular product.Find the source of the information. Generally, nationallyknown cancer centers, medical schools, large nonprofitorganizations and government agencies provide the highestquality information.Locate the contact information for the people whodeveloped the website. If you can’t communicate withthem, find another source.8WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE9
Finding Financial HelpLiving with cancer can be expensive. Some people may have nohealth insurance; others may be insured but don’t have coveragefor aspects of their treatment, such as prescription drug co-pays.Many people do not have the needed income to meet new costssuch as child care or transportation to treatment. People withcancer and their caregivers often have to cut back on time spentat work, which often affects their income at the same time thattheir bills are building up.Financial stress often causes emotional stress. For example,when a family is under financial pressures, it can create feelingsof worry, sadness and anxiety. Because cancer treatment oftenmeans years of medical care, financial concerns can influencemajor life decisions about work, housing and school. There isassistance available, and CancerCare can help you navigate themaze of government, nonprofit and co-pay assistance programs,as well as other sources of financial help. Here are some of thethings you can do:Talk to your insurance company. Most companies will assigna case manager to help you work through insurance concerns,clarify benefits and suggest ways to get other health services.Talk to your health care providers about your needs. Manytreatment centers have social workers who help you sort throughfinancial concerns. A CancerCare oncology social worker can alsohelp you.Find out which government programs (entitlements) youare eligible for and apply promptly. To contact the SocialSecurity Administration, call 800-772-1213 or visit www.ssa.gov.To contact the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, call800-633-4227 or visit www.cms.gov. For Medicaid information,contact local listings for a Medicaid office in your state.Learn how organizations can help you. There are nonprofitprograms for co-pay relief that can help those who do notqualify for other aid. To learn more, read CancerCare’s factsheets titled, “Sources of Financial Assistance” and “HowCo-Payment Assistance Foundations Help.”CancerCare’s Online Helping Hand. CancerCare’s OnlineHelping Hand (www.cancercare.org/helpinghand) is a searchable,online database of financial and practical assistance availablefor people with cancer. This comprehensive online tool featuresup-to-date contact information and descriptions for hundredsof national and regional organizations offering financial help topeople with cancer. You can search by diagnosis, zip code andtype of assistance.10WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE11
Tips for Taking Control of Your FinancesWhen you or a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis,money may be the last thing you want to think about, buttaking control of your finances from the start may be thebest way to prevent a crisis later on.Keep track of important papers. Many people find it helpfulto keep their records and paperwork in one place for easyreference. Important documents may include copies of medicalrecords and prescription information.Get a handle on your income and expenses. Figure out howmuch money is coming in to your household, how much youspend and what you spend it on. Do you have money saved foran emergency? Do you have assets (a home, other property, aretirement plan, life insurance) that you can use to obtain cash?Have you elected a power of attorney?Coping With theEmotional ImpactThe words “you have cancer” can be frightening and overwhelming.Some people experience feelings of helplessness and hopelessnessand question whether they know how to deal with these feelings.At times, people may be reluctant to talk to their doctor abouttheir concerns because they don’t want to distract him or her fromthe primary goal of treatment.Emotional needs vary from person to person, depending on age,closeness of family and friends, access to medical care and otherfactors. For example, a 25-year-old person with a cancer diagnosishas different pressures and responsibilities than a person who is60. Younger people may experience more confusion over havingcancer at an age when they usually feel invincible and none oftheir friends are ill. On the other hand, an older person may havefewer family members to rely on who can help care for his or hermedical needs.Stay on top of medical bills. The consequences of medicaldebt are staggering and unfortunately all too common. Medicaldebt can be a major burden and a source of continuing stressfor many living with cancer. If you find yourself behind onpaying medical bills, there are resources that can help. Viewthe Resource Section at the end of this booklet.Get help. Oncology social workers are licensed professionalswho counsel people affected by cancer, providing emotionalsupport and helping people access practical assistance.12WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGNo matter what our stage in life, cancer takes an emotionaltoll on the person diagnosed, as well as everyone close to thatperson. At CancerCare, we work with each individual, offeringsupport that meets each person’s needs and concerns. It’simportant to remember that everyone experiences some kindof sadness or helplessness when confronted with cancer—andthat many people learn to cope and adapt to these experiences.Remember that there are many things you can do to adjust tothe emotional impact of cancer. To help you cope more effectivelywhile undergoing treatment, you could try the following:CANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE13
Keep track of your feelings. Many people find it helpful to keepa journal or record their emotions through photography, drawing,painting, music or other forms of expression.Share your feelings with people close to you. Sometimes,caregivers and people with cancer feel as if they are a “burden”to their loved ones by “complaining” about their problems.Remember that you are entitled to every emotion you have. Don’tbe afraid to share these emotions with the people close to you.Strengthening the SpiritWhen you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer, youmight find yourself turning to your spiritual side moreoften to help you cope. You may begin to question yourfaith. These reactions are normal. Whether you are in theprocess of strengthening or reevaluating your spiritualbeliefs, you might want to try the following:Seek individual counseling with a professional. You may feelthat the diagnosis is yours alone to cope with, and perhaps feelthe need to isolate yourself from others. Oncology social workers,psychologists and psychiatrists help you sort through your manycomplex emotions. CancerCare provides free individual counselingto people with cancer and caregivers across the country. Take time to meditate or pray regularly. This can bring asense of calm and stability during difficult times. Read spiritual writings or other faith-based texts. Delvinginto sacred texts can put you in touch with ancient traditionsof wisdom and give you a sense of connection with a moredivine reality.Join a support group. Support groups provide an environmentwhere someone affected by cancer does not have to explainwhat he or she is going through because the other groupmembers will understand. In addition to lessening one’s senseof isolation, support groups can be a source of valuableinformation. Not surprisingly, members find that sharingresources and coping skills can be highly rewarding, whetheron the giving or the receiving end of the transaction. CancerCareprovides free, professionally led support groups over thetelephone, online and face-to-face. Reach out to your clergy or spiritual counselor, or join agroup for meditation, prayer and support. Retreat to spiritual spaces, such as natural settings orhouses of worship, or listen to soothing music to cultivatea spiritual sense of peace. Engage in a meditation or prayer group. Keep a journal to express your feelings, thoughts andmemories. It can contribute to your process of self-discoveryand spiritual development.Tell your doctor and nurse about your feelings. Health careprofessionals understand that patients are concerned aboutgood quality of life as they go through treatment. Sometimes,people benefit from a referral for counseling or treatment foranxiety or depression.14WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE15
CancerCare Can HelpReceiving a diagnosis of cancer can be very difficult andadjusting to the necessary changes in your life can beextremely challenging.Your Inner PowerLife changes in many ways when you or a loved one isdiagnosed with cancer. The educational, financial, andCancerCare can help. We are a national nonprofit organizationproviding free, professional services to anyone affected bycancer. Our licensed oncology social workers can provide supportand education, help in navigating the complicated health caresystem and provide information on support groups and otherresources. To learn more about how CancerCare helps, call usat 800-813-HOPE (4673) or visit www.cancercare.org.emotional challenges are great. But there is one thing thateven cancer does not have the power to change: You arethe expert on your own life.You can manage many aspects of cancer, which will help youcope better with the challenges that come up. CancerCare andthe organizations listed among the resources at the back of thisbooklet may give you help and support along the way.In addition, you will build a personal support network duringthis time which may be comprised of family and friends. In doingso, it’s best to take some time to think about the people in yourlife and how they are best suited to help. It can be helpful todesignate certain responsibilities and roles to family and friends.Identify family strengths and match the task to those strengths—for instance, ask a family member who loves to shop to pick upsomething for you at the store, or you could ask a friend who’sa good listener to come over for a chat.16WWW.CANCERCARE.ORGCANCERCARE COPING WITH CANCER: TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE17
Frequently Asked Questionsmedications. Also, there are some things you can do on your ownto get relief:Q: My wife was diagnosed with cancer, and we have twoyoung children at home. How do we explain her illnessto them?A: With young children, there may be a temptation to avoiddiscussing serious illnesses like cancer. You may not want toburden your children with all the complex worries of the disease.But the best thing you can do for them is to give them accurate,age-appropriate information about cancer. Don’t be afraid touse the word “cancer” and tell them where it is in the body. Ifchildren don’t get this information from their parents, they willoften invent their own explanations, which often can be morefrightenin
Coping: What It Really Means People sometimes mistakenly believe that “coping” with cancer simply means living with a problem, whether you like it or not, but coping actually means finding ways to adapt to a diagnosis. You can’t control the fact that you or a loved one has cancer, but you can manage how you respond and live with cancer.
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A way of coping is a broader category of coping that explains specific coping instances. For instance, reading a book on stress management falls under the way of coping named “reading.” Playing the video game “Tetris” is a way of coping that is referred to as “distraction.” In Fig. 1 and Fig.
focused and problem-focused coping into a functional coping scale and added dysfunctional coping to the existing model, in order to distinguish between helpful and unhelpful coping techniques. Dysfunc-tional coping can take different forms (Car
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer among women. There are three types of ovarian cancer: epithelial ovarian cancer, germ cell cancer, and stromal cell cancer. Equally rare, stromal cell cancer starts in the cells that produce female hormones and hold the ovarian tissues together. Familial breast-ovarian cancer
A cope-cake is another way of saying coping skill. A coping skill is something that makes me feel better when I am mad, worried or sad. Some coping skills are healthy.I can take deep breaths, go for a walk or take a nap. Some coping skills
al., 2001, pg. 89). Coping skills change with development and the skills available to an individual are constrained by their biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Coping behaviors can be further categorized into primary control engagement coping, secondary control engagement coping, and disengagement (Connor-Smith et al., 2000).
As the Chair and Co-Chair of the Kansas Cancer Partnership (KCP), we are pleased to provide . you with the 2017-2021 Kansas Cancer Prevention and Control Plan. This plan is the result of . Breast Biopsies Breast Cancer Cervical Cancer Colorectal Cancer Lung Cancer Prostate Cancer. Post-Diagnosis & Quality of Life throughout the Cancer Journey.
API 526 provides effective discharge areas for a range of sizes in terms of letter designations, “D” through “T.” 3.19 Flutter Fluttering is where the PRV is open but the dynamics of the system cause abnormal, rapid reciprocating motion of the moveable parts of the PRV. During the fluttering, the disk does not contact the seat but reciprocates at the frequency of the flutter. 3.19 .
