The Importance of Good Relationships in a Difficult Time A diagnosis of cancer is something no one ever plans on. Even with the exchange of the vows “in sickness and in health,” it can be difficult to navigate the unchartered waters of what the illness of a partner could mean to the individual as well as to those who love them. In the case of a breast cancer diagnosis that necessitates the removal of one or both breasts, the cancer is not only something that causes sickness, pain and anguish but it also leaves behind a physical reminder. Changes Triggered by the Loss The act of removing a part of the body is about far more than the loss of body tissue. It is a physical element of personal connection to the body, one that’s never easy to articulate. For some women this act has the potential to bring up feelings of how the loss of a breast(s) could change how they and others look at them. This is a situation no one could ever anticipate, let alone know how to deal with the associated feelings. Navigating Steps Accepting the Differences – the diagnosis of cancer is a life-changing one and each person will react in a different way. In this case, it is best to take cues from the person dealing with the cancer diagnosis. Some might want to openly share their story to find support while others will choose to remain silent and independent. Acknowledging the Blessings – Understand being alive and well are the most important things. No amount of physical change should ever affect that....
Cancer does not discriminate and when it strikes, the disease can spawn advocates from every walk of life. These are individuals who go out of their way to offer options to others fighting the disease, all in an effort to make the fight against cancer a little more equal. At a recent TEDxKC event, one of the featured speakers was former figure skater and sports commentator Scott Hamilton. Best known for his 1984 Gold medal performance at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics, Hamilton continues to bring colorful commentary and energy to the field of figure skating. What people might not know about Hamilton is his journey as a cancer survivor of both testicular cancer and a benign pituitary brain tumor. Hamilton’s first cancer diagnosis of testicular cancer came in 1997, followed by a benign brain tumor in 2004 and a recurrence in the brain in 2010. An Advocate for Proton Therapy Cancer Treatment Hamilton’s TEDxKC talk focused on the growing field of proton therapy for effective cancer treatment. Proton therapy is similar to conventional radiation but it offers a reduction in negative side effects because most of the radiation remains in the tumor. First proposed in 1954, proton therapy is effective for prostate, breast, brain, head and neck, pancreatic, sarcoma, Hodgkin, pediatric and lung cancers. By depositing the concentration in the cancerous area, there is a sparing of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. There is also a reduction in negative side effects, secondary tumors, and cancer recurrence. Currently there are 14 operating proton therapy centers throughout the U.S. with another 10 under construction. Hamilton shared there is also a proton...
Cancer is no joking matter, but in an effort to lighten up some of the more uncomfortable aspects of the disease, people sometimes make jokes. One of these “laugh-because-you-can’t-cry” moments is chemo brain. The Mayo Clinic defines chemo brain as thinking and memory problems that occur after cancer treatment. The problem also goes by the names such as chemo fog, chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, or cognitive dysfunction. Cancer survivors frequently experience the disorder which can include the experience of slower cognition, inability to concentrate, or forgetfulness. All joking aside, chemo brain is a valid, yet largely unknown concern, particularly for those who receive chemotherapy in the brain or central nervous system or at a very young age when the brain is still developing. Examples of Chemo Brain Memory lapses Spacing out and trouble concentration Difficulty remembering details Trouble completing tasks or multitasking “Losing” words to complete a sentence (Cancer.org) The Mystery of the Brain Although defined as chemo brain, no one really knows if chemotherapy creates or causes the problem. This confusion is in part because the brain remains a scientific mystery and few understand its true workings, functions and capabilities. Those who believe chemo brain is not the result of chemotherapy hypothesize hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant or surgery could also cause symptoms of chemo brain. Other relatable issues can include anemia, fatigue, pain medication, infection, menopause, nutritional difficulties and sleep problems. Misunderstood but still Real It is unfair that in addition to dealing with the pain and loss associated with cancer, one must also negotiate the complications of chemo brain. Unfortunately, the misunderstanding sometimes creates...
Broaching the Topic of Selling a Life Insurance Policy for Cash When tough times hit in the form of a health crisis, people often respond in one of two ways. One option is to avoid talking about the problem and pretend it doesn’t exist. In this case, the only time people choose to discuss the problem is when the subject is absolutely necessary. The other side of the equation is openly talking about the issue and asking others to weigh in and give advice on tackling the problem. Obviously, both these examples are extremes. When faced with adversity, such in the case of a terminal cancer diagnosis, most individuals fall somewhere in between the two extremes. Many reasons exist for why people do or don’t respond a certain way including age, generational differences, upbringing, diagnosis and expectations. All of these variables can and will influence how different people could respond in a similar situation. Broaching the Topic It is a rare individual who can openly embrace the discussion of one’s own mortality. Generally these are difficult discussions to begin, and a sensitive touch broaching the subject is critical. In many cases, a conversation of one’s mortality can only take place behind closed doors and often includes only a few people such as a doctor and/or spouse or partner. This is understandable considering the impact of the news for the individual and their loved ones. As difficult as these conversations are, this is an important opportunity for the individual to articulate hopes, fears, and wishes for the future in their own way. Possible Topic Openings Asking about worries and concerns...
How a Viatical Settlement can provide Cash in a Time of Need Anyone who endures chemotherapy or watches a loved one suffer the dreadful associated side effects knows there’s a high price to pay for using chemotherapy in the treatment of terminal cancer. First used in the 1950s, chemotherapy attacks cancer cells in an attempt to slow growth and destroy cancer cells before they move to other parts of the body. Today, doctors can prescribe as many as 100 different chemotherapy drugs to fight cancer. A diagnosis of breast, kidney, stomach, brain or lung cancer and the state or amount of cancer discovered in the body determines what chemotherapy drug a doctor will prescribe. Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not discriminate, destroying healthy cells along with cancer cells. A Catch-22 Problem Depending on the levels and intensity of chemotherapy prescribed, chemotherapy can leave a terminal cancer patient in a habitually weakened state. In order to reduce the harmful effect of chemotherapy, a growing number of terminal cancer patients consider the use of complementary health approaches in addition to or instead of mainstream cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. These complementary health approaches can include dietary and herbal supplements, acupuncture, spinal manipulation (chiropractic), meditation, nutrition and other complementary health options. A 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found 65 percent of respondents diagnosed with cancer used complementary health approaches. Offering a Conventional Medicine Alternative Groups such as the American Anti-Cancer Institute offer alternatives to radiation and chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer and other immune-degenerative diseases. The Anti-Cancer Institute supports allopathic remedies designed to boost immune system response and reduce...
The Importance of Building a Support System during Cancer Treatment In times of crisis, it’s difficult to know where your greatest sources of strength will lie. Receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis can turn one’s life upside down both physically and psychologically. Each person’s experience is unique from the treatment methods to financial questions about funding treatment. One particularly large unknown is how friends and family will respond to the cancer crisis. Sometimes the people expected to be the biggest source of help, namely friends and family, will not necessarily respond in the way the patient hopes they will. Building the Support Team To effectively fight cancer, it helps to have support when it comes to figuring out complicated health records, juggling various appointments, caring for family, finding transportation and lodging for appointments, navigating insurance requirements, and considering financial implications. No one going through cancer treatment should also have to carry the burden of navigating the process on their own. This is why it’s critical to have the support of an advocate team throughout the process. Adding to the Support Team Assistance during a time of great need can come from a variety of sources. Some of these may include the help of friends and family while others might come from non-profit and for-profit organizations dedicated to assistance throughout the cancer journey. If support is unavailable from friends and family, it’s worthwhile to look into organizations dedicated to assistance. The following are some resources to consider in dealing with specific issues: Provision of rides to and from appointments (Road to Recovery) Securing lodging during treatment (American Cancer Lodging Programs) Assigning...
The Benefits of Having the End-of-Life Discussion before it’s too late Most conversations are merely the give and take of words with some questions and affirmative or negative answers thrown in for good measure. That sounds easy enough but when you or someone you love is facing a diagnosis of terminal cancer, the end-of-life conversation may be one of the most difficult conversations to initiate. Although incredibly difficult to begin, the conversation may be one of the most important ways to make the best of an unfortunate situation. Looking Beyond the Cancer Diagnosis In the case of a terminal cancer diagnosis, it is often difficult to know how the disease will progress. Depending on the severity of the disease and its accompanying symptoms, each cancer patient will respond differently, making it difficult to plan for the future whether that is the next week, next month or next year. This is why it is important to begin a conversation about what you or your loved ones want and need. Knowing these critical things can ensure your loved one has the experience that they desire and is one way to stop wondering if wishes were respected in the end. Tips for having a Conversation about Cancer Understandably, this is a talk many people dread to have. Although there is a clear need, few of us have the tenacity to explore this conversation without serious prompting. In fact, a recent survey from The Conversation Project found 90 percent believed it was important to have the discussion but only one-third of those surveyed actually had the conversation. As a result of this survey,...
Considerations for Out-of-Network Cancer Care Treating terminal cancer is not only tricky from the perspective of how to treat it but also how to pay for needed treatments. Many people diagnosed with cancer find before the treatment process begins, they must first determine how to pay for the cancer treatments. The deciding factors for this include age, financial resources, current employment status, existing health care insurance, government programs and possible charitable systems. Considering there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to any cancer diagnosis, it’s important to consider as many options as possible for adequate cancer care. Cancer Care: in-network or out-of-network? When filing taxes this year you might recall the necessity of showing proof of current health insurance as a part of changes related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Also known as Obamacare, the ACA initiative carries the intention to make private healthcare more affordable, but according to a Forbes article, the Affordable Care Act could also make it more difficult for cancer patients to go out-of-network for cancer care because of the difficulty of narrowing networks. As a result, more co-insurance is necessary for cancer care outside of designated network providers. The exception to this is care received in the emergency room. Superior Treatments just out of Reach Today, there’s a growing body of evidence showing the ability to treat more kinds of cancer more effectively by tailoring treatments to the genetic composition of the patient’s tumor. This alternative is considered more advanced than traditional treatments targeting cancer in a location of the body. While genetically matched cancer treatments are often more effective, they are also more expensive and...
The statistics for cancer in the United States are staggering. Each day, the parents of 46 children receive a cancer diagnosis and 1 in 300 develop cancer by the age of twenty, according to the American Anti-Cancer Institute. In addition to these sobering statistics, many of us also have a personal connection to a friend, family member, or acquaintance who is fighting a similar battle against cancer in the brain, stomach, breast, skin, kidney or lung. Curbing a Nation-wide Epidemic With such staggering numbers, it’s clear there is a need for an alternative to conventional methods of fighting cancer. The American Anti-Cancer Institute hopes to do just that by offering individuals fighting cancer with a way to regain their physical and economic strength. The Washington-based group strives to improve things for future generations through acculturation of traditional medicine by finding alternatives to chemotherapy and radiation for cancer and other immune degenerative diseases. Rather than solely fighting cancer through immune system-destroying methods, the Institute promotes allopathic remedies designed to boost the immune system and improve chronic pain without the need for harmful narcotic medications. The organization, led by director Bob Wright author of the book Killing Cancer – Not People, hopes to shift care of the immune system to a first-resort in disease prevention, rather than a last-ditch effort for those fighting late-stage and terminal cancer. Taking the Path Less Traveled Just as the genetic make-up of each individual is different so are the ways to fight the various forms of cancer. Conventional medicine often chooses how a cancer will be tackled, fighting some cancers with palliative therapies meant to...
There’s nothing worse than feeling you’re in a corner with no choices or alternatives. This is particularly true when a matter is outside the realm of control such as with a life-threatening health matter like brain cancer. Simply knowing there’s another option or opportunity can go a long way in raising hope for a patient and their family. The Alternative of Medical Tourism Depending on the stage of brain cancer, prognosis may take the form of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, and/or the use of drugs. Unfortunately, these options can also be prohibitively expensive for the individual and their family, requiring many sacrifices to take advantage of these treatments. If the proscribed treatments are too expensive, individuals often have to make a choice between which treatments fit into their budgets. While some level of treatment is better than none, the need to pick and choose treatments on the basis of what is affordable adds an additional level of unnecessary stress on the patient and their family. One way people are achieving more bang for their medical buck is through medical or health tourism. This alternative offers medical services in another country. Patients work with a medical tourism company to locate a country where their particular needs can be met outside of the U.S. within their budgetary requirements. Currently, brain cancer is treated through medical tourism in India, Turkey, Germany, and Thailand. Treatment plus Rest and Relaxation Brain cancer treatments at these global facilities include general surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and radio surgery (gamma knife therapy or proton beam therapy radiation). Many of the facilities also feature English-speaking medical staff. If English...
