August 11, 2010
Richard C. Frank, MD’s new book, Fighting Cancer with Knowledge and Hope: A Guide for Patients, Families, and Health Care Providers, is a must-read for anyone affected by cancer. A portion of proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to CancerCare, ensuring that we are able to continue providing free, professional support services to people all across the country.
Fighting Cancer inspires patients to feel in control at a time when they may feel powerless. The many topics the book discusses include:
• What cancer is and how it spreads
• How to reconcile emotional needs alongside medical treatment
• Why particular treatment strategies are chosen and how they work
• How patients can visualize treatments at work in the body and why this is helpful
You can order a copy of the book here, or through Amazon.com.
We also encourage you to visit Dr. Frank’s Fighting Cancer blog.
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Caregiving, Coping with Cancer, Mind-Body-Spirit, Support CancerCare | Tagged: cancer patients, caregivers, coping, psychological impact of cancer | 
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Posted by Kyle Hornyak
July 27, 2010
A new online quarterly magazine from the Lance Armstrong Foundation examines how complete patient care–physical as well as emotional–is being increasingly emphasized as a critical component in the treatment of cancer patients.
Traditional care has focused mainly on treating cancer as a medical condition in which emotional concerns and issues resulting from the diagnosis are often downplayed or not addressed at all. This is changing, as more and more oncologists and other health care providers acknowledge the integral role of counseling and emotional support for patients, their families, and caregivers.
Oncology social workers provide critical support to patients, notes CancerCare’s Win Boerckel, who is quoted in the article; they can “help people normalize the experience of having cancer, so they can answer questions from their children or get to their next chemo appointment.”
Read the article, “Surviving the First 100 Days,” in the debut issue of LIVESTRONG Quarterly , beginning on page 22.
Leave a Comment » | Caregiving, Coping with Cancer, Survivorship | Tagged: cancer and the family, cancer information, cancer patients, cancer research, caregivers, coping, counseling, psychological impact of cancer | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
July 20, 2010
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN) have partnered with Genentech to conduct a 10-question survey to better understand how people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer identify with and feel about living with the illness.
Genentech will donate $5 for each survey completed to programs and services designed specifically for metastatic breast cancer patients. Survey results will be used to produce video and media materials that will be distributed on Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13).
The survey is open and available online until August 31. Please visit facesofmbc.org or text MBC to 74471 to share your story.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Survivorship, Women's Cancers | Tagged: breast cancer, cancer information, cancer patients, cancer research, cancer survivors, research, Women's Cancers | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
June 7, 2010
Researchers at the University of Colorado, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and UCLA have joined with the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service to investigate how to better provide information about the best treatments possible for patients affected by breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Each of the three studies are seeking participants, who will receive a variety of types of educational information about their diagnosis, and will then be asked to participate in two brief telephone interviews with researchers over a period of nine months. All information is completely confidential.
Healing Choice for Prostate Cancer is for men who have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, but have not yet begun any treatment. The goal is to help men decide on the treatment that’s right for them.
Healing Choices for Women with Breast Cancer is for women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, but who have not yet begun any treatment. The study’s purpose is to determine the best way to provide treatment information to women, and whether the information helped them in making decisions about their treatment.
Pathways to Recovery after Breast Cancer Treatment is for women who are just completing treatment for breast cancer or have completed treatment within the past six months. The goal is to find out the best way to help women get information about life after breast cancer treatment.
To find out if you are eligible to participate in any of these studies, please call 1-866-258-7981.
CancerCare offers free, professional support services to anyone affected by breast cancer or prostate cancer. People affected by either diagnosis may qualify to receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Men's Cancers, Survivorship, Women's Cancers | Tagged: cancer information, cancer patients, cancer research, coping, research, Women's Cancers | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
May 17, 2010
The inspirational online community for women Girlfriendology recently showcased helpful ways to support a girlfriend affected by cancer.
The article, written by CancerCare Director of Women’s Cancers Laura Mosiello, provides great tips such as:
• Ask your friend how she’s coping. Let her know you’re available to listen, but don’t push her to talk if she doesn’t feel like it.
• Offer to help with practical things like household chores or running errands.
• In the event she’s hospitalized, bring her a blanket, comfy slippers, a magazine—anything to make her feel more comfortable.
• Check in regularly throughout treatment and even once it’s over. Emotional side effects can linger long after treatment ends.
Keep in mind, however, that you are not expected to be your friend’s sole source of support. CancerCare provides free support services to anyone affected by cancer.
Check out the full blog post and the complete list of tips here.
Leave a Comment » | Caregiving, Coping with Cancer | Tagged: cancer patients, cancer support, caregivers, coping | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
May 6, 2010
A recent article in The New York Times describes how medical schools are educating future doctors about the high costs of medical treatments and how health care is financed.
Doctors-in-training were traditionally shielded from the cost of the tests and treatment required for their patients. Students were taught to order tests based on their evaluation of the condition, rather than factor in the high cost to the patient.
Now, many residency programs are creating courses for students about health policy that include information about treatment costs and insurance. For example, Dr. Yasmin S. Meah, an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, directs a clinic that she describes as teaching future doctors how to “understand what is necessary and what is not. ” Students there are learning valuable lessons in how to practice medicine more cost-effectively for patients.
These are exciting developments because, as the financial impact of cancer treatment can be overwhelming, cost of care is a key issue for doctors and patients to discuss. Just as important is knowing about the resources that exist to provide patients with financial support.
The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a group of organizations, which includes CancerCare, that offers financial help and resources. The coalition educates patients and providers about existing resources through a comprehensive online database.
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides eligible individuals with up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance.
Learn more about the financial support offered by CancerCare.
Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance | Tagged: cancer patients, copayment assistance, cost of care, financial resources | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
April 23, 2010
CancerCare applauds President Obama’s April 15 memorandum that ends sexual-orientation-based discrimination in hospital visitation rights and ensures that all people receive equal hospital visitation privileges.
The new rule, which the President directed Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to implement within the next 180 days, will affect any hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding–that is, the majority of the nation’s health-care institutions.
Previously, hospitals were able to bar visitors who are not related to a patient by blood or marriage; and to prevent same-sex couples’ efforts to designate a partner to make medical decisions on their behalf should they become incapacitated. Also affected by these policies were widows or widowers with no children, members of a religious order, or others whose loved ones who were not the patient’s immediate relatives.
The new rules are seen as a major step forward for the rights of same-sex partners and their families.
Read the presidential mandate in its entirety here.
Addressing concerns unique to the LGBT population are among the many specialized programs offered by CancerCare’s staff of oncology social workers. Our services, all completely free of charge, include individual counseling, support groups, financial assistance, and community programs, available to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis.
Learn more about CancerCare’s supportive services for the LGBT community.
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Posted by Kyle Hornyak
April 9, 2010
Through April, The Cutting Edge Concert Series, presented by Symphony Space in New York City, explores the role that music can play in a patient’s treatment.
On Monday, April 12, CancerCare Director of Education and Training Carolyn Messner will join host Victoria Bond and composers Harold Meltzer, Sebastian Currier, Laurie San Martin, Sean Shepherd, Kristin Kuster, Jeremy Thurlow and Anna Weesner in a discussion about the therapeutic value of music during treatment.
The event, held at Symphony Space’s Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater (Broadway at 95th St.) begins at 6:30 p.m. with the panel discussion, followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m.
“As a recent breast cancer survivor, I learned from a fellow patient the benefit of having music played when undergoing radiation treatments,” says Messner. “I requested my favorite classical music to be played. It was transformative for me, the time went quickly and the music enabled me to tolerate the treatments.”
“Many people find music to be a fabulous distraction from what is happening around them during treatment,” adds Messner, noting that most treatment centers offer patients the option of listening to music during treatment. “Patients can certainly find it soothing and relaxing, and some even prefer to dial the volume as loud as it can go in order to feel energized. Having the ability to select what they listen to and how loud they listen to it brings a sense of control, and really can completely change a person’s mood.”
Tickets are $20 ($18 for Symphony Space members); students and seniors, $15. Purchase tickets online at www.symphonyspace.org.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Mind-Body-Spirit, Support CancerCare | Tagged: cancer patients, cancer treatment, coping, New York City | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
April 5, 2010
Be a Survivor—Lung Cancer Treatment Guide is an optimistic, encouraging treatment guide that details the lung cancer experience from diagnosis to recovery.
The guidebook was written by Vladimir Lange, M.D. to empower patients to seek a cure, rather than to accept defeat. “New treatments, new drugs, and earlier diagnosis make survival much more likely than it was just a few years ago,” he notes.
CancerCare Lung Cancer Program Coordinator Win Boerkel calls Be a Survivor “one of the best lung cancer patient guides I’ve seen in my 13 years of working with lung cancer patients.”
In 2009, CancerCare collaborated with leading patient advocacy groups to launch The Lung Cancer Clinical Trial Call to Action campaign, designed to help patients and their families navigate the complicated landscape of researching and identifying clinical trials. Patients can call 1-800-698-0931 to be matched with a Clinical Trial Specialist who will guide them through the entire process.
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation offers up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance for lung cancer patients in their families.
To order the guide, call 1-888-LANGE-88 (888-526-4388), or print out and fax back the order form.
Learn more about our free services for lung cancer patients and visit our sister website, www.lungcancer.org.
Leave a Comment » | Clinical Trials, Coping with Cancer, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Mind-Body-Spirit | Tagged: cancer information, cancer patients, cancer survivors, Clinical Trials, coping, financial resources, lung cancer | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak
December 15, 2009
Pfizer Inc. announced last week that it will extend through 2010 its program providing free prescription medications for people who have lost their jobs.
According to the Associated Press, the Pfizer program makes available more than 70 types of widely prescribed medications it manufactures, such as anti-pain drugs and anti-depressants. The program helps people who have lost jobs since Jan. 1, 2009 and have been taking the drug for three months or more.
Visit the Pfizer website for more information about the program and the medications offered. For more information about specific chemotherapy drugs available through Pfizer’s patient assistance program, call 866-706-2400.
Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance | Tagged: cancer information, cancer patients, chemotherapy, coping, cost of care, financial resources, low-income | Permalink
Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett
