Options to Battle the Side Effects of Chemotherapy Cancer Treatment
Written By:Pulse and posted in: Cancer Patient Tools and Resources
8 May 2011Chemotherapy and radiation treatment often times leave cancer patients with side-effects that severely impact various aspects of their quality of life. In this post, we’ll touch upon some of the dietary, physical and social options available to battle the side-effects induced by chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment.
Dietary Side Effects
Loss in appetite is a common side-effect experienced by patients who undergo chemotherapy. This loss in appetite results in a decreased protein and nutrient intake making the patient’s road to recovery more difficult. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer patients complain that certain foods like meat may be bitter or taste metallic. A patient’s sense of smell may also be affected due to chemo treatment attacking healthy cells as well as diseased cells. Usually, these changes in sense of taste or smell will return to normal once treatment ends.
With the body already in a weakened state, caregivers will need to make sure patients not only eat their meals but also eat the “right” types of foods. A few recommended ways to combat the change in sense of taste or smell by the National Cancer Institute are the following:
- Choose foods that look and smell good
- Marinate foods with fruit juices, wine, salad dressing and other spices
- Try tart foods and drinks
- Make foods sweeter
- Eat with plastic utensils rather than metal ones
- Discuss meal and options with a dietician
To battle appetite loss, other suggested methods include:
- Eat smaller meals, but more frequently
- Drink liquids throughout the day
- Drink a liquid or powdered replacement
- Have easy-to-carry snacks readily available
Eating and getting the necessary amount of nutrition is extremely important for patients during the recovery and healing process.
Physical Side Effects
As part of chemo and radiation treatment therapy, most patients experience side-effects which affect their physical appearance, leaving them feeling depressed. Common physical side-effects include discolored or burnt skin, loss of eyebrows, hair follicles and acne. Fortunately, organizations like Look Good…Feel Better, a 501c3 non-profit organization, aim to help women cope with these terrible side effects. They understand that self-image and physical appearance have a direct impact on the patient’s self-esteem and in turns hinders the recovery process. The organization offers over 14,500 group workshops nationwide in more than 3,000 locations where beauty professional volunteers teach women beauty techniques to help them manage the appearance-related side effects.
Other institutions like DNI International offer reconstructive cosmetic products and services available to cancer patients at select institutions. David Nicholas and David Miranowicz, co-presidents of DNI International, empathize with patients on how a decreased physical appearance is directly linked to a lower quality of life. “Chemotherapy can yellow the skin; they often lose their eyebrows and eyelashes, and radiation burns the skin. But with some education, we can empower them to soften the effects of those treatments, and they can feel more like themselves again…which makes them feel better.” DNI’s user-friendly reconstructive cosmetic makeup products are available to cancer patients in the Rowley, MA and Massachusetts General Hospital-Oncology Unit.
Social and Emotional Side Effects
Newly diagnosed cancer patients and families may also experience role changes. Cancer patients, who were originally extremely independent pre-cancer, will now inevitably become more dependent on their family and loved ones. Patients are also likely to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, frustration, and hopelessness. Cancer survivors like Bill Gasperson, stress the importance of joining support groups and that the larger the patient’s support group is the better. Support groups offer several benefits, some which include:
- Learning tips and resources through sharing among peers
- Connecting with cancer survivors and coaches for strength and encouragement
- Finding inspiration through patient empowerment
- Identifying the right questions across various stages in the disease
- Companionship – rediscovering the ability to laugh despite the disease
A strong social support network most importantly provides the patient with the emotional support to help battle the hurdles of this terrible disease. Cancer survivors have stressed that perhaps the most important emotional support is needed when they experienced disease recurrence.
We hope this post was helpful and would love to hear some of your own lessons learned.
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear” – Mark Twain
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The Role of Being a Cancer Caregiver – the patient’s trusted companion.
Written By:Pulse and posted in: Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Events|Cancer Patient Tools and Resources
2 May 2011There’s no better person who understands the quality of life challenges and needs of a cancer patient than their personal caregiver. Caregivers are often the patient’s beacon of hope and critical support network in their struggle against cancer. In this post, we will highlight some of the key responsibilities that come with being a new caregiver for a cancer patient.
Open Communication
In the beginning and throughout the duration of the patient’s recovery against cancer, it’s extremely important that both the patient and caregiver are open and honest about their needs, schedules, and responsibilities. Open communication is essential in laying the foundation of trust in this new relationship.
In addition to being open, it’s also important for the caregiver to maintain a level of composure around the patient. Normally, the cancer patient is already in an emotionally fragile state from the condition – experiencing feelings of frustration, depression, loneliness, anger, and resentment. Therefore, as a caregiver, careful communication is important not only to accurately understand the patient’s needs but also to be sensitive to his or her feelings.
Treatment Planning and Decision-Making
Perhaps, one of the most challenging initial tasks as a new caregiver is learning the complex oncology healthcare system. New caregivers should engage oncologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals with questions so that they can help patients make the right decisions resulting in the best possible care for the patient. Common newly diagnosed cancer patient questions include treatment effectiveness and side effects, medication reimbursement, availability of clinical trials and alternative therapy options, supplemental treatment options to manage pain, and much more. Some recommended tips from the American Cancer Society and other leading cancer advocacy groups include the following:
- Stay organized with all medical tests, notes and clinical treatment
- Constantly keeping a list of questions
- Actively seeking out second-opinions from various doctors
- Seeking help from nurses, cancer advocacy organizations
- Joining and participating in support groups
- Actively engaging your HMO on reimbursement options
Financial Concerns
The clinical tests, several rounds of treatment, and other patient care services will quickly run up the patient’s healthcare bill and insurance may only cover a fraction of these expenses. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that the finances are managed closely. Experts have suggested employee assistance healthcare programs and applications to foundations for financial support. Some nurses have cited that though there are a good handful of financial resources available for patients, the challenge is that funding is always limited. Patients and caregivers need to submit their applications for financial support as soon as possible to maximize the opportunities for aid. Patients and nurses have cited that The Patient Advocate Foundation has been one of the most helpful and caring foundations in helping patients with insurance access issues, assisting with managing medical debt and providing aid where possible via the PAF Co-Pay Relief (CPR) program. Other co-pay / out of pocket relief and prescription assistance programs include: Chronic Disease Fund, Healthwell Foundation, Patient Access Network Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, CancerCare, and Sarcoma Alliance.
Emotional Support
Though local support groups are available to cancer patients, as a caregiver, you are the patient’s primary support network whom they rely on for hope, strength and inspiration as they battle this condition. Therefore, as a caregiver, it’s important to take care of yourself first, so that you can take care of the patient. If you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed, take a break. Reach out to other family members to help out with the providing care so that you can reset and recharge. The primary caregiver’s role is an extremely demanding one and can place a heavy burden on anyone. However, the patient needs you to take care of yourself so that you can provide the energy, focus and strength necessary for their cancer care.
Home Care Services
Home care services are a common responsibility for caregivers of patients struggling with severe chronic conditions. “Home care” responsibilities include: meal preparation, housekeeping, bathroom assistance, grocery shopping, personal finance management, and transportation to doctor appointments.
However, not all family members are able to devote 100% of their time and energy to these activities. Fortunately, there are independent local home care agencies available to help provide the necessary care for the patient in the comfort of their own home. Typically, these services may not be covered under private insurance companies, but financial assistance may be available from a variety of public and private sources such as the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act. American Cancer Society’s overview of questions to ask when selecting a Home Care Agency is a great beginning read.
We are continuously amazed by the dedication, perseverance and strength of our caregiver community. It’s no wonder they are the patient’s trusted companion.
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Fighting the Emotional Effects of Cancer
Written By:Pulse and posted in: Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Events|Cancer Patient Tools and Resources
23 Apr 2011Despite the numerous medical treatments that are required for cancer patients, a strong emotional support network is often equally as important for cancer patients to improve their survivorship. In this post, we review some of the current services and qualities for support groups that are focused on addressing emotional quality of life issues.
There are several types of emotional support systems that are available to help cancer patients and loved ones deal with feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, frustration and hopelessness. The various types of emotional support systems include live and remote support resources.
Live Support Resources:
- Friends and Family Support
- Formal Support Networks, Nurse Navigator Programs
- Educational workshops, expressive arts programs
- Religious Support Groups
- Meditation, Spiritual Support programs
Remote Support Resources:
- Telephone counseling services
- Online chat groups and discussion forum communities
- Carepages
These resources and services can often be found collectively at medium to large cancer centers that offer a comprehensive care model in helping patients manage all aspects of their journey with cancer. Groups like San Diego’s SHARP Cancer Treatment Center, Longmont United Hospital, Griffin Hospital and the Northern Westchester Hospital drive patient-centric care models to really help patients and loved ones address all aspects of cancer treatment with the emotional issues at the core.
Below, Dorothy, a YourShoes 24/7 Peer Counselor describes how telephone counseling services as a line of hope for cancer patients:
Strong mental and emotional care results in positive thinking and an improved survivorship outlook for cancer patients. If you or your loved one is currently struggling with the emotional effects of cancer, participate in a support group to help improve your quality of life.
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