CopeLink

We’ve Moved!

Jeanie Barnett — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:23 +0000

The CopeLink blog has a new home! Please find us at http://www.copelink.org/

All future articles will be posted there, so remember to update your bookmarks.

Thanks,
the CopeLink Team

Support for People Affected by Melanoma

Jeanie Barnett — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:40:22 +0000

Miss Illinois 2009 Erin O’Connor came out to support the “troops” for Teb’s Troops’ third annual 5K fundraiser on July 26 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Ms. O’Connor spoke movingly to the 200+ runners about losing her own mother to melanoma, and about her dedication to raising awareness and research funds for a cure to this often aggressive form of skin cancer. She will carry her message of prevention and early testing across the state and to Las Vegas in January 2010, where she will compete for the Miss America title.

Teb’s Troops is a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for melanoma and supporting people affected by the disease. CancerCare is a Teb’s Troops beneficiary; its generous contribution helps us to continue providing education and counseling to people facing melanoma. Find out more at www.tebstroops.org.

Emotional Support for Cancer Survivors

Monica Cavazos — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:26:04 +0000

People with cancer who have survived at least five years are much more likely to show signs of psychological distress than people who have never been diagnosed, according to new research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and highlighted in a recent article in MedPageToday. The research found that of those individuals in serious distress, only one -third had sought help from a mental health professional, and nearly one-fifth cited the cost of such services as an obstacle to seeking care.

CancerCare offers free individual counseling and support groups for people with cancer, and all services are provided by professional oncology social workers. These services are available in person, over the phone and online.

New Book Helps People Cope with Chemobrain

Monica Cavazos — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:07:10 +0000

Your Brain After Chemo: A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus (Da Capo Press, 2009) draws on the latest scientific research on chemobrain and on post-treatment survivor stories to present a clearer picture of what chemobrain is and how people experiencing it can cope.

Co-authored by Idelle Davidson, an award-winning health and medicine journalist; and UCLA’s Dan Silverman, MD, PhD, Your Brain After Chemo gives readers practical tips for coping with fatigue, inattention, poor concentration and other chemobrain symptoms; it also lists organizations, websites and other resources that can help.

Also see CancerCare‘s Chemobrain Information Series, for more information. These fact sheets cover cognitive problems after chemotherapy, how to talk to your doctor about chemobrain, ways to improve your concentration, and techniques for sharpening your memory.

Treating the Whole Patient

jzahora — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:45:52 +0000

In a recent study highlighted in Cancer Survivors at High Risk for Psychosocial Distress, cancer survivors were more likely to experience severe psychological distress than people who were never diagnosed with cancer. In order for patients to receive the best quality of care, health care providers must be aware of the likelihood of emotional distress and connect patients with necessary support services. This was also highlighted in an Institute of Medicine report, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs.

The mission of CancerCare is to provide the support that is necessary in addition to the medical treatment, and this includes individual counseling, support groups, financial assistance, and educational materials and workshops. To learn more about these services, call 800-813-HOPE (4673) to speak with an oncology social worker.

CancerCare Booklets Make Latest Research Easy to Understand

Monica Cavazos — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:01:18 +0000

The latest findings in cancer research presented during annual medical conferences or scientific meetings can be hard for patients to sort through and comprehend. CancerCare’s free booklets present these findings in an easy-to-understand format that helps patients, their loved ones and caregivers determine what impact new research might have on their particular diagnosis or treatment plan. Our latest booklets cover breast cancer (highlights from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium), blood cancers (covering the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology), and other cancers (from the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology).

All CancerCare publications are completely free of charge and can be ordered directly from our website.

New Program for Multiple Myeloma Patients Offers Help with Transportation Costs

Jeanie Barnett — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:40:13 +0000

Are you (or someone you know) being treated for multiple myeloma? If so, you may qualify for a new financial assistance program from CancerCare that helps defray the cost of getting to and from your medical care appointments. Called “Door to Door,” the new program offers grants of up to $600 annually to multiple myeloma patients to cover transportation costs such as gasoline, tolls and parking, and taxi, bus and cab fare.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow. About 20,000 people are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year in the U.S. Advances in the treatment of this cancer have dramatically increased patients’ life expectancy–an estimated 60,000 people in the U.S. are now living with multiple myeloma–and consequently lengthened the duration of treatment, which often is given several times a week over many months. Particularly for patients on a fixed income, these travel expenses add up and create a financial burden that may prevent them from keeping up with their health care, notes CancerCare Exeuctive Director Diane Blum. “The Door to Door program will provide much-needed relief to this patient population.” For more information, call 800-813-HOPE (4673) or visit www.cancercare.org.

Strengthening the Spirit

Jeanie Barnett — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:59:16 +0000

In the July 10 issue of Oncology Times, Cynthia Washam discusses the recent National Cancer Institute study Spirituality in Cancer Care, which says that only 1% of cancer outpatients reported that their physician asked about spiritual needs.

“By avoiding discussion of faith, clinicians deny cancer patients a service that not only brings comfort, but may enhance their quality of life,” says Washam, who cites oncology experts encouraging physicians to take the lead in broaching the topic with their patients.

Tools like the “Faith, Importance/Influence, Community and Address Spiritual History” (FICA) can help physicians assess a patients needs in these areas quickly and easily.

Educational materials such as CancerCare’s fact sheet, “Strengthening the Spirit” are available to help patients interested in developing and strengthening their spirituality as a way to cope.

Financial Assistance Resources for Cancer Patients

Jeanie Barnett — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:38:37 +0000

CancerCare is one of a dozen members of the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC), formed in 2007 to provide better access to existing financial resources to help cancer patients cover some of the costs of their treatment. CFAC’s website, www.cancerfac.org, was launched this past May to provide information, contact information and links to organizations that offer financial assistance.

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation, another coalition member, helps cancer patients with health insurance cover the cost of their co-pays for treatment. The Foundation currently provides assistance for 6 diagnoses; additional cancer types will be added as more funding becomes available. Visit www.cancercarecopay.org for more information.

Order a free copy of the new CancerCare’s Helping Hand: a Resource Guide for People with Cancer–Financial Edition, from the CancerCare website at http://www.cancercare.org/reading_room/pub_order.php#4.