Tag Archive for: Carly Flumer

The Power of Shared-Decision Making: A New Revolution of Care

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I remember my treating surgeon discussing my treatment options with me when I was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2017 at the age of 27. I didn’t know much about thyroid cancer, what a thyroid was, or about cancer itself. Of course, no one plans to get cancer in the first place, especially at a young age, so I felt like I was being guided by my care team appropriately. I believed in the “power” of the white coat, a doctor who knew I had my best interest at heart. What I didn’t know was about different options when it came to treating my type of cancer, which my doctor explained to me in terms that I understood. I didn’t know it at the time, but my doctor was engaging in what’s called “shared-decision making,” when the patient and their care team, including their doctor, take the time to talk about different options and how it will affect the life of the patient moving forward. 

To give an example, I was given the option of removing the half of the thyroid that contained the tumor and leaving the other half in, as opposed to removing the entire gland. My doctor explained the pros and cons of both types of surgeries so that I could make a well-informed decision with my caregivers, and as a result, I felt like a more prepared patient. 

From this experience, I learned how important it is to have a good relationship with your entire care team, especially with your treating physician, such as an oncologist, or in my case, a surgeon and endocrinologist. Having an ongoing back and forth conversation that fuels this type of relationship is especially important, too, as I believe it can directly impact patient compliance. For example, as part of ongoing surveillance for my diagnosis, and typically for any cancer diagnosis, ultrasounds and bloodwork are performed on a routine basis, such as every 3-6 months, or even yearly. If a patient doesn’t know why this is being done, they may forgo either of these types of appointments, especially if they’re expensive.

Another example of patient compliance is compliance to medication instructions. Doctors and patients alike should have a conversation about how these medications are to be taken, especially if the medications are newly prescribed. Often patients are labeled as “non-compliant,” but more likely than not, they don’t understand. This is where communication, a strong relationship, and shared decision making come in to enhance patient outcomes. 

As patients, we have to be advocates for ourselves when it comes to our health, which also involves our care team involving us in our own healthcare. We should feel emboldened to do this, not afraid. If you don’t feel comfortable discussing your treatment and your opinions with your physician and care team, then it’s time to find another group, and that’s 100% okay. Be your own empowered patient! 

Navigating Thyroid Cancer: Tips from Someone Who’s Been There

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So you’ve been diagnosed with the “C” word, specifically thyroid cancer, and now you’re seeing a whole new care team. This usually includes an endocrinologist who specializes in disorders of the endocrine system, including the thyroid. As a patient who has been living with thyroid cancer on and off for the past 5 years, here is a non-exhaustive list of tips about treatment and how to manage, including questions to ask your care team and tips for your appointments as you go along your own cancer journey.

11 Tips for Navigating Thyroid Cancer

  1. Have a good relationship with your endocrinologist, as they will be treating you for life. 
  2. Make sure your values, morals, and opinions are respected as part of the treatment process. The cure isn’t the only part of the cancer journey. 
  3. Ask about different treatment options (i.e. surgical removal). 
  4. Inquire about potential side effects of each treatment and how to mitigate them, especially if you undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation. 
  5. Ask for clarity on medical jargon, such as thyroid-specific blood tests. 
  6. Bring in a list of questions to each appointment. 
  7. If possible, have a caregiver, such as a family member or friend, come with you to each appointment as a second set of eyes and ears. 
  8. Join support groups that are available both online and in-person. 
  9. Utilize your patient portal, if you have one, for messaging your care team, renewing prescriptions, and viewing lab and ultrasound results. 
  10. If you end up having to take synthroid, keep a diary or log of how you feel at each dose to be able to report back to your care team. 
  11. Advocate for yourself if something doesn’t feel right. 

As a patient in a new and very unique environment with a disease you never thought you would get, knowing how to navigate this beautiful, yet terrifying journey is hard. However, if you stick to your values, ask questions, create a strong relationship with your care team, and advocate for yourself, it’ll make the process a lot smoother. 

Psychosocial and Emotional Impact of Cancer: Change on Career Plans

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As young cancer patients, we have to endure more than our disease, but the life changes that come with it. One of the changes may be a change in career plans, and this can have a varying psychosocial and emotional impact.

For me, personally, having a cancer diagnosis at the age of 27 vastly changed the direction of where my career was headed. I was working in healthcare already and also attending graduate school, but I didn’t know what kind of role I wanted to have in healthcare when I graduated. Getting cancer during this time and going through a very personal, yet somewhat traumatic experience helped me to realize that my purpose in life is to help other cancer patients. However, it’s not always as clear why we got cancer at the age we did, and how that will continually affect us. There are also no clear-cut rules on whether we should continue working even if we’re going through treatment, whom to tell about our diagnosis, and how, or how best to describe a gap in our resume. Luckily, the Cancer and Careers website has all the answers to some of our biggest questions:

  1. Should I tell my employer?
    • Consider the side effects of treatment, the general law about disclosing, and your environment
      • If you think you’ll need to request a reasonable accommodation or medical leave, you may have to disclose a medical condition but not necessarily the diagnosis
      • Is your company big or small? Do people have close-knit relationships?
      • What are your side effects like and will they affect your daily productivity?
  2. If I need to tell my employer, when do I tell them and whom do I go to?
    • It is best to let the people below know when you and your healthcare team have developed a plan for treatment
      • Your boss – generally you are protected by the ADA if you’ve made your employer aware of a medical condition
      • Human resources department
      • Co-workers, if you feel comfortable
  3. What do I tell them?
    • Tell only as much as you want and prepare ahead of time what information you want to share
    • Tell them what to expect, for example, future absences or even changes in appearance
    • Reassure that you’re still a part of the team!
  4. How do I explain a gap in my resume?
    • Remember that you’re not required to disclose your diagnosis during an application process or interview
    • Know that it is prohibited by law for any recruiter to ask about “health issues” should you choose to use that phrase to explain the gap
    • If your resume, list your skills first, and highlight community or volunteer work, as well as part-time and freelance work

More Resources:

Finding Value in Your Care: Take Action Checklist

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1. Am I getting the best care or even offered the best?  

  • Is the care appropriate for my age? My condition?
  • Am I being given more than one option, if at all possible, with the pros and cons explained to me?
  • Is my provider willing to recommend me to a colleague for a second opinion if I feel that I need one?
  • Does my healthcare provider care for me as an individual or do I feel lumped together with other patients?
    • Do I feel comfortable asking questions? 

2. Are the ordered scans and blood work helping me in my care or are they ordered “just because?”

  • Does my provider explain the reasoning behind these orders (i.e. what information we’re looking for, how this will help progression of my care, etc.)?
  • When the results come back:
    • Do I have access to them? If so, are they easy to find?
    • Are they explained to me in a way that makes sense?

3. Is insurance providing me coverage or am I consistently receiving denials/is my provider having to do a peer-to-peer? 

  • Does my coverage make sense?
    • Are providers transparent about how much something may cost?
  • Are terms explained?
  • Can I easily receive access to a care representative?

4. Does my employer offer benefits that fit what I need? 

  • Health insurance 
  • Short-term and long-term disability 
  • Options for FSA and/or HSA accounts 
  • Employee assistance programs 

5. Are the medications that are prescribed working as intended? 

  • Do I understand how to use them correctly? 
  • Do I feel comfortable telling my doctor if I have any side effects and need to switch to something else? 
  • Are they affordable or are there alternatives? 

6. Is a patient portal available and easily accessible? 

  • Is it easy to find what I’m looking for? 
  • What capabilities does the portal have?
    • Can I message my provider?
    • Can I view lab and imaging results?
    • Can I schedule appointments and see upcoming appointments?
    • Can I see visit summaries of previous appointments? 

Is This for Real? Discerning Health Information Across the Web

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Googling something is easy. Researching a topic and finding well-sourced, credible information is another story, especially in the healthcare sector. As we’ve learned through the pandemic, there’s a ton of health information on the internet and other forms of media, including television, social media, advertisements, and video that competes for our attention. Unfortunately, it’s up to us to determine what is “true vs. false,” to be able to apply it to our lives and potentially share with others, including family members, friends, support group members, and our healthcare staff.

How do we discern health information that’s fact vs fiction when we’re looking at different sources?

Where is the information coming from? Try looking for:

Additional websites that are reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals:

Social media is a good place to make friends and join support groups that consist of other people with the same disease

  • Sharing health information about different experiences, including symptoms and side effects can be a great way to learn about different aspects of the disease you may have not considered or heard about
    • However, remember that people’s experiences are purely anecdotal and every patient is different. This can be true of blogs and other healthcare websites
  • If you find information that may be relevant to you and/or that you may be concerned about, share it with your healthcare team

Managing Medical Mistrust: Creating a Healthy, Trust-Based System

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If there’s anything “positive” that has come out of the pandemic, it’s that it has brought to light the many disparities that are still prevalent in healthcare. These have translated into disparities in the Covid world based on where people live, their education level and income, and their race, among others.

The same can be said about oncology specifically. Health disparities in the diagnosis and management of cancer can be described as being “higher cancer death rates, less frequent use of proven screening tests, and higher rates of advanced cancer diagnoses.” This was (and still is in some areas) exacerbated by the pandemic, where patients either opted to delay treatment or were told they couldn’t undergo treatment because of the surge of Covid patients in clinics and hospitals. Additionally, there have been delays in patients undergoing screenings for cancers, including colon, cervical, and breast cancers, especially among those of racial and ethnic groups, who already had a decreasing level of access to healthcare services at the beginning of the pandemic.

Undoubtedly, this has increased the level of mistrust in the healthcare system. How are patients supposed to get the care they need? How do providers increase their level of trust with their patients who are already at a disadvantage and have a greater risk of becoming infected with Covid or any other disease? Below are ways the healthcare system can bring patients and providers together to create a healthy, trust-based system:

Providers should:

  • Establish empathy and understanding of patients’ needs and values (and reiterate them back to the patient)
  • Offer different treatment options, if available. Be willing to discuss the pros and cons of each option, including recommendations
  • Discuss clinical trials as a treatment option, if applicable. Yes, healthcare is a business, but instead of a provider seeing it as “giving up” a patient, understanding that the patient’s health and well-being comes first is much more important
  • Work with the patient’s insurance, if necessary, for prior-authorizations on medications and procedures
  • Be honest with your patients. Gauge and/or ask about the amount of information they can handle when providing a diagnosis
  • Tell a patient if they don’t know something and/or if errors have been made. Being vulnerable and transparent in this regard demonstrates that you’re human

Patients should:

  • Be respectful of the physician’s (and other patients’) time during each appointment by bringing in a list of questions that need to be answered
  • Utilize patient portals!
  • Ask questions if unsure of anything spoken about during an appointment, especially medications
  • Be your own advocate when discussing your health (i.e. bring up why certain solutions are important to you)
  • Understand there are multiple patients being taken care of and no one patient’s needs are more or less important than another

Involving Patients in their Care: The Clinical Trial and Drug Development Processes

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Patient involvement in every facet of healthcare is incredibly important in creating better patient outcomes. I believe this is especially true in the rare and chronic disease communities, including cancer. One facet that is particularly key for patient engagement is the development of drugs produced through the clinical trial process.

Clinical trials can cost millions to fund with the goal of producing a product(s) that may or may not help it’s targeted disease population. Thousands of patients rely on these trials to find a cure and/or enhance their quality of life by providing symptoms of relief. Yet many don’t know about them, and if they do, it’s a struggle to find them, much less enroll in one.

As a person who takes on many roles, including a rare disease patient and a cancer patient, as well as someone who has translated clinical trial protocols for a lay audience and now recruits for those trials, I have seen firsthand the barriers that patients face when it comes to potentially life-saving treatments. Below is what I have encountered and what we as healthcare professionals can do about it:

Visibility Into Clinical Trials

While most patients know of and about clinical trials, they are often not aware that they may be an option for treatment. Healthcare is a business, and because of this, doctors feel like they’re “losing” their patients (aka revenue) when they refer their patients. However, most healthcare organizations, facilities, etc. boast that they’re focused on patient-centered care. Patient-centered care means focusing on the needs of each patient and providing the best treatment possible even if it comes from another source.

The Language of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are often discussed using medical jargon that is too confusing for patients to understand, especially the eligibility criteria. Patients should not be expected to learn a new language to understand the treatment process. Rather, they need resources that will help them understand if they qualify, what will happen in the trial, and how long they’ll be in the trial for.

Outcomes of Clinical Trials

A patient who had participated in a clinical trial once told me that the investigators focused mainly on whether the drug that she was receiving was treating her condition and never considered her quality of life. Quality of life should automatically be included as a measurable outcome in each clinical trial even if it’s not the main purpose.

Involvement in Clinical Trials and Drug Development

Patient centricity, as written above, has become a buzzword in the healthcare industry. The drug company, AstraZeneca, defines it best: “Putting the patient first in an open and sustained engagement of the patient to respectfully and compassionately achieve the best outcome for that patient and their family.” Are we really doing this if patients aren’t involved in the drug and clinical trial development processes?

How can patients invest themselves, and the government and pharma invest in patients, to potentially get a better ROI?:

  • Look at Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s website, whose work focuses on outcomes most important to patients and research that focuses on gold-standard randomized controlled trials, as well as observational studies.
  • Sign up for AstraZeneca’s Patient Partnership Program
  • Research articles on drug development for your disease and contact the authors
  • Engage in the FDA’s Patient Representative Program
  • Join the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDHR)’s Patient Engagement Advisory Committee
  • Join the FDA’s Patient Engagement Collaborative
  • Participate and/or request a Patient Listening Session
  • Present at an Open Public Hearing Portion of an FDA Advisory Committee Meeting
  • Get involved in:
    • The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)’s Patient-Focused Drug Development program by subscribing to their email updates
    • A patient advocacy group and/or think tank
    • An organization related to your diagnosis that may have doctors on their Board that you can reach out to and share your story and the importance of involving patients

Find more information in this PDF created by Global Genes

Empowered Patients Empower Patients: How to Take Charge of Your Diagnosis

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What comes to your mind when you think of the word “empowerment?” Do you think of a specific person, thing, or event? What about an “empowered” patient? Do you think of a patient or patient advocate who goes above and beyond and fights for their health care, or embodies themselves with a wealth of knowledge about a specific disease? At the Patient Empowerment Network (PEN), we believe that patients have power. They have the power to learn about and understand their diagnosis, find a healthcare team that understands their needs, values, and morals, and support other patients on their cancer journey – all to create better health outcomes. Are you looking to become an empowered patient? Here a few ways:

  • One of the most important things about your journey is that it is your own. No cancer diagnosis is alike, just like no patient is alike. Your story is unique, and the power of sharing your story is unmatched. Storytelling is what connects others and develops strong bonds. Share your story with your family and friends, post about it on social media, and connect with patient advocacy organizations (including PEN!) to share your story across the globe. 
  • Create your own advocacy blog: This article has how-tos and best tips. 
  • Participate in Tweet chats: Tweet chats are chats that occur on Twitter at different times/days using a hashtag. PEN has a tweet chat called #patientchat that occurs every other Friday. These chats are hosted by a variety of organizations around different topics. As a participant, you answer a series of questions prompted by the host. It can be a great environment to express your opinions and talk about your experience. You can find Tweet chats relevant to you by using Symplur’s Healthcare Hashtag Project, which lists hashtags specific to what you’re looking for. You can also see if specific organizations you’re following on Twitter host chats or start your own! 
  • Join a support group in-person or online. There are a number of different organizations that offer support groups (here are some of my favorites!) where you can share your story and hear other’s, ask questions, and relax knowing you’re in a judgement-free environment. 
  • Utilize PEN’s Digitally Empowered Program: This program consists of 10 modules with videos and resource guides to navigate all that technology has to offer including navigating healthcare resources, forming a support network, using social media, navigating your health with different devices and apps, and using telemedicine. 
  • Keep updated on the latest research about your diagnosis, and share what you find relevant to you with your healthcare team and/or on social media. This article explains how to read scientific papers. 
  • Utilize PEN’s online resources tailored to the cancer community, as well as specific cancers, that focus on what to do when you’re newly diagnosed, testing and treatment options, clinical trials, and accessing and affording healthcare. 

“Wait, There’s a Good Cancer?”

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When the Luck of the Draw Leads to the Short End of the Stick

Cancer is one of the most feared diseases. Everyone is affected by it in some way, but no one really imagines getting it themselves. So imagine hearing that you got the “good” cancer, a commonly used term for thyroid cancer. That can’t be right. Cancer is cancer…isn’t it? But who are we, as patients, to question what our doctors tell us? They’re the ones who went to medical school and have years of training. But maybe thyroid cancer isn’t that bad?

That’s what I thought when I was told that my cancer was the “good” one by more than one doctor. In fact, one doctor told me that thyroid cancer was “the cancer to have if you had to get it.” I didn’t have any symptoms at the time, so I took these words, spoken to me by medical professionals, as truth. Unfortunately, I learned that there was no such thing as a “good” cancer once I began treatment.

While thyroid cancer is slow-growing, does have a very good prognosis, and can be easily treatable, no cancer is the same. For example, I had the papillary variant of thyroid cancer, a common diagnosis amongst most thyroid cancer patients. I underwent surgery to remove half of the thyroid with the tumor, but my treatment didn’t end there. It was discovered in the pathology report that I had metastasis that was not shown on the original ultrasound that showed the tumor in my thyroid. As a result, I had to undergo a second surgery for the removal of the remaining half of my thyroid. Additionally, I was told by my surgeon that, because of the metastasis, he didn’t know if cancer could be elsewhere in my body, and I would need to undergo oral radiation therapy. “Wasn’t this the ‘good’ cancer?” I thought over and over.

Furthermore, what doctors don’t explain, at least very well in my case, is what not having a thyroid is going to be like. I wasn’t aware of what a thyroid was nor its functions when I was told that it was harboring a tumor. Nor did I know until I had to be placed on a supplement, or rather a replacement, for my lack of thyroid. I learned quickly that the thyroid essentially interacts with every other system in the body through controlling metabolism, heart rate, temperature, energy level, etc. My body slowly adjusted to this new medication with a prescribed dose that was initially “simply a guess” based on my age, weight, and overall health. From there, my healthcare team and I adjust the dose based on how my body responds. If I think about this, especially as a woman, my body goes through many changes as I age, and I’m sure many of them are affected by a properly-functioning thyroid, which I no longer have. I’m not saying that I’m not eternally grateful for their actually being a supplement I can take to, quite literally, live, on a daily basis. What I am saying is that the stigma and the choice of words and phrases surrounding this cancer, perpetuated by medical professionals needs to stop. At the very least, they need to recognize thyroid cancer as a cancer, a diagnosis that inevitably impacts the life, good or bad, of every patient who has this terrible disease well into survivorship.

If you’re a thyroid cancer patient, whether newly-diagnosed, in treatment, no evidence of disease (NED), or anywhere in between, educate and advocate for yourselves. Find doctors who take the time to understand your wants and needs as an individual human being. Never think that your cancer is “less than,” because it matters.

The Caregiver Impact: A Vital Part of Healthcare

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Carly FlumerCarly Flumer is a young woman who was diagnosed with stage I papillary thyroid cancer at the age of 27. She recently received her Master’s degree from Boston University […]

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Empowering Ourselves Forward: Applying Skills to Our Cancer Journey

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During the pandemic, all of us have had to do some adjusting, some more than others. As cancer patients, we recognize the “new normal” everyone else is experiencing. While this can be detrimental, it can also be seen as somewhat gratifying. The non-cancer world finally understands what we’ve gone through and/or are going through on a daily basis and for the rest of our lives. Yet we’ve all learned new skills and coping mechanisms to make the best of our situation:

Virtual Appointments (Telehealth)

By now, the majority of patients have experienced at least one telehealth appointment where we see a doctor, NP, PA, etc. virtually. Whether this a completely new experience or not, there are many ways in which we can benefit from these appointments, which, hopefully, continue into the future.

What can be applied in the future:

  • Writing down a list of questions before your appointment so that nothing is missed
  • The feeling of comfort with your health care professional, especially if they weren’t in a white coat. They’re humans just like us
  • Asking questions when you don’t understand something – there is time!
  • The importance of having a caregiver as a second set of eyes and ears

Being Active

Gyms were closed (and some still are) for a long period of time, which forced us to be creative in being active.

What can be applied in the future:

  • If you watched YouTube videos or downloaded fitness apps, continue to use them to apply those movements to your routine
  • If you tried free classes offered by a local studio or gym, see what these places offer in-person
  • For motivation, grab a family member of friend to keep you accountable

Mindfulness

Perhaps the hardest part of going through the pandemic is the mental aspect, especially for cancer patients who are considered more vulnerable.

What can be applied in the future:

  • Continue using apps and YouTube videos to guide you through meditations
  • Keep a journal to write down your feelings
  • Set intentions at the start of each day
  • Remember how far you’ve come and what you can be grateful for

Family and Friends

Social distancing and wearing masks were suggestions (and in some states mandatory) to help stop the spread of the virus. This led to family and friends not being able to see one another, often for months. What’s more is the masks often concealed our expressions, making communication a little bit harder.

What can be applied in the future:

  • Spend more time with people who care about you, knowing it is possible for it to be taken away from you
  • Practice being in the moment, really focusing on what the person is saying and watching their facial expressions
  • Remember your own needs: people may now want to get together more often, but that may not be possible due to a number of factors, including your place in treatment, symptoms, and mental/physical/emotional states. Take the time you need for yourself

The Power of the PEN Empowerment Lead Program

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I never dreamed of being a patient advocate, but then again, I never dreamed of receiving a cancer diagnosis, either. When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January 2017, I didn’t have any symptoms. I was told I had the “good” cancer or “the cancer to get if you had to be diagnosed with one” by my doctors. I took this information to heart, and accepted that cancer was now a part of my life, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

It wasn’t until I ended my treatment, when I declared myself a survivor, that I realized I was completely wrong. I recognized there were choices I could have made regarding my treatment plan and there were still opportunities to take charge in how I was treated as a patient. Enter patient advocacy in the cancer world.

Everyone has a story, no patient or cancer is the same. We each have our own unique experience of how we move through the healthcare system beginning the day we’re diagnosed with the “C” word. I knew my story was unique because I was an AYA patient, or an adolescent and young adult, I was working full-time, and I was in graduate school. I dreamt of being published on places other than social media. I wanted an outlet where I was free to share my side of the story without having to hold back. A place where I could share not only the ups and downs of my journey, but my own insights of what it was like to be a young cancer patient. A place where I could advocate for other thyroid cancer patients – let them know what to expect, the questions they should ask of their care team, and how to best take care of themselves. Enter the Patient Empowerment Network.

Patient Empowerment Network (PEN) is an advocacy organization for cancer patients whose “mission is to fortify cancer patients and care partners with the knowledge and tools to boost their confidence, put them in control of their healthcare journey, and assist them with receiving the best, most personalized care available.” I discovered them through one of their tweet chats on Twitter using the hashtag #patientchat. I immediately reached out to see how I could get involved. Leadership discussed their strategic vision of having “empowerment leads” for different cancers that would create and curate content to educate other cancer patients and help them feel empowered. I was honored when I was told that I would pilot this program as the Thyroid Cancer Empowerment Lead, and my content would be read and shared by others.

The PEN Empowerment Lead program officially launched in March 2020 with the goal “to support health communities around important topics and provide navigation for the path to empowerment. Through various mediums, social media platforms and content formats, Empowerment Leads develop specific messages, seek out resources and contribute to amplifying the needs of specific health communities via guidance of an established editorial calendar.” For example, I’ve had the opportunity to write a variety of blog posts and participate in tweet chats on a number of different topics, including resilience, health literacy, telehealth, and what it’s like to be an adolescent and young adult (AYA) with cancer. It has been my greatest privilege to connect with other patients through this content, inspiring them to be their own advocate.

To find PEN’s current team of Empowerment Leads, visit https://powerfulpatients.org/about/#empowermentleads. Clicking on each person’s picture will bring you to their bio as well as content they have created, including recipe guides, interviews, comedy sketches, infographics, and more. Note also that each empowerment lead has a personal PEN email that you can use to contact them. PEN’s Empowerment Leads thrive on encouraging patients and their caregivers to feel more confident in voicing concerns and communicating with their healthcare team, and ultimately empower them to become advocates for themselves and their loved ones.

Joining PEN’s network of cancer empowerment leads has truly been inspiring. Although we’re all across the world, conversing with them via email and Zoom chats and hearing their stories and thoughts of how to resonate with more patients is what feeds my soul. PEN is constantly growing, with their goal of representing all cancers. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Nykema, PEN’s Empowerment Lead Coordinator, at kema@powerfulpatients.org.

As a caregiver and Care Partner Empowerment Lead with PEN, I constantly search for practical information to use and pass along to those I support. I offer support by listening and providing solutions to empower caregivers to improve their resilience. – Sherea

 

Communicating About Cancer: A Brief Guide to Telling People Who Care

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Getting a cancer diagnosis can easily be the most terrifying, heart-wrenching experiences one has in their lifetime. Everything from different treatment options (if you’re lucky), to financing, and maintaining quality of life suddenly are in full force front and center. It can be hard to know who to turn to if you’re not directed to a support group (of which there are many), and especially how to tell loved ones and co-workers. The choice is yours, of course, in whom you wish to tell and when – there is no right or wrong answer. (However, I and many others have found that having a caregiver to help manage appointments, billing, etc. can help).

Should you choose to tell others, here are some tips that I have read and/or heard from other cancer patients/survivors as well as some I have found personally helpful:

Kids:

  • It depends on the age – using simpler terms with younger kids (8 and under) may be more helpful, while older kids and teens can understand more detail. For example, saying that you’re sick and you’re getting the best care from a team of doctors who really want to help you get better
  • According to the American Cancer Society, children need to know the basics, including:
    • The name of the cancer
    • The specific body part(s) of where it is
    • How it’ll be treated
    • How their own lives will be affected
  • Think of a list of questions ahead of time that you think they may ask and jot down answers, such as how the cancer happened (that it’s not anyone’s fault), if it’s contagious, and/or if it’ll be fatal
  • Make sure that they know you are open to talking about it at any time. You can also perform check-ins with each other to monitor feelings

Family and friends:

  • Select a group of people, including immediate family and close friends
  • Divulge information only you feel comfortable sharing. Maybe it’s the basics, as mentioned above, or more detailed information
  • Prepare for different reactions, including sadness, anger, frustration, depression, anxiety, compassion, and support
  • Also prepare for people to not feel comfortable and feel as if they’re helpless. A cancer diagnosis is a heavy weight to bear, and not everyone will feel like the have the capacity to help as much as they want to
  • As the patient, tell them how you’re looking for support (ex. what are your needs during this time, including physical, emotional, mental). Guiding members of your support system to get your needs met may help them feel more at ease and able to help

Work:

  • Telling a supervisor/manager may be one of the hardest tasks for fear of discrimination
    • However, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which covers employers with 15 ore more employees, prohibits discrimination based on:
      • Actual disability
      • A perceived history of disability
      • A misperception of current disability
      • History of disability
    • The ADA also:
      • Protects eligible cancer survivors from discrimination in the workplace
      • Requires eligible employers to make “reasonable accommodations” to allow employees to function properly on the job
      • Ensure that employers must treat all employees equally
    • The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) also gives you the right to take time off due to illness without losing your job
      • However, an employee must have worked for his or her employer for at least 12 months, including at least 1,250 hours during the most recent 12 months in order to qualify. The law applies to workers at all government agencies and schools nationwide as well as those at private companies with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius
    • The Federal Rehabilitation Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees because they have cancer
      • However, this act applies only to employees of the federal government, as well as private and public employers who receive public funds

Sources:

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Reaching the Peak: Finding Resilience During Cancer

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What does it mean to be “resilient” as a cancer survivor? Does it mean having the courage to remain positive? The strength to carry yourself into the next chapter of this “new normal” life?

In my opinion, having resilience or being resilient means all those things and more. However, resilience can also be built upon a collaborative effort made by both the patient and their healthcare team.

In the recent 2020 symposium held by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, results were presented from a survey that stated patients believe that being proactive in the beginning of treatment can lead to better health outcomes. Part of being proactive on the patient side is asking questions of your care about diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, physical/mental/emotional side effects, and short-term and long-term effects on quality of life. During the treatment process being proactive can also consist of contacting your care team with questions rather than guessing what “should be” happening, instructions on how to take medications, and any unexplained side effects.

Managing these side effects can also count as resilience. For example, speaking with a social worker or seeing a therapist may help with the emotional trauma of a diagnosis. Moving your body and getting your blood flowing by walking, running, yoga, and other forms of exercise can show mental and physical resilience. Most importantly, asking for help when you need it and being specific in what you need can show determination.

At the end of treatment, the journey is not over. Rather, it can feel like it’s just beginning. As you look back on how far you’ve come, contemplate if there’s anything you would’ve done differently. Maybe you were fearful, and now you’re more curious. Maybe you were afraid to share your story and what people would think of you. Now you know that none of that matters, except what you think, what you feel. Your story is powerful, your feelings are valid, and you have the courage to push forward.

Resilience isn’t something to be won; it’s something to be explored. Just like a diagnosis, it doesn’t come easy. But take a moment, breathe, and know that there are people rooting for you. Keep going.