PEN-Powered Activity Guide Archives

Finding Your Support As a Newly Diagnosed Patient

October 7, 2021/in PEN Blog /by Kara Rayburn

From PEN-Powered Activity Guide VIII: Supporting Your Support System

Finding Your Support As a Newly Diagnosed Patient from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Transcript:

Lisa Hatfield

It’s hard to know how much to share, when to share, who to share with, when you have kids, when you have colleagues, when your friends and neighbors see that you’re maybe not doing so well, or know that you’re in the hospital, they want to know, but it really has to be a decision that is best for you and taking care of yourself during that time and your family at that time. So, one of the things that kind of that flows into another question is when friends and family hear that, people jump in and they want to try to help you get messages, phone calls, text. How can I help? What can I do? How are you feeling? For me anyway, I loved that kind of support, but it does get overwhelming, and I know for anyone who has gone maybe to have stem cells collected or staging, when you’re gone for several weeks at a time, it’s really difficult to keep up on those messages and everyone’s intentions are so good. And they really do want to help. So, we had actually set up a Caring Bridge page where I could communicate on my own time or my husband could communicate the information, so really, like you said, doing things on your own time and just disclosing as much information as you want to.

There was a patient who had asked me how to deal with a family member who as they were talking about their myeloma, as he was explaining it to her family, that person got very choked up, and so she said, I felt like I was trying to take care of them as I was dealing with my own diagnosis, so I didn’t really know exactly what to say other than just be sure to take care of yourself at that time, whatever I pray for you is going to be the best… Whatever is best for you is going to be the right thing for you, but the next question I had is when people do start asking, how can I help… Can I drive your appointment? Can I bring meals to you… Maybe you want them to help out, which is a pretty easy one, but what if you don’t want them to help out? Again, these are questions your doctors might not be able to answer, but they happen a lot with myeloma or cancer patients, how do you handle that when people are asking, either you don’t have the time to respond, or maybe you don’t want the help, have either of you have any of you had that experience with your friends and family network.

Sheri Baker:

Yeah, I had a lot of people jump in and offer meals or whatnot, in the beginning, I accepted. Especially in the beginning when I was starting to…Well, when I was in the hospital too, I was doing my treatment, I was learning how to do dialysis, so the first two to three months were kind of hectic, and I had a friend who offered. She’s like, every Wednesday, I’m going to bring you a meal.

And I accepted that up until about like Thanksgiving. And I called her and I said, I’m back on my feet. But I reserve the right next year when I have to have my stem cell transplant and be in the hospital again to ask you to help out again. And she says, definitely. And same thing with other friends, I was on a renal diet, so they want to know what can we make for you, so you just tell them, but there does come a point in time where you say, I’m doing good now, but down the road, can I call you and ask you to help out again with meals, and then after my stem cell transplant, before I came home from the hospital, a group of friends were like, We want to come to clean your house, and I said, Great.

So, they did come and clean my house, and that was, I have to say that’s uncomfortable because now they’re like all over your house, and you don’t know what kind of state your house is going to be in ’cause you’ve been in the hospital for almost three weeks, so you’re a little embarrassed about the dust bunnies and how bad the bathroom might look, but it was welcome help, even though you might be a little embarrassed about how dirty your house really is, but I think that it was.

For me, it was easier to say, I don’t need to help right now, but next year or in a couple of months, if I need some help, can I call you that and ask for help, so that’s maybe one way to… If you don’t want the help right now to still not totally shut them down, but say, I’d like to have some help in the future.

View PEN-Powered Activity Guide VIII

What I Wish I Knew

Empowering Ourselves Forward: Applying Skills to Our Cancer Journey

November 2, 2020/in Carly Flumer, Featured Network Manager, PEN Blog /by Carly Flumer

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

Carly Flumer

Carly 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 in Health Communication and received her Bachelor’s from George Mason University in Health Administration and Policy. While being diagnosed with the “C” word at such a young age was a surprise, as it would be to anyone, she found strength, support, and inspiration in sharing her cancer journey on social media. As a result of her health outcome, she looks to advocate for other cancer patients through education, research, and health literacy.

Tomorrow’s Medicine Today

October 28, 2020/in Adrenal Cancer, Adrenal Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials, Adrenal Cancer Video TC, Appendix Cancer, Appendix Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials, Appendix Cancer Video TC, Bladder Cancer Treatment and Clinical Trials, BLC Video TC, Bone Cancer, Bone Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials, Bone Cancer Video TC, Brain Cancer, Brain Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials, Brain Cancer Video TC, CC Treatment and Clinical Trials, CC Video TC, Eye Cancer, Eye Cancer Video TC, FL Video TC, Follicular Lymphoma, Gastrointestinal Cancer, General Health Info, General Treatment and Clinical Trials, General Video TC, GNYC Treatment and Clinical Trials, GYNC Video TC, Head & Neck Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials, Head & Neck Video TC, NHL Treatments and Clinical Trials, NHL Videos TC, PEN Blog, SC Treatment and Clinical Trials, SC Videos TC, Thyroid Cancer Treatment & Clinical Trials, Thyroid Cancer Video TC, Waldenstrom, Waldenstrom Video TC /by PEN Editorial Staff

From PEN-Powered Activity Guide V, beloved medical oncologist Dr. Bora Lim of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center walks us through what a clinical trial is, the phase of how drugs get approved, and how the pandemic crisis has amplified the criticality of clinical trials.