Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Guest Post

It has been a long and emotional journey getting to the point where I consider myself a cancer survivor. I was afforded the best medical treatment available through The Zimmer Cancer Center and Dr Ungaro, but I was left dealing with the emotional side of the issue on my own. I'm sure the path would have been much shorter and easier if I had been involved in a survivor's program. For this reason, when I was contacted by David Hass wanting to guest post to my blog in order to pass on some valuable information to those still early on their journey, I was eager to open up this small venue to him. Below is his article on the subject of survivor programs.

The Importance of Cancer Survivor Programs

A cancer prognosis often elicits feelings of sadness, confusion, worry and hopelessness. Aside from the doctors and nurses who can provide you with medications, information on treatments and other possible “next steps,” where do you go to get the really tough questions answered? Questions like: How am I going to get through this? What can I expect to experience emotionally? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? This is where cancer survivor networks and programs come into play. These types of organizations are phenomenal resources for connecting with individuals who have had similar experiences and are willing to share them, along with tips, suggestions and even a shoulder on which to lean.

Maintaining a strong and stable support network while undergoing treatment, and even once in remission, is imperative to “surviving” cancer and everything that comes along with it, especially if you are a child. Each type of cancer, whether it is breast, prostate, lung or mesothelioma, has its own symptoms and offers its own set of unique struggles. That being said, individuals faced with a cancer prognosis do have some of the same psychological, economic and spiritual questions.

One organization, whose mission is to “change the parlance from cancer ‘victim’ to cancer ‘survivor,” is the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS). They “deal with the full spectrum of survivorship issues related to living with, through, and beyond a cancer diagnosis.” This organization has even expanded its reach to include family, friends and caregivers in its definition of survivors.

Not only does their website, http://www.canceradvocacy.org, provide lists of worthwhile publications, workshops and countless resources, it also houses their Cancer Survival Toolbox—“a free, award-winning audio program that teaches skills that can help people with cancer meet the challenges of their illness.” The program encompasses six key topics: “communicating, finding information, making decisions, solving problems, negotiating, and standing up for your rights.” Canceradvocacy.org also houses numerous links to websites for other cancer-related organizations and serves as the perfect starting point for delving into research on specific types of cancer, treatments and other support networks.

Therefore, whether you are facing a mesothelioma prognosis or a skin, liver, testicular or ovarian cancer prognosis, there are resources out there to help you navigate the difficult journey from prognosis to treatment and ultimately through survival. Remember, you are not alone; you really are surrounded by people who care and organizations ready to lend a helping hand, many just a mouse click away.

By: David Haas