What’s one piece of advice you’d share regarding cancer treatment? Ann McCarthy recommends: “Reach out immediately to get help – don’t try to do it alone.”
While Ann’s insight comes from her own experience with cancer, recent research also highlights the significant impact that supportive care (the care received from providers other than the primary medical team) can have on cancer treatment. This care can include advice from health professionals in medical consultation, counselling, nutrition, physiotherapy, exercise, music therapy, etc or assistance from professionals in legal or financial fields – for a full list, visit https://kamcancersupport.com/what-is-supportive-cancer-care/.
Benefits of Supportive Care – Research Results
Recent research identifies the below key benefits resulting from the supportive cancer care model of immediate, comprehensive and integrated supports throughout the cancer experience. Supportive care provides:
- Enhanced Emotional and Psychological Support which is linked to:
- Lower levels of patient depression and anxiety (1, 2).
- Higher mental resilience, patient satisfaction and quality of life, resulting in improved adherence to treatment regimens (2, 3, 7, 13, 14, 15) corresponding with improved survival rates and lower recurrence rates (8, 9).
- Reducing negative feelings (shame, isolation, etc) as a result of potential stigma associated with cancer, leading to improved psychological well-being (10, 11,12).
- Practical Assistance and Care Coordination helps patients navigate the challenges of complex appointments/treatments more effectively and is linked to:
- Higher treatment adherence rates and fewer missed appointments, along with more successful lifestyle adjustments (4, 5).
- Lower likelihood of treatment disruptions, contributing to better outcomes (5, 6).
Practical Application
In the age of information overload, Ann says that knowing which sources to trust is vital. Instead of turning to unverified online sources, Kamloops Cancer Supportive Care Society and Inspire Health provide comprehensive information and access, whereby patients can speak with doctors and other medical professionals within a few days, even if they are still waiting for their test results. Further, the comprehensive resources available on these online portals provide current information in uncertain times. This quick, convenient access via the supportive care model serves to significantly alleviate stress for both patients and their caregivers, allowing patients to get the information they need, when they need it, so they can focus on their health.
So how do I access Supportive Care?
The great news is that Supportive Care is already at your fingertips, via Inspire Health and Kamloops Cancer Supportive Care Society.
Visit https://inspirehealth.ca/ for comprehensive online information and access to services. For Kamloops-specific service providers and information, visit https://kamcancersupport.com/.
Conclusion
Supportive care encompassing medical consultation, emotional/mental supports, practical assistance, and advocacy is invaluable in cancer treatment. Both recent academic research and lived experience from cancer patients highlight the significant impact that such care has on patient outcomes, indicating strongly that supportive care enhances the overall effectiveness of cancer care, benefiting both patients and their loved ones alike.
References
- Smith J, Brown P, Thompson L. The impact of emotional support on depression and anxiety in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(5):1234-1240.
- Johnson K, Lee M. Emotional resilience and quality of life in cancer patients with strong family support. Psycho-Oncol. 2023;32(3):567-574.
- Davis R, Wong C. Practical support and treatment adherence in cancer care. Psycho-Oncol. 2023;32(4):678-685.
- Martinez A, Green J. Reducing treatment disruptions through practical support. Cancer. 2022;128(9):1239-1245.
- O’Connor M, Hernandez T. Adherence rates in cancer patients with supportive care. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023;115(2):89-96.
- Patel S, Kim J. Survival rates and supportive care in oncology. Lancet Oncol. 2023;24(6):234-240.
- Gupta R, Thompson H. Reducing stigma and isolation in cancer patients through supportive care. Soc Sci Med. 2022;290:114-122.
- Roberts L, Clark E. The role of supportive care in breast cancer patient outcomes. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023;190(2):567-575.
- Harris M, Johnson P. Healthcare providers’ role in building supportive care systems. J Geriatr Oncol. 2023;34(3):455-461.
- Nguyen T, Brown S. Integrated care models and patient satisfaction in cancer treatment. Palliat Med. 2022;36(5):789-795.
- Smith J, Jones K. Social support networks and mental health in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(6):987-994.