What is Supportive Cancer Care?
What is Supportive Cancer Care?
MEDICAL / TREATMENT
Coaching Cancer Patients to become informed, proactive advocates for their own health
- How to work with your medical team for best results
- Understanding diagnoses
- Understanding treatment options
- Trials
- Alternative therapies
- Symptom management
- Pain management
- Access to medical Information
- Access to records
Emotional
Coaching patients to deal with the emotional distress of cancer and directing them to appropriate resources
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Counselling
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Peer support
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Spiritual support
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Moving on after treatment
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Fear of recurrence
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“Scanxiety”
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Social ostracism/isolation
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Specific cancer networks
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Support groups
Financial
Helping patients find and understand financial resources during treatment and beyond
- Income loss
- Disability coverages
- Travel costs for treatment
- Accommodations during treatment
- Medication costs
- Understanding Pharmacare
- Banking assistance
- Tax implications of health care costs and completing tax returns
Physical
Assisting and coaching patients to the best resources for their physical health
- Side effects & limitations
- Movement & strength
- Physiotherapy
- Massage therapy
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Nutrition and dietetics
- Sexual Health
- Fertility Issues
- Recreation for health
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Care
Directing and coaching patients towards existing community resources for patient care
- Home Care
- Community Care
- Palliative Care
- Hospice Care
Work
Coaching patients through return-to-work/school after a cancer diagnosis and treatment and directing them to appropriate resources
- Assessment of your abilities
- Workplace accommodations
- Returning to your workplace
- Looking for a new job
Legal
Directing patients to find appropriate legal assistance during treatment and beyond
- Representation Agreements
- Power of Attorney
- Wills
- DNRs
Caregiver Support
Coaching caregivers, family members, and the wider community to access appropriate supports for themselves
- Legal
- Emotional
- Financial
- Peer Support
As a young single guy I don’t know how I would have survived without a strong patient advocate who researched and arranged the services I needed including a critically important Representation Agreement and Power of Attorney. I was too sick to care for myself. When you can’t speak for yourself, someone has to represent your needs and wishes.