Author: k3-editor

The importance of social support for cancer patients on the path to treatment.

A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for individuals to the point that it makes them feel anxious along with fear and a diminished sense of control over life.

Coping with the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of cancer can be incredibly difficult, which is why social support plays a key role in the journey to treatment for cancer patients. Social support encompasses a wide range of resources, including emotional, informational, tangible and practical support, and can come from a variety of sources, including family, friends, healthcare providers, support groups and communities.

Emotional support is the fundamental component of social support for cancer patients, as coping with cancer can cause immense emotional distress, such as fear, grief, anger and anxiety.

Where do we want to go? Can knowledge from inclusion with one another be the solution to alleviate psychological distress?

Having a support system can provide cancer patients with a safe space to express their feelings, be heard and receive understanding through empathy. Emotional support can help relieve the psychological burden of cancer, reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes. Studies have shown that cancer patients who receive emotional support from loved ones or participate in support groups experience lower levels of anxiety and depression and have improved quality of life.

Valid information: knowing where we are going.

Informational support is another critical aspect of social support for cancer patients. Understanding the complexities of cancer, treatment options and the healthcare system in general can be an important knowledge tool in order for the patient to know where they are going and what they need to “build” psychologically to cope with the difficult stage of treatment.

Also, access to accurate and reliable information can empower cancer patients to make informed decisions about their treatment plans, manage side effects and engage in self-care practices. Healthcare providers, cancer support organisations and authoritative online resources can provide valuable informational support to patients and their caregivers, enabling them to better cope with the challenges of cancer.

Lean on me.

Social support can take many different forms. One of these is tangible support, which includes help with practical tasks, making it essential for cancer patients. Cancer treatments can be physically demanding and exhausting. Support such as transport to appointments, meal preparation and household chores can significantly ease the burden on patients and their carers, allowing them to focus on their treatment and recovery. Friends, family and community organizations can provide essential support that helps patients manage their daily activities and maintain a sense of normalcy during a difficult time.

I change you the moment you change me.

Social support also plays a critical role in improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Research has shown that patients with strong social support systems tend to have better adherence and commitment to treatment plans, better physical recovery and a reduced risk of complications. Social support can also have a positive impact on cancer patients’ immune systems, reduce inflammation and enhance overall physiological function, contributing to better treatment outcomes. In addition, social support can provide cancer patients with a sense of hope, motivation and purpose, which can enhance resilience and coping skills, ultimately improving their ability to manage the challenges of cancer.

We are together and we are moving forward.

In addition to the emotional, informational, tangible and treatment-related benefits, social support can also create a sense of community for cancer patients. Joining support groups, connecting with others who have similar experiences and participating in cancer-related events can provide a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation. Social support can also enhance a sense of inclusion and normalisation as patients realise that they are not alone in their journey and can draw strength from others who have successfully gone through similar challenges (“I went through this stage too and now I am here for you”). Building social connections and meaningful relationships can provide cancer patients with a sense of purpose, social engagement and improved overall wellbeing.

It is important to note that social support is not a one-size-fits-all approach and may vary according to individual preferences, cultural norms and personal circumstances (closed and open social). Some patients may prefer more private forms of support, while others may find comfort in larger support groups. The type and amount of social support required may also change during the cancer course and it is important that patients’ choices and boundaries are respected.

In closing, I would say that sometimes, if possible, it is good to let go, not to be afraid of what we have to say (let us judge and be judged under the umbrella of a healthy process) and let the environment decide what stays and goes from a discussion about the concern raised in each case. This leads us to the choice of the most appropriate behaviour.

Inclusion brings feedback and then eventual revision.

**Please note that it is always recommended to consult multiple sources and to consult health professionals for individualized medical advice.**

For useful information – resources:

Women Less Satisfied With Cancer Care

WHEN STEPHANIE RIVERA’S DOCTOR DISCOVERED THYROID NODULES during a routine exam in 2019, she began getting yearly thyroid ultrasound monitoring. She was told that 95% of the time these nodules are benign, but that she should watch for symptoms. “My doctor said if anything changes—if my voice changes or if I have trouble swallowing—I should come in sooner than my annual check-up,” says Rivera, 54, CEO of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, which focuses on breaking barriers to health care for marginalized communities.

In April 2022, when Rivera began to experience unusual hoarseness five months before her scheduled annual thyroid ultrasound, she called her doctor as directed. But instead of getting an expedited appointment, “I was told, ‘Everything is fine. Just come back in August when you’re supposed to,’” Rivera says. When her hoarseness continued, Rivera called her doctor’s office again, and the medical staff relayed the same message: “Just come back in August.”

After that August check-up, however, Rivera was diagnosed with thyroid cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. Rivera felt validated but remorseful. “Statistically, I wasn’t supposed to have thyroid cancer that has metastasized, but I knew my body. I should have called a third time and said, ‘This hoarseness is different. I need to come in now just to make sure everything is OK,’” she says.

Rivera is far from alone in having her cancer symptoms dismissed. According to a recent American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) survey involving 1,236 patients with cancer and survivors who have been diagnosed or treated within the past seven years, women were twice as likely as men (6% vs. 3%) to have reported symptoms five or more times before getting a diagnosis. For patients diagnosed after experiencing symptoms (as opposed to those diagnosed after screening), women were less likely than men to report that their symptoms were taken very seriously (31% vs. 21%) or taken seriously “at all” (8% vs. 1%).

“These small survey numbers echo a bigger trend women may be experiencing throughout their cancer journey: that physicians are not listening to them,” says Sarah Long, ACS CAN project manager for survey administration and analysis. “The fact that women, in particular, were going to physicians repeatedly and saying repeatedly, ‘I have these symptoms,’ and those symptoms were not taken seriously is an issue.”

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Having initial cancer symptoms dismissed may especially be a problem for younger, healthy-looking women who don’t fit the profile of what doctors believe to be a typical cancer patient, Long says. According to ACS CAN survey respondents, physicians are apt to chalk up younger patients’ symptoms, such as feeling tired, to having a stressful job or a too-busy life, when, in fact, after pushing for follow-up appointments and additional testing, many of these women are eventually diagnosed with cancer.

“Women are having to say, ‘No, this isn’t normal for me’ over and over again,” says Kirsten Sloan, managing director of public policy at ACS CAN. “What we’re concerned about are those women who don’t say it over again, who just accept what their doctor says, rather than pushing for more testing. If it is cancer, they later find out it could have been diagnosed and treated sooner, with potentially a more favorable prognosis.”

Who is to blame? “It’s not the fault of the doctor. It’s the high-pressure system doctors find themselves in. The models of care are not as patient centered as they need to be,” Sloan says. “If you’ve only got a 15-minute visit, you don’t have much time to figure out which symptoms don’t make sense for the patient’s life.”

If You Feel Something, Say Something Again and Again

Still, there is no time to wait for the system to change, if it ever does. “As health care consumers, we need to educate ourselves about the symptoms to look for, make sure we’re doing our routine screenings so things are caught early, and be really good advocates for ourselves,” says Sloan. “We also need to find a doctor who listens in the way we need to be listened to.”

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Rivera, who has worked directly with doctors on various levels at major health care networks for more than 30 years, has learned a lot about herself from her experience being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. “If this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone,” she says. “I trusted my doctor. And, apparently, I trusted him very much. What I didn’t trust was myself enough to say: ‘I know my body, and something is different. I need to be seen now for peace of mind.’”

Rivera says pushing back is not in her comfort zone. Insisting on being heard by your doctor or your clinical care team can feel like talking back to the teacher or your boss. Still, when something doesn’t feel right, your life can depend on it. “The lesson I learned is that my voice about my body is a top priority,” Rivera says.

Women Less Satisfied With Cancer Care

World Health Organization releases new road map for breast cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new road map on breast cancer, with a target of saving 2.5 millions lives from the disease by 2040.

Currently, there are more than 2.3 million cases of breast cancer that occur each year, making it the most common cancer among adults.

However, survival from breast cancer is widely inequitable between and within countries, WHO reports, with nearly 80% of deaths from breast and cervical cancer occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

“Countries with weaker health systems are least able to manage the increasing burden of breast cancer,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO.

“It places a tremendous strain on individuals, families, communities, health systems and economies, so it must be a priority for ministries of health and governments everywhere,” he added.

WHO’s new global breast cancer framework recommends countries implement ‘three pillars of health promotion’ for early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive management of breast cancer to reach the targets.

This includes investing in breast cancer early-detection programmes so that at least 60% of the patients are diagnosed and treated at an early stage in their disease.

The other pillars include diagnosing breast cancer within 60 days of initial presentation and ensuring treatment starts within three months of first presentation, as well as ensuring at least 80% of patients complete their recommended treatment.

Dr Bente Mikkelsen, WHO director for noncommunicable disease, said: “Countries need to ensure that this framework engages and integrates into primary healthcare. This effort would not only support health promotion, but also empower women to seek and receive health care throughout the life cycle.”

“With effective and sustainable primary healthcare, we can really see a pathway to universal health coverage.”

The new framework which, according to WHO, could prevent millions of otherwise avoidable cancer deaths in women, follows the World Health Assembly passing a resolution in 2017 pushing for the same actions for control.

Since 2018, WHO has developed integrated initiatives in women’s and children’s cancers, also calling for the elimination of cervical cancer and a doubling of childhood cancer survival rates.

Taken together, experts say these initiatives can ‘revert the generational harm’ from cancers and save more than a million lives in the next ten years.

Πηγή: pmlive.com