It Takes a Village to Fight Cancer

By Tina Withrow

Cancer can make our breath stop, our heart skip a beat and in some cases drop us to our knees. Once you are over the “shock” of you or a loved one being diagnosed with “the big C” as some people like to call it, it’s time to start planning your cancer survivorship strategy.

Assembling and coordinating your care team requires some pre-planned effort, and it can make a difference not only in fighting cancer, but also in your quality of life before, during, and after cancer recovery. You should always have a well-assembled base team that includes an Oncologist, your current providers that treat you for chronic health related issues, and other specialists related to your cancer treatment. Do not forget the key people that took care of you before your cancer. Making sure that your primary care physician is in good communication with your cancer team will reduce any confusion and set the tone for a good outcome.

Even though a cancer physician or cancer center may have the best credentials or be part of the biggest group in the nation, they still might not be the best choice for you. If the physician or their staff does not support you and your well-being and share a passion for cancer recovery, then the journey becomes much harder, and decisions become much more difficult to make. You will eventually grow leery of your team and wonder if they have your best interest at heart. Today’s healthcare crisis is no excuse for minimal support from physicians, nurses and support staff. Your care requirements play a vital role in the day-to-day effort of dealing with your cancer. If your team does not share in this vision, then you must find another provider with a good support staff, willing and able to help you recover & thrive in spite of having cancer.

Researching on the Internet can be both your best friend and a bogeyman in the closet. Information reaches us now at lightning speed. That is both good and bad. Information can give you power over the cancer, or it can cause unneeded anxiety when you see written or visual reminders of what could go wrong at any time.

Separating fact from the fiction will not only ease some of your fears of cancer, but it will allow you to process good information and share it with your team. Family and friend dynamics play an important role as well. Friends want to be there for us… sometimes too much. Fighting for a new normal requires having some clear boundaries for both family and friends. Cancer can have its privileges! If you do not want visitors, then be clear. Remind your family that while you love the visit, you are not in entertaining mode.

One thing cancer gives is the gift of time. Time to reflect. Time to prioritize. Time to tell those who matter most just how blessed you are. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, there are blessings along the way.

 

Tina Withrow is a certified cancer navigator and patient advocate. She is also the director of client service at Health-Sync. If you or someone you love needs help in dealing with a cancer or health crisis, you may contact Tina at 214-546-2215 or twithrow@ health-sync.net. www.health-sync.net.