by Life Credit Company | Feb 12, 2019 | Cancer Treatments & Therapies
A cancer diagnosis brings with it a seemingly endless list of questions: which treatment to pursue, how to get financial assistance for cancer patients, how to continue to manage daily responsibilities and countless other concerns. Before getting to those details, however, patients need to find a cancer treatment center and assemble a team of qualified experts. According to the American Cancer Society, selecting who will deliver the care is perhaps the most important decision cancer patients will make in their journey. ACS offers a number of tips for those exploring how to find a cancer treatment center that is well-versed in their particular diagnosis. ACS advises that one of the best places to start is with the physician who diagnosed the cancer, as he or she may have experience with particular centers or hospitals that would be a good match. Even if the physician offers a suggestion, it’s important to consider several options in the quest to find a cancer treatment center. Patients should determine which facilities have specific experience with the kind of cancer they’re facing and meet in person with the team of specialists to have all of their questions answered upfront. Beyond experience, consider location, travel time and availability of clinical trials. There are also certain standards that patients may want to ensure their top choices meet. The Joint Commission, for instance, has a thorough accreditation process that cancer facilities must meet. Those looking to find a cancer treatment center will want to make sure their potential picks meet the minimum accreditation threshold. The Commission on Cancer also has a comprehensive list of 1,500 cancer centers... read more
by Life Credit Company | Feb 4, 2019 | Uncategorized
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer that sets many patients back on the road to recovery. However, starting chemo can throw a patient’s life into a bit of disarray, as he or she needs to adjust to new schedules, unpleasant side effects, and stressful financial obligations. Having a cancer care plan in place can help patients to face those challenges head-on. Assemble Your Team One of the first steps to consider is selecting an oncologist and a cancer care team. Research extensively and meet in person with the doctors to ensure a good fit. Next, compile questions to ask your oncologist, such as expected timeframes, the ins and out of the chemotherapy process and the cost of chemotherapy. From there, patients and their families can begin to prepare themselves and their lives for this new chapter. Prepare for Side Effects One of the questions for the oncologist should be, what are the side effects of chemotherapy? The treatment affects all patients differently, but common side effects include extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, appetite changes, anemia, and others. Learn about what may be coming down the pike before ever starting treatment so you feel prepared both physically and mentally. Knowing the potential side effects of chemotherapy can also help patients to curb some of them. Meal planning or chemotherapy patients, for instance, can help patients lessen some of the treatment effects while promoting good nutrition. Several small meals per day, instead of a few large ones, can minimize nausea while ensuring patients are fortifying their systems. Get Help with Finances The cost of chemotherapy is another potential complication... read more
by Life Credit Company | Jan 11, 2019 | Quality of Life & Emotional Support
While it’s common for family, friends and loved ones to step up and lend a helping hand when a person is battling cancer, there’s another area where assistance may be just as vital, but perhaps less available: at the office. Workplace support for employees with cancer can come in many forms — from policies and procedures that make easing back into the job a bit easier, to informal help from co-workers eager to make the daily grind a little less difficult. Both employers and employees can take steps to make sure workplace support for employees with cancer is available and being put to use. For the Employer A new guide from the National Business Group on Health and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network outlines steps employers can take to offer workplace support for employees with cancer. Key among them are providing short-term disability for cancer treatment, along with disability case managers to walk patients through the ins and outs. The guide also suggests employers put in place an Employee Assistance Program and return-to-work strategies that involve case managers, HR leaders, and the worker’s supervisor to ensure a smooth and sensitive transition. For the Employee It’s also important to be proactive about seeking workplace support for employees with cancer. Cancer.net points out that there are three steps involved in a successful return to work: preparation, adjusting physically and adjusting mentally. Cancer patients should understand the parameters of policies like FMLA and short-term disability for cancer treatments and ensure they’re taking maximum advantage of leave and other benefits available to them. When a doctor approves, contact the company and request a... read more
by Life Credit Company | Jan 4, 2019 | Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients
While the challenges facing cancer patients are vast, the obstacles their caretakers struggle with are often just as daunting. If a parent falls ill, chances are his or her adult child is still of working age and may need to juggle work schedules, family obligations and financial commitments with care-taking. Using FMLA to care for a parent with cancer is one way some Americans try to close those gaps. What is FMLA? The Family and Medical Leave Act is designed to help employees manage the realities of balancing work and family. Passed in 1993, the federal law allows workers of certain employers to take a leave of absence from their job if they or a family member is facing a medical crisis such as cancer, or for other significant life events, such as the birth or adoption of a child. While the law does not mandate that employers pay workers during their leave, it does guarantee that their job or an equivalent one will still be available upon their return and that the employer continues the worker’s same healthcare coverage. How Can I Use FMLA to Care for a Parent with Cancer? The first step to using FMLA to care for a parent with cancer or another pressing emergency is to talk to your employer. FMLA applies to all public agencies, such as local and state governments and schools, as well as private employers with at least 50 or more workers. Smaller employers can offer FMLA but are not bound by law to do so. Employees also need to meet certain requirements. They must have worked for the employer... read more
by Life Credit Company | Dec 19, 2018 | Quality of Life & Emotional Support
Cancer does not discriminate: It affects people around the world, from all backgrounds and at all stages of their life; however, those who are at an advanced age may feel the effects of cancer even more than others, for a number of reasons. Elderly cancer patients may be grappling with other expected conditions that naturally come with aging, but which may make fighting off the disease a bit more challenging. Those who are already impacted by mobility issues or memory challenges can be especially affected by the toll of cancer. Seniors often have smaller circles of support than younger patients as well, meaning fewer hands on deck and less day-to-day, practical support. Finances are also a consideration; many seniors have already retired or are unable to work and are on fixed incomes. Cancer can present a significant financial burden to even middle-aged, working adults so it’s to be expected that the condition will disproportionately impact elderly patients. Cancer financial help is one avenue for assistance that loved ones of a senior patient can pursue. Programs like Life Credit’s Living Benefit Loans can connect seniors with the life insurance that they’ve likely paid into for decades, allowing them to use those funds to put up their best fight possible against the disease so they can truly enjoy their golden years. Many healthcare facilities also offer financial consultants, and cancer nonprofits—at both the national and local levels—provide financial resources for patients in need, which caregivers for elderly patients should explore as another means of cancer financial help. Apart from finances, supporting a senior with cancer can involve altering one’s daily schedule... read more
by Life Credit Company | Dec 13, 2018 | Quality of Life & Emotional Support
Cancer patients need support across a variety of spectrums—medical, financial and emotional, among others. Loved ones who have a family member or friend battling cancer may often feel at a loss of how to meet all those needs, but there are some simple ways to make the fight against cancer a little easier. 1. Organize a community benefit: Cancer patients, even those who are insured, are often in need of financial assistance to help pay medical bills and other expenses. If you’re unsure how to plan a benefit, many restaurants, country clubs or other venues often employ event specialists and other planners who can assist with all the details, such as invitations, organizing raffles and ordering food and other supplies. 2. Partner with a local or national cancer organization: Another way for those considering how to hold a fundraiser for cancer patients is to seek a partnership with a cancer agency. Such organizations can offer insight and resources for organizing unique events to benefit individual patients, such as walk-a-thons, parties or donation drives. 3. Connect the patient with needed resources: Sometimes a cancer patient may not have the time or energy to invest in finding information that could help them in their journey. Explore programs that could meet the individual needs of your loved one, such as Life Credit’s Living Benefit Loans, which allow patients to borrow against their own life insurance. 4. Consider overlooked tasks: Treating cancer is an around-the-clock chore, which means daily chores may fall by the wayside. Help out the patient in your life by cooking meals, transporting kids to and from activities or even... read more
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