How Can I Help a Cancer Patient’s Caregiver?

Caregiving comes in many forms: nurturing a child, aiding an elderly parent through his or her final years or serving as a valuable support system to someone grappling with a serious illness. While all types of caregiving come with both their own pressures and rewards, the latter is often the most unknown and least often talked about—yet it can carry with it some of the greatest challenges. Cancer is among the many medical conditions that often necessitate a caregiver stepping in to help—with countless medical appointments, treatments, side effects and an overall major disruption to one’s routine, cancer patients often need all the help they can get. But, caregivers do as well. If you have someone in this role in your life and have wondered, “how can I help a cancer patient’s caregiver?” then this is the best time to ask that question. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time when those who provided this valuable service are given just a fraction of the recognition they deserve. Apart from thanking the caregivers in your life, this is a good opportunity to also give them a bit more—as resources, knowledge, and support can be a lifesaving help for those who do so much to help others. 3 ways to give back to a cancer patient’s caregiver Introduce them to support groups: The American Cancer Society operates a comprehensive database of support groups for cancer caregivers. Connect them to these valuable resources so they can meet others with similar experiences. Research respite and adult care: Though many don’t realize it, cancer caregivers can and should take a break. Caring for...

Creating a Plan After a Cancer Diagnosis  

Planning is essential for any major life experience: going to college, buying a house, having a baby. The same can be said for a cancer diagnosis. Preparing and staying organized before for cancer treatment is often overlooked yet a highly essential component of a person’s journey through and beyond cancer. From the day a diagnosis is delivered to the moment the news of remission comes, having a cancer care plan can make each step a bit easier. How do I prepare for cancer treatment? Proactively consider the different areas of your life that will be changed by your diagnosis, and then explore the options and opportunities that exist within each to make those changes more manageable. A personalized cancer care plan should include: Treatment:  Among the most important aspects of a cancer care plan is treatment. This portion of the strategy should include research about healthcare facilities, physicians and different treatments available. Patients should education themselves about the most common types of cancer treatment, including the costs, side effects and recovery times. Finances:  A personal cancer care plan should address the patient’s overall financial picture, including estimated costs for treatments, co-pays, and other medical expenses. If you are looking for financial assistance and loans that cover medical expenses, contact Life Credit for immediate assistance at 1-888-274-1777 Caregiving:  Cancer can interrupt daily responsibilities, such as caring for children or elderly parents. A cancer care plan can address how those obligations will be handled during a patient’s treatment and recovery, including rotating schedules of family and friends willing to pitch in and a rundown of the daily responsibilities related to each caregiving relationship.Cancer patients may find that in...

How Can I Help with Cancer Research?

As cancer continues to ravage countless lives around the globe, you may find yourself asking, “How can I help cancer research?” Patients with cancer are part of a worldwide community and investing in efforts to make that community smaller year by year can help those fighting their personal battle feel a bit more empowered and inspired. Here are a few ways that cancer patients, along with their loved ones, can support cancer research: Donate tissue: To really understand the root causes of cancer, researchers need to see the disease in action, and one of the best ways to do that is through live tissue. Agencies like the National Cancer Institute run large-scale research studies to which patients can donate tissue. Healthy tissue may also sometimes be needed, so family and friends of those fighting cancer should also explore this option. Organize a penny drive: A penny may not seem like much in the grand scheme of the need for money for cancer patients, but every cent counts. A penny drive in your neighborhood, through a child’s athletic group or at a local business can be a good way for the entire community of supporters surrounding a patient to do their part to give back. Take part in a research study: Clinical trials are going on every day around the country as researchers look for innovative ways to fuse science and technology in the fight against cancer. Anyone considering participating in a research study should consult with their oncologist first, as well as explore frequently asked questions and considerations, such as those provided by the Cancer Research Institute. Life Credit Loans for Cancer...

5 Facts About Lung Cancer

Because of its commonly known association with smoking, lung cancer is likely one of the forms of the disease that most people could point to when they hear the word “cancer.” However, that doesn’t mean the public’s awareness about the condition is complete, or correct. Understanding the full extent of the risk factors, symptoms and treatments can help make all of us better informed and prepared should a diagnosis hit close to home. Beyond the 5 facts about lung cancer listed below, there are countless other nuances to the disease, so, should you find your own life impacted by lung cancer, it’s important to do your research and educate yourself. 5 Facts About Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer. More than 1.8 million people around the world are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, including 222,500 Americans. It follows only breast cancer in the number of people affected. It has higher fatality rates than many other types of cancer. Nearly 160,000 people die of lung cancer each year—more than the rates for colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Smoking is the leading — but not only — risk factor. Smoking cigarettes drastically increases your chances for contracting the disease, as does smoking cigars, pipes, and hookahs. However, up to 15% of lung cancer patients are non-smokers, with other risk factors including secondhand smoke, carcinogen exposure, and genetic mutations. There are four primary forms of lung cancer. The vast majority of cases are considered non-small cell lung cancer, while other forms include small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, and carcinoid tumors. A registry exists for...

How Does Cancer Treatment Affect The Pelvic Floor?

Some of the most common side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation or surgery are well-known: hair loss, nausea, fatigue, appetite problems and many more. However, there are a number of conditions patients may face during and after treatment that aren’t often discussed, even though they can have a significant — and in some cases, lasting — effect on the patient’s quality of life. One such issue is complications with the pelvic floor muscles. If you’re wondering, “how does cancer treatment affect the pelvic floor?” the best place to start is first understanding what exactly the pelvic floor does — and how cancer treatment can potentially damage this function. What is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles located at the base of the pelvis, extending from your pubic bone to the tailbone. The muscles enable urinary and fecal continence, support sexual function, encase vital organs like the colon and bladder, and work with other muscles to keep the spine stable. How does cancer treatment affect the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor can be damaged to varying degrees during gynecological cancer treatments. Chemotherapy and radiation, for instance, may lead to thickening pelvic tissue, which can lead to incontinence, sexual dysfunction and pain. Patients who undergo surgery for gynecological cancers may experience swelling and scar-tissue growth, which also can inhibit the pelvic floor from functioning as it should. What are the options for patients? The impact of cancer treatments on pelvic floor functionality varies widely, depending on the individual patient. Some may only experience symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction temporarily, as they undergo treatment or...