Life With Cancer

By Marva Bohen, M.S., R.N.

Chances are you probably know someone who has cancer or who is a cancer survivor. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year 20,800 Minnesotans will be diagnosed with some type of cancer. Such a diagnosis, however, does not equal death. Medical research has led to new and better treatments; more than half the number of people diagnosed with cancer today will be cured. More importantly, people who are not "cured" can go on living with a disease that can be treated.

Cancer for these people is an ongoing, chronic illness that can be managed with the supervision of an oncologist, a physician who specializes in treating cancer. There are many types of cancer and each one is different, so the treatment needs to be designed specifically for each person. If the cancer is identified and treated in its early stages, many people recover completely, while others live for years with their cancer well controlled by medication or other therapies.

Like other chronic diseases, cancer can affect many aspects of life, including a person's emotional well-being, financial status, and relationships with family and friends. For example, family members may need to help a person diagnosed with cancer with jobs he or she once handled alone, such as preparing meals, cleaning, or gardening. Family members should discuss what changes need to be made in their daily routines. This way, decisions can be made as a team and everyone can work together to become comfortable with the changes.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, his or her need to know about the disease can vary. Some people with cancer may want to talk to numerous health care professionals and read everything they can about the disease, others may not. A survey conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that many cancer patients said that in the beginning, general information about cancer and cancer treatment was the most helpful, or was all they could handle. Later, during treatment, they found they wanted more detailed information about their treatment and how it was going to affect them.

Most people undergoing cancer treatment experience many different emotions and physical reactions. Cancer treatment can extend over weeks or months, and side effects like pain, nausea, mouth sores, depression, and fatigue may come and go. These symptoms can change a person's activity levels, behavior, and eating patterns. Many things can be done to manage these symptoms to improve quality of life for patients, such as modifying their diet, sticking to an exercise plan, or receiving acupuncture to reduce pain and relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea.

When treatment ends, people often expect life to return to the way it was before they were diagnosed with cancer. For most people, however, the reality is not so much "getting back to normal" as it is finding out what normal is now.

Treatments for cancer also can impose financial burdens on both patients and their families. The good news is a portion of medical expenses is usually paid by a patient's health insurance plan. Resources also are available for some people who do not have health insurance, including government-sponsored programs and limited support from nonprofit organizations. Cancer patients and their families should discuss any concerns they may have about health care costs with their physician or medical social worker.

The number of cancer survivors in America today is growing because more people are living with cancer than are dying from it. Resources like local support groups and other networks on the World Wide Web are available to cancer patients, survivors, and their families to learn more about the disease and to share messages of hope and inspiration. For more information, ask your health care professional for recommendations on appropriate resources.