Cancer

Living With Cancer See All Coping With Cancer Overview See All Managing Emotions and Stress See All Family Support See All Records and Documents See All Sexual Concerns See All Spiritual Needs See All Work and Finances See All Cancer Survivorship See All Care for Caregiver See All End of Life Care See All Grief and Loss See All  Coping with the Diagnosis of Cancer in Coping With Cancer Overview Some practical and helpful tips to help you or a loved one cope with a cancer diagnosis....more  Coping with Terminal Cancer in Coping With Cancer Overview, Care Options for End of Life Sometimes, cancer cannot be cured. When that is the case, patients and families are faced with complex emotions and a variety of end of life issues. ...more  Grief and Cancer in Managing Emotions and Stress, Grief and Loss Grieving is a normal response to a loss. The loss can include the loss of your normal daily routine, the impact of the diagnosis on other family members, and the financial impact of the diagnosis. ...more  Anxiety with Cancer- Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery in Support for Mind and Body These skills take practice, and the more you practice them, the more helpful they are. Some people find it helpful to listen to soothing music as they practice. ...more  Art Therapy, Dance Therapy, Music Therapy, and Imagery in Support for Mind and Body Art, dance, music—all are examples of mind-body therapy. Although these therapies do not cure cancer, they provide an outlet for emotions and can improve mental and physical well-being. ...more  Taking Antidepressant Medicines in Medications You have come to the decision with your healthcare provider to try an antidepressant medicine for depression. To take antidepressant drugs medicine safely, you will need some information, which you can find here. ...more  Parental Cancer: Questions and Answers About Changes in Family Rhythms and Routines in Family Support Talking with your family about cancer and the emotions that arise is not a one-time discussion, but rather a series of talks that will continue through your treatment. ...more  For Kids: When Someone You Love Has Cancer in Family Support If someone you love has cancer, you probably feel sad, angry, and confused. It's OK to feel this way. Cancer is a serious disease. Your loved one is sick. He or she will need to see the healthcare provider a lot. It can help to learn more about cancer. ...more  Living Wills Offer Peace of Mind in Records and Documents A living will tells others how you want to be treated when it comes to life-sustaining measures. ...more  Patient Rights in Records and Documents, Using Hospice Care If you are unhappy with the home health or hospice care you are receiving, you should notify the provider's administrator, your state health department, and the Better Business Bureau. ...more  Sexuality Issues for Women Being Treated for Cancer in Sexual Concerns Treatment for cancer can cause many changes that may affect your sexuality. It can also change the physical or emotional closeness you share with another person. Different treatments can cause different physical and psychological changes that can affect how you feel, look, and function. These changes may be temporary, or they may last a long time. ...more  Life After Cancer: Changes in a Woman’s Sex Life in Sexual Concerns, Cancer Survivorship Many women have changes in their sex life after cancer treatment. You may have both physical and emotional side effects. ...more  Palliative Care: Bringing Comfort in Coping With Cancer Overview, Spiritual Needs Palliative care focuses on improving a patient's quality of life by improving the symptoms of his or her illness, such as pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty sleeping. It's used with a variety of ailments, including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney failure, or congestive heart failure. ...more  Can Optimism Make a Difference in Your Life? in Support for Mind and Body, Spiritual Needs A growing number of scientific studies indicate that optimistic people tend to live longer and have better physical and mental health than pessimistic people. ...more  Health Insurance Rights of Cancer Survivors in Work and Finances You have rights under federal and state laws to help you buy and keep coverage. But these rights are not comprehensive, and they may vary depending on where you live, what kind of coverage you have or seek, and other factors. ...more  Sample Appeal Letter for Services Denied as 'Not a Covered Benefit' in Work and Finances You can use this letter as a model for an efficient, effective appeal letter. You may also need to enlist the help of a legal professional. Make sure your healthcare provider knows any issues you have with insurance. Your provider may be able to help you. ...more  Life After Cancer: Diet, Exercise, and Weight in Cancer Survivorship After cancer treatment, eating a healthy diet, staying at a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity are key parts of your recovery. ...more  Life After Cancer: Fatigue in Cancer Survivorship After cancer treatment ends, you may find that you still feel tired and unable to do the things you want and need to do. Cancer-related fatigue is a very common problem for cancer survivors. It may last for months or even years after cancer treatment ends. ...more  Being a Caregiver in Showing You Care  Making the Home Environment Safe in Showing You Care Home safety is important when you're caring for an ill, aging, or disabled person. Use this helpful checklist as a guide. ...more  Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves in Support for the Caregiver More than 22 million Americans are involved in some form of helping elderly family members or friends with their daily routines. If you're part of this group, whether you call yourself a caregiver, or simply a good daughter or son, you know that caring for an aging parent or friend has its rewards and its trials. ...more  Getting the Most from a Mental Health Support Group in Support for the Caregiver If you’re interested in joining an online support group, read on to learn more about finding one that's right for you. ...more  Supportive (Palliative) Care for People with Cancer in Care Options for End of Life Palliative care can be provided in the hospital, at home, or in a setting specializing in such care. The duration may be long-term over several years, or short-term, lasting days or weeks. Palliative care may include chemotherapy or radiation for pain control. ...more  Hospice Care Overview in Care Options for End of Life, About Hospice Hospice care usually involves relieving symptoms and providing psychological and social support for the person and their family. The goal of hospice care is to provide the terminally ill patient peace, comfort, and dignity. ...more  Hospice or Palliative Care: Management in About Hospice Hospice is made up of a team of caregivers who specialize in end-of-life care. This team often includes healthcare providers, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, and trained volunteers. Here are some details to help with end-of-life care. ...more  Hospices Offer Comfort at Life's End in About Hospice As medical progress prolongs our lives, the end can linger. So, more and more people are turning to hospice care. ...more  Paying for Long-Term Care, Home Healthcare, and Hospice Care in Work and Finances, Using Hospice Care Home healthcare services may be paid for directly by the patient, through insurance coverage, or through other public or private sources. Most hospice care programs are provided to the patient regardless of the patient's ability to pay. ...more  Choosing a Provider in Using Hospice Care Finding appropriate home health and hospice care providers requires some research. Here's what you need to consider when evaluating a provider. ...more  Providing Support for the Bereaved in Support for the Caregiver, Grief and Loss It can be hard to know just what to do or how to help when someone you care about is grieving. Here are some helpful ideas. ...more  Grief and Loss in Grief and Loss Grief moves in and out of stages from disbelief and denial, to anger and guilt, to finding a source of comfort, to eventually adjusting to the loss. ...more