Cancer Care: 3Cs of Patient Care and Care Giving

Cancer Care is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Consistent, continuous, and committed care for cancer patients is key to providing quality of life and enduring long-term cancer treatments.

#1C – CONSISTENCY: Caregivers must quickly learn about the patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Caregivers must be emotionally and physically healthy at all times, whenever possible. Caring and patient responsibility begin immediately.

BE INFORMED- While medical records are available online, printed copies of medical records, blood work results, diagnostics test results, medication lists, 24-hour or on-call doctor/medical staff contact information, hospital contact information, etc., must be available anytime and anywhere. Keep all that information in a binder for easy access. Create a care bag in which important stuff like medication, binders, mints, extra clothes, or whatever your patient may need is available. Keep it handy because you will never know when you need it—the less stressful it is for the caregiver, the better care for the patient.

BE A PATIENT ADVOCATE. Know your patient’s medical records. Do your reading and research beforehand to become familiar with the symptoms and side effects of any medical procedures and prescriptions. Doctors see hundreds of patients daily, so don’t expect them to know your patient instantaneously. Familiarity with the patient’s information enables the caregiver to make informed decisions with the doctor and medical professionals.

BE INVOLVED BUT BE MINDFUL OF FAMILY MEMBERS SOLELY MAKING THE DECISIONS – As family members, we need to help out and sometimes make decisions for the patient without any consultation or counseling. Unknowingly, sometimes, we cross the boundaries of letting the patient make decisions for their well-being. Whether we consciously or unconsciously think that they cannot make a decision or not should not be an excuse. For the patient’s healing, they must be empowered to make their decisions at all times.

My experience with my husband was challenging concerning making cancer treatment decisions. I was opting for natural and holistic treatments, but family members agreed more towards chemotherapy. We ended up balancing both forms of treatment. Towards the end, my husband was very emotional and didn’t want to continue chemo; he realized the havoc chemo brought to him. We ceased the chemo treatment right away, as he requested. The bottom line is that the patient has to decide whatever they feel is right for them.

#2 C- CONTINUOUS CARE – Cancer treatment is a marathon. Plan for care long term. Evaluate your financial resources and commitment physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Financial commitment: Let me share some of the finances behind cancer in the hopes that it might help others in the process of whether they have just been diagnosed or during lung cancer treatment.

1. INSURANCE AND SPENDING ACCOUNTS -Avail of your employer’s health insurance coverage and spending accounts. Co-payments can quickly add up.
2. LONG-TERM CARE and SHORT-TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS- For a fraction of the cost of at least $30 a month, you can avail of the long-term care and disability benefits from your employer. When a cancer patient becomes unable to work full time and will need to go on short-term disability, disability insurance is beneficial.
3. SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME INSURANCE – Supplemental income insurance is affordable. Make sure you evaluate your best options.
4. SSS/GOVT DISABILITY BENEFITS – Don’t count on this. It is a long and tedious process to apply. If cancer patients are of retirement age, they may be approved to receive after six months the application has been submitted. I hope you are still alive then to get your benefits.
5. CANCER INSURANCE – They say, in most cases, cancer is hereditary. There are cancer insurances available in the market which can cover treatments.
6. EMERGENCY FUND – 6-12 MONTHS SAVINGS – Always necessary to have savings of up to 6-12 months as an emergency fund.

#3C – COMMITMENT- Cancer care is long-term. As a caregiver, having strong support systems from your family, friends, pastor, and community will help you get through the patient’s recovery phase. Spent time and allow yourself as a caregiver to be taken care of. Longevity and healing is the goal of recovery, and we hope for a positive outcome of the journey.