Cancer Care — Caregiving, Support and Resources

For millions of people around the world, the suspect lump, mole or nagging cough is more than a health nuisance. These changes in the body are warning signs of cancer. Cancer in its diverse forms is a group of diseases that create a rapid growth of abnormal cells in the body. The World Health Organization reports that cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, killing 8.8 million people in 2015. Around one-third of cancer deaths across the planet stem from behavioral and dietary risks, including obesity, lack of exercise, low fruit and vegetable consumption, tobacco use, and alcohol use.

Since 2000, World Cancer Day on February 4 has rallied everyday citizens and professional advocates behind cancer research, treatment and care. World Cancer Day’s 2016–2018 campaign theme “We can. I can.” is a call for individuals and the collective to take action to help reduce the burden of cancer throughout the world. To help reverse the growing rate of cancer, every person is encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices and follow early detection steps. Families and neighborhoods are encouraged to create healthy workplaces, schools and communities, and to support others who are journeying through a cancer diagnosis.

“Cancer of any type should never be battled alone,” said Rosaleen Doherty, Co-Owner of Right at Home Boston and North. “At Right at Home, we stand with seniors and adults with disabilities who are living with cancer. We join in the circle of family and friends who support and encourage their loved ones fighting cancer. To our team of professional in-home caregivers and office staff, ‘C’ doesn’t stand for ‘cancer,’ it stands for ‘Courage, Commitment and Caring.’”

Aging is one of the biggest risks for cancer — Doherty suggests a number of measures seniors and their family members can take to help prevent and stand against cancer and its grueling effects:

Screen for early detection. Regular screenings help pinpoint cancer in people who show no symptoms. Being proactive about screening gives you the best odds for beating cancer when tumors are small and have not spread or metastasized to other regions of the body. The American Cancer Society recommends the following screening tests for certain cancers based on gender for those age 50 and older:

• Men – colon, prostate and lung
• Women – breast, cervical, colon and lung

Talk with your physician about your individual health history and risks for cancer.

Be intentional about staying healthy. The air you breathe, the foods you eat and the genes you inherit all affect your likelihood of getting cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund “estimates that about 20 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. are related to body fatness, physical inactivity, excess alcohol consumption, and/or poor nutrition, and thus could be prevented.” The beneficial news is that you can help limit your cancer risk by avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke, exercising regularly, and keeping a healthy weight throughout your lifetime. If you are a male, limit your daily alcohol intake to no more than two drinks, and if you are a female, to no more than one drink. (A drink of alcohol is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1½ ounces of hard liquor.) Choosing more plant-based foods in your diet can also boost your body’s immunity to certain cancers. Other cancer preventatives include wearing sunscreen and reducing your exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The American Cancer Society provides more details about the connection between lifestyle choices and cancer risk.

Seek professional assistance for at-home cancer recovery. The comforts of home increase in importance for many cancer patients. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and other oncology treatments can leave people with cancer experiencing little energy and little appetite. Healthful nutrition is essential during and after cancer treatment, and consulting with an oncology dietician or a registered nutritionist can help patients regain strength and rebuild body tissue. Other health providers to consider for in-home cancer recovery include a physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, and professional caregiver. Right at Home, for example, is a leading home-care agency that offers highly trained and licensed caregivers to help with everyday tasks including bathing, dressing, cooking, health reminders and transportation to appointments. Respite care is also available for family caregivers who need a break here and there in their loved one’s cancer journey.

Connect with national cancer resources and support groups. A number of resources and support groups are available nationwide for cancer patients and their families to walk through their emotional, spiritual, financial and other specific care needs:

• The American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, 1-800-227-2345
• Cancer Care, www.cancercare.org, 1-800-813-HOPE (4673)
• Cancer Net (American Society of Clinical Oncology), https://www.cancer.net, 1-888-651-3038
• The National Cancer Institute, https://www.cancer.gov/resources-for, 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
• The U.S. Administration on Aging, www.eldercare.gov, 1-800-677-1116
• The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/SupportGroups.html, 1-877-GO-KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)
• The United Way, www.liveunited.org, check your local phone listing

About Right at Home of Boston and North

Right at Home Boston and North is a locally owned and operated by Rosaleen Doherty and Jay Kenney. Right at Home Boston and North provides in-home care and assistance to adults and seniors in the North Shore, Boston and Merrimack Valley communities. Right at Home Boston and North offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and adults with a disability who want to continue to live independently. For more information, contact Right at Home of Boston and North at www.rightathomemass.net, 877-500-CARE (2273) or by email at info@rightathomemass.com. To sign up for Right at Home’s free adult caregiving e-newsletter, Caring Right at Home, visit http://caringnews.com.