Talking Wellness - Cards for Cancer: Learning

If you or someone you care about has cancer, you may want to learn more about the disease. The more you know, the easier it may be to understand what you're going through or to reach out and be supportive. Knowledge may help you to better understand the concerns and fears facing you or someone with cancer.

Therefore, in addition to electronic greeting cards, Talking Wellness: Cards for Cancer provides basic information on cancer and its treatments. It also includes suggestions to help foster good communication with healthcare providers, and links to other helpful websites.

What is cancer?
Types of cancer treatments
Communicating with healthcare providers
For more information

What Is Cancer?

Cancer occurs when an abnormal cell appears in the body and continues to divide and subdivide after it should have stopped. In a normal cell cycle, a cell is born, matures, performs its designated function, and then dies. When a cell dies, a new cell must replace it. This is accomplished when a nearby cell divides in two, and then those two cells divide, and so on until the exact number of required new cells is achieved.

Under normal circumstances, the life cycle of a cell is an exquisitely precise process. Problems arise when, for reasons still unknown, a normal cell divides to replace other cells and gives birth to an abnormal cell. This abnormal cell does not stop dividing when it is supposed to and refuses to die on schedule. Such cells, if unchecked, divide and subdivide without end. Usually, they form a tumor. As the tumor becomes larger, it impedes the function of nearby organs by intruding on their space and interfering with their supply of oxygen and nutrients. Eventually, unless the growth is stopped and the tumor is removed, the healthy organs are destroyed.

Cancer is the generic name for more than one hundred diseases that share similar characteristics. For cancer to be treated successfully, not only must the original tumor, if it exists, be controlled, but the spread of disease (metastasis) to normal tissue must be stopped.

Since there are many different types of cancer, it is important to understand the type of cancer, what stage the cancer is in, and what treatment options are most appropriate. Different types of cancer can grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. If the patient is not sure what type of cancer it is or its stage, the oncologist should be asked to explain it again.

Types of Cancer Treatment

There are many different types of cancer treatment including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and immunotherapy (biologic therapies). Sometimes these treatments are given independently, and sometimes they are given in combination with each other.

Each type of treatment may have its own potential side effects. Since every person responds differently to cancer treatment, side effects may or may not develop. It is important when discussing the various treatment options with a physician to include a discussion about the management of side effects throughout the treatment process and beyond.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells by slowing or stopping them from growing and multiplying uncontrollably. More than half the people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy. The type of chemotherapy given depends on the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, and overall health of the patient. Many different types of chemotherapy drugs are available. It is important that the patient speaks with his/her oncologist to discuss a specific treatment plan that is appropriate for him/her.

With chemotherapy, healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Harm to healthy cells is frequently what causes most of the side effects associated with cancer treatment. The kinds of side effects resulting from chemotherapy depend on the kind of chemotherapeutic drugs given, the dosages (or how much) given, and the frequency of treatments. Since these drugs affect cells throughout the body, some of the side effects may include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and hair loss.

The cancer diagnosis and the physical side effects of cancer may also cause the patient to experience emotional distress.

It is important to talk to your doctor about managing any side effects you experience because some side effects may be treated.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to stop cancer cells from growing and multiplying. It is usually given externally and directly to the location of the cancer by a machine that can pinpoint high-energy beams. Half of all people with cancer are treated with radiation. For some people with cancer, radiation therapy is the only kind of treatment needed.

Surgery

Surgery is used in the diagnosis of, preparation for, and treatment of cancer. When cancer is suspected, many people have a surgical procedure called a biopsy to confirm or diagnose cancer correctly. In the diagnostic phase, surgery enables the healthcare team to identify the tumor type, the size of the tumor, the nodal involvement, and the regional or distant spread of the disease. Definitive or curative surgery involves removing the entire tumor, associated lymph nodes, and a 2-cm to 5-cm margin of surrounding tissue.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses certain parts of the immune system to fight disease, including cancer. This can include stimulating one's own immune system or using man-made immune system proteins. Although chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are more typical treatments, some doctors use immunotherapy to optimize the effects of other treatments. It is most effective when treating small cancers and probably less so for more advanced disease. Researchers have made important progress in this field in recent years and are optimistic that more effective immunotherapies can be developed.

Communicating with Healthcare Providers

Good communication with healthcare providers is crucial for those with cancer. Studies have shown that communication between doctors and patients can help improve the quality of care received.

Effective lines of communication are especially important for people with cancer who are undergoing treatment. Many people feel overwhelmed and hopeless during this time, which increases the importance of open communication between patients and their healthcare providers. While the need for open communication between patients and their healthcare providers may seem obvious, some patients do not speak up about their condition, which may have an impact on the care they receive.

Nearly one in four cancer patients surveyed did not feel comfortable calling their doctor with questions between visits. This is especially troubling because many side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting, most often occur while the patient is at home.

One option for patients to improve communication with their healthcare provider is to write out a list of questions before an appointment to bring with them. Some questions that may help patients learn how treatment may affect them include:

What is the standard treatment for my diagnosis?
How does the treatment work?
How will the treatment be given to me?
Are there other options like a clinical trial?
What are the possible side effects?
What can I do to help prevent or lessen the side effects?
How long and how often will I have this treatment?
How and when will we be able to determine if the treatment is working?
Should I get a second opinion?
Will I be able to continue my daily activities throughout my treatment?

Other several important steps to take to make communicating with the healthcare team easier include:

Bring a loved one along to the appointment;
Write down the answers to questions;
Make sure you understand what is being said; if something seems confusing, ask about it;
Get the name of a nurse or social worker for after-hours consultation.

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