Helping cancer patients cope
Survivor care plans keep information in one place
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Monday, February 6, 2017
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
A new approach to helping cancer patients cope with the disease is available in the Northwest Territories.
Fort Good Hope resident Joseph Furlong says he felt overwhelmed by the process and information he needed to begin his treatment after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016.
But one night, after joining a community health group, he heard about an initiative run by the non-profit organization NWT Breast Health and Breast Cancer Awareness for cancer patients in Fort Good Hope and Fort Smith.
Called Living the Journey, the pilot project provides patients with Survivor Care Plans (SCPs), or information booklets to help them manage their cancer diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment.
He said the SCPs are designed to keep the patient's information in one place and help them gain insights into their needs and be in control of their cancer.
"Survivor Care Plan helps you keep track of medical appointments and understanding your needs, and where you need extra help and all that," Furlong said.
"And how you are feeling emotionally. You keep track of all that from day one. Whenever you were feeling very down and it seemed to make me feel like it is worth trying to live - it gives you strength just to read it - about your body and stuff like that."
From the information provided in the booklet about living with cancer, Furlong said he was also informed about living a healthy lifestyle and quit drinking alcohol and smoking.
Rosanna Strong, a board member of the NWT Breast Health and Breast Cancer Action Group and a cancer survivor herself, said the plan especially provides support for individuals who are cancer survivors.
"People are living longer with cancer," she said. "It's not just a disease that kills you anymore. It's become more like a chronic disease because of all of the aftermath of the treatments. You still need to be involved in the health care profession and you need to take some ownership as well on your own care."
She said because of this, it is becoming more and more important to provide for cancer survivors and the experience surviving the disease entrails.
From 2013 to 2014, NWT Breast Health and Breast Cancer Action Group and its project consultant, Lutra Associates Ltd., carried out a needs assessment for people living with cancer in the NWT.
The research included 110 individuals, such as breast-cancer survivors, health-care providers and caregivers who contributed to mapping the breast cancer journey and improve the response to individuals and families affected by breast cancer.
Out of this research, a total of 18 recommendations resulted and three areas were chosen as priorities: developing and implementing breast cancer aftercare that includes survivor care plans, access to counselling and the resources necessary for positive lifestyle changes. Three booklets were designed, one for breast cancer patients, colorectal cancer patients and a general cancer booklet for all cancer patients.
The SCPs have been used in other parts of Canada as a tool to ease the transition from active cancer treatment to post-treatment, Strong explained.
She said while the focus is on helping cancer survivors transition after their treatment, the care plans begin at the diagnosis.
In particular, they provide individualized information, including a patient's complete cancer history, medical follow-up plan and care team contacts.
The booklets also include information on managing longer term side effects of treatment, stress and emotional issues, community resources and guidelines for healthy living.
Using the care plans, the survivor is supported to identify their own goals and a plan for achieving them, Strong added.
Louise Fraser in Fort Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer and then went into remission. She said her survivor care plan helps her organize her life and makes her feel confident and in control when dealing with the medical and psychological issues she faces as a cancer survivor.
"It's been a godsend for me because I have all the information I need," Fraser said. "I keep it when I go for treatment or anything else that is new and I put it into my care plan guide and I have all this information at my finger tips."
"If I go to Edmonton and "When I see my oncologist or if I go to Yellowknife and my oncologist comes there, they find it very helpful," she continued. "Because I have my doctors' appointments and what they were for. I'm in remission right now, and I feel very well. Cancer is a process and the care plan is almost like a diary that tracks the process of your cancer journey."
Survivor Care Plans are available to individuals in Fort Good Hope and Fort Smith by contacting the NWT Breast Health and Breast Cancer Action Group.
