Coping with Cancer
Whether you have the symptoms of cancer, are undergoing treatment, or are caring for your loved one, this disease is scary and difficult. At SYNERGY HomeCare, we can help as you experience the effects of cancer. For your others needs, we would like to provide you with online resources.
Basic
If you have just been diagnosed with cancer, want to know more, or would like to contribute to a cause, these sites are for you. The more you know about cancer, the better you can cope with your own condition.
American Cancer Society
This non-profit organization is a great resource for the newly diagnosed and the survivors in remission. Through the American Cancer Society, you can learn about cancer, stay healthy, find support and treatment, explore research and get involved with cancer communities. You can also learn about specific types of cancer.
http://www.cancer.org/
Cancer Diagnosis: 11 tips for Coping
Being diagnosed with cancer is shocking and difficult. Knowing how to cope with cancer is important. Follow these 11 tips from the Mayo Clinic.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-diagnosis/HQ01306
Make A Wish Foundation
Through the Make A Wish Foundation, children with life threatening illnesses can have their dreams fulfilled. This foundation is the largest wish granting organization, making dreams come true every 40 minutes.
http://www.wish.org/
National Cancer Institute
The website, brought to you by the National Institutes of Health provides a lot of information about cancer. Find out more about this disease, specific forms of cancer, research and statistics here.
http://www.cancer.gov/
The Smartest Cancer Advice You’ve Ever Heard
This article from Prevention Magazine offers friendly advice from medical professionals on cancer prevention.
http://www.prevention.com/health/health/health-concerns/the-smartest-cancer-advice-you-ve-ever-heard/article/56a6c745aa163210VgnVCM10000030281eac____
Advanced
Each type of cancer has specific behavior. Use these websites to find out what you can do to prevent, treat and cope with several different types of cancer.
Cancer Treatment Statistics and Results
Learn about treatments and statistics for specific types of cancer, namely: Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Rectal Cancer, and Stomach Cancer.
http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-statistics.cfm
Breast Cancer Support
Tie our pink ribbon with these three sites dedication to living with breast cancer and living with this disease.
http://www.breastcancer.org/
http://www.komen.org/
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Find out more about prostate cancer, get involved in communities and find out about research for the cure at this website.
http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5699537/k.BEF4/Home.htm
Lung Cancer Support
If you have lung cancer, this website can help you by providing essential information about this disease, and advice as you progress into treatment and long-term lung cancer.
http://www.lungcancer.org/
The Cancer Survivors Project
The battle with cancer can become a long term process. For the many long-term cancer survivors, here is a website and community for you.
http://www.cancersurvivorsproject.org/index.html
Cancervive
This site is dedicated to “reclaiming your life after cancer”. If you have healed from cancer, this is the site for you.
http://www.cancervive.org/
Shared Experience
Search by type of cancer and other keywords to find experiences from people with your same condition.
http://www.sharedexperience.org
Family Caregivers
The onus of cancer care is usually on the family caregiver. The time commitment and emotional strain are only part of the stress of family caregiving. Respite, community and education are good solutions for concerned family members.
Caring Bridge
Through this website you can create your own website, keep a journal, and upload photos tracking your progress through cancer. You can also support others who are battling difficult diseases. Family caregivers and patients alike will enjoy the community that this site brings.
http://www.caringbridge.org/
Cancer Support Community - Support for Caregivers
In a helpful section of the Cancer Support Community, you can find helpful information about caring for your loved one with cancer.
http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/mm/Caring/Caregiver-Support/default.aspx
Potential Roles for the Family Caregiver
Family and friends can take on different roles as caregivers. Where some family caregivers are decision makers, others are advocates, communicators, hand-on care providers and social support sources. Find out more about the roles you can fulfill here.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/caregivers/healthprofessional/page4
Improving Quality of Life and Quality of Care for Oncology Family Caregivers
As family caregiver advocates, we can attest to the importance of this web page. City of Hope has a great in-depth look at family caregiver wellbeing here.
http://www.cityofhope.org/education/health-professional-education/nursing-education/family-caregiver-project/Pages/default.aspx
Hospice and Palliative Care
For people nearing the end of their lives, hospice and palliative care are good options. The path to the right kind of care can become clouded as elder age and emotions come into play. Learn more about hospice and palliative care and how it can help you. In addition to the nurses provided by hospice companies, SYNERGY HomeCare can coordinate a compassionate companion to be with you and help you during this sensitive time.
Basic
Palliative care and hospice are very misunderstood types of care. If you are unfamiliar with these end-of-life services, this section is for you.
What is Hospice?
There are many questions and misunderstandings about hospice care. This page from the Hospice Foundation of America gives you everything you need to know.
http://www.hospicefoundation.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=47055
Palliative Care Basics
Palliative care is also widely misunderstood. This may be the care solution for you. Learn more about palliative care on this helpful page.
http://www.getpalliativecare.org/whatis
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has many resources for you to find out more about hospice and palliative care and how it can help you. It also offers videos which will increase your understanding.
http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=3254
Quality of Life at the End of Life
Here’s another page the offers the basics on hospice and palliative care. It also goes into details on the benefits of end-of-life care, an outline of misconceptions, a guide to hospice care services, and other sections that cover important subject matter.
http://helpguide.org/elder/hospice_care.htm
Hospice Action Network (HAN)
The Hospice Action Network is an advocate for high quality hospice and palliative care throughout the Nation. If you want to take action, here’s the network for you.
http://www.hospiceactionnetwork.org/what_is.html
Advanced
If you or someone you know is approaching end-of-life, you should know about the benefits and issues of hospice care. This section contains information on hospice for children, Medicare benefits, and other important issues.
End-Of-Life Issues
There are many discussions about ethics during end-of-life care. Learn more about this important topic from this article published by Santa Clara University.
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v10n1/hospice.html
Hospice and Children
The Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to the best hospice and palliative care for children.
http://www.childrenshospice.org/
Medicare Hospice Benefits
Learn about Medicare’s Hospice Benefits in this helpful document.
http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/02154.pdf
Family Caregiver
It can be difficult for family members to accept that their loved one will pass away. Use these resources to find out how to go through the grieving process, learn about end-of-life care, and be supportive of your dying family member.
Caregiver’s Tools- Caring for the Caregiver
The Hospice Foundation of America offers a list of 6 great resources, which include a caregiving assessment and a caregiver’s handbook.
http://www.hospicefoundation.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=89035
End-of-Life Care: Questions and Answers
This fact sheet from the National Cancer Institute answers questions about when family caregivers should call for professional help, how to provide emotional comfort, and signs that death is approaching. This page is intended for cancer patients, but offers great for all family caregivers.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/end-of-life-care
The Grieving Process
When a loved one is approaching end-of-life or after they have passed away, family members need to go through the grieving process. As you go through the 7 stages of grief, this website may be helpful.
http://www.recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html
A Guide to Grief
Here is another guide to help you through the grieving process. This page also covers the phases of a Life-Threatening Illness.
http://www.hospicenet.org/html/grief_guide.html
Caring for Disabilities
People with disabilities have a wide range of needs. SYNERGY HomeCare helps people with developmental, psychiatric, physical, and learning disabilities. The resources in this section will help you to live daily life with your disability, and care for your loved one with special needs.
Basic
This section contains organizations and websites that will navigate you through the world of possibilities for people with disabilities.
Definition of Disabilities
It always helps to know the basic information about conditions. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development offers a detailed definition of a disability and the types of disabilities a person can have.
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/developmental_disabilities.cfm
Government Support
The United States has laws that protect people with disabilities. There are also programs that open opportunities to people with disabilities and their families.
https://www.disability.gov/
http://www.ada.gov/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/disabilities
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
The site is full of articles, fact sheets and advice for children with disabilities and their parents. It also provides essential information about laws and research for people with disabilities.
http://nichcy.org/disability
Living Well with a Disability
Having a disability does not mean can’t live well. This website helps you to find resources and advice for your disability. It also provides roads to assistive equipment, financial aid, housing and employment, among other resources.
http://www.livingwellwithadisability.org/
Advanced
Helping people to overcome obstacles is one of the best parts of home care. These websites will help you to overcome some of the obstacles your disability my give you.
TeensHealth
For teenagers with learning disabilities, this site is great place to go to find out about various topics. This site also has accessible versions for kids and parents.
http://teenshealth.org/teen/
Living Well with a Psychiatric Disability in Work and School
Your disability does not have to inhibit you from education or employment. This page from Boston University offers specific advice about how you can work and learn well.
http://www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/
Social Security Disability Help
The Social Security administration offers benefits for people with disabilities, but is sometimes hard to navigate. This site helps you find any benefits you can use.
http://www.socialsecurity-disability.org/content/homepage-10
National Foundation for the Blind
We covered blindness last fall, but would like to address it again. Blindness and Low Vision can have an effect on everyday life, but with some training, you still can do your favorite activities. Learn more here:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/default.asp
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
This organization is dedication to “making effective communication a human right, accessible and achievable for all”. It offers information for people with disabilities, professionals in speech pathology and any other interested person.
http://www.asha.org/
Family Caregivers
Many loving family caregivers are in charge of the care of their special needs loved one. From education to advice, this section helps you, the family caregiver.
Do 2 Learn.com
This fun and interactive site is designed for special needs teachers, but parents and family caregivers can use it just as easily.
http://www.do2learn.com/
Caregiving Tips for Families of People with Disabilities
This fact sheet has several sections of advice to family caregivers of a disabled loved one. Family caregivers can find out about getting support, being an advocate, empowering their loved one, emergency preparedness and keeping balance within the family.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/family.html
Caring for Adult Children
Parents caring for their adult children need respite and resources. This article can help them to get started.
http://www.care.com/special-needs-care-options-p1145-q5906.html
