An apparently healthy, married 38-year-old man is diagnosed with metastatic throat cancer. He leaves his doctor’s office and waits almost a week to be seen by an oncology specialist at a tertiary care facility. He is very anxious and cannot sleep or eat and he is frantic about how to simply get through the next few days. He loses five pounds during this week. The decisions about treatment are not straightforward and different consultants suggest conflicting treatment approaches. He has difficulty making a decision and is full of doubt about which course to choose. When he finally starts treatment, he becomes depressed about his situation: all aspects of “normalcy” are replaced by the treatment and the substantial side effects.
He has extraordinary pain, complications with his feeding tube, and constant coughing and gagging. He takes narcotics and can no longer drive. He lives more than an hour from his treatment provider and radiation requires seven weeks of daily (Monday–Friday) treatment. His wife is his only support and she is working a minimum wage job. Getting to treatment becomes a problem; he cannot locate volunteer transportation. Some days he just doesn’t get there. He and his wife are concerned about his nutrition and are dissatisfied with the commercial nutrition formulas. His wife adds unorthodox supplements to his liquid nutrition that may be causing some of his feeding tube complications. His physicians are unaware of the supplements. Home health nurses assist with tube feeding and medicines but the rest of the week he is home alone — depressed and physically very uncomfortable. He has several providers at a tertiary treatment center, one at a local oncology practice, home health nursing, a naturopath, a Chinese medicine practitioner, and a speech therapist. There is no coordination among these individuals.
- Outreach at time of diagnosis;
- Education, counseling, and support;
- Assistance in navigating and coordinating care including treatment, decision-making, and assistance with care coordination;
- Consultation and counseling regarding nutrition that would include informed decision-making about his liquid diet and the addition of supplements and herbs;
- Volunteer help with transportation and home-making;
- Volunteer peer support by phone or in person;
- Home visits from appropriate expressive therapists (music, art, or writing);
- Support for an appropriate movement or exercise program.
A cancer diagnosis turns the life of a patient and family upside down. There are difficult decisions to make about medical treatment. There are practical issues related to work, finances, childcare, and transportation to treatment. Navigating the cancer journey creates an incredible roller coaster of emotions — shock, fear, and anxiety are common. Concerns about what to eat and how to get adequate nutrition are common. Spiritual challenges can also emerge. Both the patient and the family confront changes in physical stamina and appearance. And many individuals are interested in using complementary and alternative medicine along with conventional treatment. A recent poll conducted by the Lance Armstrong Foundation documents that many pressing needs are largely unaddressed by the medical system that appropriately focuses on medical intervention.
During its first three years, the fund will support: nutritional education and counseling (including diets, herbs and supplements); supportive counseling, education, and support including relaxation imagery skills; a lending library that includes CDs and videos for self-care; expressive therapies (writing, music, art); and exercise and yoga program; spiritual/pastoral counseling; volunteer drivers; food delivery; and information and referral services.
Consider making a contribution to Michael’s Fund today.
- A $250 contribution would provide nourishing, home cooked meals to someone through the course of chemotherapy.
- A $500 contribution would make available healing resources (CDs, videos, books) that enhance self-care for all newly diagnosed patients in Central Vermont (about 75 people).
- A $1000 contribution would introduce outpatient chaplaincy services.
- A $2500 contribution would create a basic exercise or yoga program.
- A $5000 contribution would enable expressive therapies such as art, music, writing, or dance.
- A $10,000 contribution would make available supportive outreach education and counseling to every newly diagnosed person who receives treatment in Central Vermont in a year.
- A $20,000 contribution would provide for patient screening for psychosocial distress.
If you wish to contribute, please write your check to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice with Michael’s Fund on the Memo line, and mail to: