Healthy Living

The physical impact of cancer is obvious. But what is not so well known, and sometimes goes unnoticed and untreated, is the psychological toll it can take on patients and their loved ones.

And it’s not always the disease itself that is so daunting. Sometimes, navigating the healthcare system, from getting the right tests in a timely fashion to even financial issues, is reason for concern.

Minimizing stress of any kind is one of the most important things we can do to proactively battle cancer.

According to a study funded by the National Cancer Institute, “patients without financial stress had significantly faster improvement rates over time in functional, emotional and physical well-being” as compared with patients who faced economic burdens because of their cancer diagnosis.

Financial stress can come in many forms – you might be out of work for a time, you might not understand your medical bills, you might just be overwhelmed with paperwork.

Backus Hospital offers a free cancer support group open to all persons with a new cancer diagnosis, survivors, family, and friends. This group focuses on the psychological and social issues people diagnosed with cancer face – and in August we will focus on finances. We will discuss strategies for easing financial stress during and after treatment.

Our “Diagnosed With Cancer, What You Need to Know” support group meets the second Tuesday of every month from 5-6 p.m. in the hospital’s entry level conference room 1 in Norwich. To register please call 860.889.8331, ext. 4239.

Other support group topics include how humor can help heal, the role of spirituality, communicating with your healthcare provider and handling fatigue. These are all issues – outside of the physical affects – that cancer patients face.

Elynor Carey is an oncology social worker in the Backus Hospital Care Management Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Carey or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org