| NCCS Survivorship Newsletter - January 2010 |
Happy New Year!
Many of us have made the typical New Year’s resolutions to eat smarter and exercise more, but what about resolving to be more active participants in our healthcare? We all know cancer survivors who have sought second opinions when they weren’t satisfied, asked their doctors about switching regimens or even treatment centers when something wasn’t working, or have beaten the odds of survival – just by speaking up! In the latest Cancerversary blog post, guest blogger Suzanne Lindley, a 10-year colorectal cancer survivor, talks about her cancer experience over the past decade and what she hopes this new decade will bring. Read the latest post >>
_______________________________________________
|
Cancer Advocate Spotlight: Jasan Zimmerman
It took most of Jasan’s adult life for him to get comfortable talking about his three bouts with cancer, which started at the age of six months. Now, he’s more involved than ever, and he’s sharing what made him change. Read more >>
Toolbox Program Highlight: Finding Ways to Pay for Care
Cancer care can be extremely costly. Particularly during these economic times, financial difficulties can create new challenges in accessing much-needed cancer care. Finding Ways to Pay for Care is a program designed to help underinsured or uninsured people who are having difficulty finding and receiving the care that they need. The stories in this program offer hope and encouragement that insurance problems should not stand in the way of receiving good cancer care. Once you’ve listened to the program, check out the free NCCS publication: What Cancer Survivors Need to Know about Health Insurance.
Listen now >>
|
Cancer's Silver Lining
An article in the most recent issue of Cure Magazine, "Cancer's Silver Lining," describes how having a positive perspective, or what researchers call “post-traumatic growth,” affects cancer survivors in a variety of ways. Cancer can provide a spiritual awakening for some, while others might want to put their painful experience behind them as quickly as possible. Read more >>
_______________________________________________
|
Get New Direction with a Care Plan
So, you’ve heard of cancer care plans but you’re not sure exactly what they are or how they apply to you? Read this article about a colorectal cancer survivor’s battle with cancer and how a written care plan not only de-cluttered her medical records, but helped give her new direction. Read the full article >>
_______________________________________________
|
Bring Doctors and Patients Together
Imagine a book club where everyone reads a different chapter of a mystery book. It would be impossible to figure out who committed the crime, right? What a ridiculous thought!
But that’s what happens every day when cancer survivors see their doctors. Each doctor has a separate patient record. They may have a few notes in common, and maybe some have faxed results to each other. But no one has the complete novel.
The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act or CCCIA (S. 1773/H.R. 1844) would get everyone on the same page by putting a written treatment plan, treatment summary and follow-up care plan in the hands of cancer patients and survivors. Right now, this essential service is not currently offered to the majority of America’s 12 million cancer survivors or the additional 1.5 million people who will be diagnosed this year. With your help, we can change that. Please contact your Senators and Representative and ask them to support the CCCIA >>
_______________________________________________
|
|
Help Keep Clinical Trial Coverage in Healthcare Reform
Just before the holidays, your efforts and those of thousands of advocates in the cancer community ensured that the clinical trials amendment, which protects people who enroll in clinical trials from overwhelming out-of-pocket care costs, was included in the Senate healthcare reform bill.
On Christmas Eve, the Senate passed the healthcare reform bill, and it will now go to a conference committee where representatives from both the House and Senate will combine their two bills into final legislation that must then be passed by each chamber for final approval.
The House and Senate return from their holiday recess in the coming weeks, which means THERE IS STILL TIME to ask your Representatives to support keeping the clinical trial amendment in the final, combined healthcare reform bill. Send a letter now >>
|
Tell a Friend | Donate to the Cause | Sign up for News
NCCS advocates for quality cancer care for all Americans and provides tools that empower people affected by cancer to advocate for themselves.
|
