Patient Navigator

We all have cancer cells in our bodies.

How about that as a scary thought?  Every single human being on the planet has cancer cells in their bodies.  The good news is that, for most of us, our body’s natural defenses know how to defeat these defective, tumor-causing cells, and they never get the chance to grow up into a full-blown cancer.

I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber,  himself a cancer survivor, during the CancerGuides® training in June 2009.*  His delivery was amazing; his presence on the stage mesmerizing.  But what stuck with me was the plain truth – we all have cancer cells somewhere in our bodies. 

Accepting that fact also motivated me to learn more about what to do to try to keep those individual defective cells from joining together and having a cancer party.   Following his advice, outlined in the book “Anti-Cancer – A New Way of Life,” I have made small changes in my life since then.  I try to include freshly ground flax seed in my daily diet, usually in my morning oatmeal or yogurt.  I am proud to say that my ten-year old son often copies me, and grinds his own flax seed into his breakfast.  I definitely am more conscious of the amount of fruits and vegetables that we all eat.  I try to purchase eggs and meat that are grass-fed, and therefore richer in Omega-3s.   I am working to reduce toxic cleaning products and other indoor pollution from our house.   I exercise regularly.

I am falling down, however, on approaching life in a light-hearted way, with laughter and serenity.  Dr. Servan-Schreiber emphasizes that emotional toxicity is as harmful to the body as physical pollutants.  It is easy, and we are programmed very early, to react to problems with anger and negativity.  It is much more of a challenge to find the humor in adversity, to love those who make life difficult for us.  I think these are the most difficult changes of all – the internal ones of the basic self.   Whether you’ve had cancer or not, any person who wants to improve their chances of avoiding cancer should read Dr. Servan-Schreiber’s very important book.

 * CancerGuides® training is offered by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C.  It is the country’s only comprehensive training in integrative oncology. To learn more, visit http://www.cmbm.org/

Guest editor:  Debora Harvey, Director of Client Services at Patient Navigator, LLC

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To the general public, these words can be overwhelming.

Even to people in the healthcare industry or those helping a loved one cope with a serious illness, the words “clinical trials” can conjure up images of desperate medical experiments with little hope of success. In reality, this stigma is unwarranted. Medical advances and breakthroughs can and have resulted from clinical trials. Without them, we wouldn’t have many of the treatments we have today. 

In short, clinical trials are research studies that allow for new and promising therapies to emerge from the laboratory to the bedside, comparing new, investigational therapies against the standard, current therapies.  Trials occur in well-defined phases.

Phase I trials:  These first studies in people evaluate how a new drug should be given (by mouth, injected into the blood, or injected into the muscle), how often, and what dose is safe.  A phase I trial usually enrolls only a small number of patients, sometimes as few as a dozen.

Phase II trials:  A phase II trial continues to test the safety of the drug, and begins to evaluate how well the new drug works.  Phase II studies usually focus on a particular type of cancer.

Phase III trials:  These studies test a new drug, a new combination of drugs, or a new surgical procedure in comparison to the current standard. A participant will usually be assigned to the standard group or the new group at random (called randomization).  Phase III trials often enroll large numbers of people and may be conducted at many doctors’ offices, clinics, and cancer centers nationwide

Often patients seek out clinical trials after all other standard therapies have failed. To qualify, a patient must complete a physical exam, give a full medical history and, if eligible, sign a consent form before receiving the experimental drug. 

The rules and regulations vary from trial to trial and a person’s past treatment history can dictate whether they are eligible or ineligible. Additionally, many insurance carriers restrict access to clinical trials, often denying coverage for doctor visits, laboratory tests, or medications associated with trials. Out of pocket expenses can be astronomical and make trials an unaffordable choice for many.  

Recognizing a need for change, the medical community and certain state legislatures have been trying to secure better coverage for clinical trials. Just recently, Texas, Oregon, and New Mexico passed laws requiring an improved level of care for people involved with clinical trials.  Even the sickest patients have a powerful voice, Use yours to seek from your legislators better insurance coverage to help gain access to potentially life saving clinical trials. 

To learn more about clinical trials, the National Cancer Institute’s site at www.cancer.gov There is an entire section devoted to clinical trials, including public search engines.   

Submitted by Heather Matthews, Cancer Research Specialist at Patient Navigator, LLC

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I am encouraged – most of the people I know who have had cancer have beaten their disease and become cancer survivors.  They struggled through the chemotherapy, the radiation treatment, surgery, physical and emotional upheavals and come out on the other side.  It is a time of celebration and elation.

But then the reality of life after cancer kicks in, and many of them find themselves in a kind of limbo. Lingering disease and treatment side effects, or “late effects,” such as lymphadema, memory and attention loss, muscle weakness, chronic pain and fatigue, affect their daily life.  Some are no longer able to work in their jobs, and feel unvalued.  Some are dismissed by the very doctors who helped to save their lives.

Many health care providers, especially those outside major medical centers, have not had much experience with long term cancer survivors, and are uneducated about potential late effects.  The challenges of a post-cancer life can be more like a chronic illness, taking a new toll on the survivor and family.

Cancer survivor stories abound on the internet – mostly how the cancer was beaten, and how various treatments worked for the survivors.  In recent years, however, there is a new focus on how to LIVE as a long-term cancer survivor. 

In doing some research for a client who has numerous serious late effect conditions, I discovered the Cancer Survivors Project (http://www.cancersurvivorsproject.org).  It is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults after cancer, to making widely available information about the physical, emotional and mental late effects of cancer treatment.  The stories of long-term cancer survivors illustrate that, even after the personal war against the cancer is won, there are hills to climb.  Family, friends, good nutrition, compassionate and knowledgeable medical care – the tools of the battle – are still often needed to support the survivor in “real life” after the cancer is gone.

Today, there are nearly 12 million cancer survivors in the United States.  If you are one of them, remember that just as you won your fight against cancer, you can learn to live and enjoy your new life as a strong and proud survivor. 

For further information, visit the Office of Cancer Survivorship at the National Cancer Institute: http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/ocs/

Guest editor:  Debora Harvey, Client Service Director at Patient Navigator, LLC

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Ladies, call your doctors, it’s time for a check-up!   Cervical cancer, one of the most preventable and treatable cancers, is on the decline.  Through research, education and the invention of the cervical cancer vaccine, new cases of cervical cancer have dropped dramatically in the United States.

While this is certainly cause to celebrate, we are far from out of the woods. In November, the American College for Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced new guidelines for when woman should undergo pap smears and annual check-ups.  Under the old standards, any woman age 18 and up was advised to receive annual gynecologic exams.  Under the new guidelines, however, ACOG advises women to wait until the age of 20 before receiving their first pap smear, regardless of sexual activity, with follow-up every two years. According to the ACOG’s new guidelines, women in their 30’s should undergo the exam once every 3 years.

As a young woman, I was always told that any sexually active woman, regardless of age, should undergo an annual gynecological check-up. Doing so just seemed to be a good general health practice all around.

If cervical cancer is so treatable and preventable, it certainly begs the question:  Why adopt new guidelines when the previous ones were having the desired effect of reducing cervical cancer rates? 

It seems obvious that with yearly check-ups and early detection, we’ve been able to keep this specific type of cancer at bay.

New guidelines or not,  it’s important to talk with your gynecologist and decide on a course of action that best suits you.  I, for one, will continue to see my doctor yearly. What’s a little discomfort in the grand scheme of things! 

To learn more about cervical cancer, please visit:  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/cervical/

Submitted by guest editor Heather Matthews, Patient Navigator LLC, Cancer Research Specialist

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Many of you reading this blog have experienced some type of difficult health situation, for yourselves, a friend or family member.  It’s also what makes so many of us passionate about helping others through their illness.  It’s why Patient Navigator exists.

Since it’s the New Year, most people take some type of inventory of their lives and resolve to make changes.   But truly, taking care for our health should be the most important thing we do – more important than money, a promotion or material goods.  Because without health, we feel powerless.

I don’t need to restate the recommendations we’ve all heard a thousand times about healthy diet and exercise.   We know what we need to do.  So let’s reflect today on our health and the gift that it is, the miracle that is the human body.  If you are suffering, see what steps you can take to improve your situation.  Your body is meant to work so beautifully; if you’re hurting it, please resolve to try harder to nurture and respect your health.

I went out and bought a teapot and some wonderful teas today.  I resolve to make myself a pot of green tea every evening at about 5:00.  Please think of one good thing you can do or change.  Once you’ve done it, the rest will come more easily because you will feel your body thanking you.  Here’s to a New Year 2010 of good health and serenity.

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