Showing posts with label caregiver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caregiver. Show all posts

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

InspireHealth: November is Cancer Caregiver Health Month

A family member can be thrust into the role of being an informal caregiver for a loved one who is diagnosed with cancer. It can be a challenge both emotionally and financially. November is Cancer Caregiver Health Month at InspireHealth, recognizing the unique emotional and support service needs for family and loved ones of people with cancer. We are encouraging family caregivers to encourage their loved ones with cancer to try our family centered supportive care approach.

At InspireHealth healing begins with you. InspireHealth is a community-based organization that provides supportive oncology care. We create an individualized physical and mental health program for people with a cancer diagnoses that encourages personal growth, higher quality of life, and improved outlook. We offer health programs that include support services for informal caregivers, like family and friends and loved ones.

“You needn’t have to go through cancer alone,” says Dr. Hal Gunn, InspireHealth co-founder and CEO. “It is vital to bring your family and friends into your healing and recovery plan to optimally support care of both you and your loved ones.”

Most new patients at InspireHealth have at least one support person, and it can make a difference in following through with fitness and mindfulness activities if the person with a cancer diagnosis has someone to go with to classes or appointments. Additionally, there are many intangible benefits to incorporating family into this type of practice, because almost all aspects of nutrition and exercise could be applied to cancer prevention within a family.

During the month of November, InspireHealth will offer new patient member signups up to two free Support Memberships to help encourage supports to participate in InspireHealth programming to truly bring the benefits home (savings of up to $190). If you have a cancer diagnosis, please mention “Support for Caregivers promotion” or “Support Membership Promotion” at the time you sign-up with InspireHealth.

If you use social media, please use the hashtag: #support4cancercaregivers to show your support in November.

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network launches A Family Affair: Prostate Cancer Family and Caregiver Portal

Online resource recognizes unique family and caregiver experience of prostate cancer
Toronto, ON – September 30, 2014 – For those dealing with prostate cancer, the journey from diagnosis to treatment and management of the disease is rarely a road travelled alone. Spouses, partners, children, extended family, friends and even colleagues may share in the burden of this life-changing disease.
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) recognizes the heavy burden a diagnosis of prostate cancer places not only on the men who are diagnosed with it, but on their families and extended support networks. In response, CCSN is proud to announce the launch of A Family Affair: Prostate Cancer Family and Caregiver Portal, an online portal recognizing and addressing the experience of prostate cancer, whether in its early or more advanced stages, as a family affairhttp://survivornet.ca/en/cancer_basics/prostate_cancer_family_affair_portal.
"It is critically important to address the information needs and concerns of a man’s support network,” says Jackie Manthorne, President and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network. "Each man will have their own experience of prostate cancer. Aside from purely medical considerations, the journey includes many practical decisions and adjustments. Each of these changes has the potential to impact those closest to him. Providing families and other caregivers a place to find reliable information they can relate to, and a place to connect, can help alleviate some of the anxiety associated with a prostate cancer diagnosis.”
About the Portal
The Prostate Cancer Family and Caregiver Portal provides a trusted and accurate source of prostate cancer information – and connection. Like the spokes of a wheel, sections on the portal centralize information on the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, provide information and resources on financial planning and address the issues that wives and partners face, but may be embarrassed or reluctant to articulate.
“Being diagnosed with prostate cancer was an overwhelming experience for my family and me,” says Derek Lawrence. “At first, we weren’t sure where to turn for information and support, and felt a bit lost in the shuffle. Thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, men like me, and our families, now have access to important resources. The new portal provides relevant and easy-to-interpret information to help support us as we learn to cope with our disease and continue fighting. It also allows us to connect with others going through the same difficulties; to know we aren’t alone.”
The portal also includes:
·         Information for wives, partners and adult children as caregivers
·         Details on caregiving for advanced prostate cancer
·         Financial information and resources
·         Prostate cancer organizations and news
Social media platforms including a prostate cancer Twitter account, @prostatepost, a Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/prostatepost and a community blog http://prostatepost.blogspot.ca/ have also been set up to encourage sharing and learning through conversation, storytelling and information transfer.
The portal was funded through an unrestricted educational grant from Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. and Janssen Inc.
About Prostate Cancer in Canada
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men.[i]
It is estimated that in 2014:
  • 23,600 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
  • 4,000 men will die from prostate cancer.
  • On average, 65 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day.
  • On average, 11 Canadian men will die from prostate cancer every day. [ii]
The chance of getting prostate cancer rises quickly after a man reaches age 50, and almost two out of three prostate cancers are found in men over 65.[iii]  Age is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer.[iv]
About Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN)
CCSN is an organization committed to developing public policy on cancer issues and increasing advocacy for optimal cancer care and follow-up. CCSN works to connect patients, survivors and other stakeholder groups with decision makers and the wider community to engage in discussion and to act on evidence-based best practices to alleviate the medical, emotional, financial and social costs of cancer and encourage research on ways to overcome barriers to optimal cancer care and follow-up for survivors in Canada.
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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Allison Goodman
energi PR
416-425-9143 x18
allison.goodman@energipr.com                                                              
Jackie Manthorne                                                                                           
Canadian Cancer Survivor Network
613-898-1871
jmanthorne@survivornet.ca