Karen was told she'd have a year to live if she agreed to 62 rounds of combined chemo and radiation - in addition to surgery. Without it, her lung cancer would defeat her in less than 6 months. She had to start her treatments immediately...there was no time to waste, her doctor said.
Countless cancer patients are told this every single day. But is this the best we can do? Is it fair that a person be thrust into the battle of his or her life with so little information ...so few choices? Where were the support, education and resources that Karen so desperately needed?
Early on as an oncology nurse, I became aware of the glaring inequities that provide so little information to patients. There are significant gaps between diagnosis and treatment that could be the deciding factor in waging war on cancer. It's time to take the fear out of the equation. It's time to give cancer patients control of their lives.
The National Association of Professional Cancer Coaches (NAPCC) help people like Karen to live longer, healthier lives. Karen was never told about a simple harmless procedure 'induced hypothyroidism' that might have helped turn the tables on her lung cancer. Why? Because most conventional doctors don’t know about this. Our NAPCC coaches know about it though. Wouldn't it have been nice if Karen had known?
Karen died 11 months after her initial diagnosis. She didn't have time to 'live' during those months she was promised by her doctor. She suffered instead with endless days of chemo, radiation and surgeries she was told she needed. Karen's life ended when her treatments began because of toxic side-effects, daily trips to the hospital for treatments, then months as an inpatient - to eventually "living" in ICU in an induced coma for his last 8 weeks. Karen's life was out of control, filled with fear and a living, pain-filled hell. In essence, she died the day she was diagnosed and blinded with fear! The NAPCC is here to tell you that Karen, and others like her...don't have to die like this.
What will you do if you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer tomorrow? Wouldn't it be nice to have a professional cancer coach by your side - providing you with the tools needed to help you to live a longer, healthier life?
The NAPCC became a registered not-for-profit charity in October 2008. NAPCC coaches are working to wipe out cancer and to encourage safe recovery in this country with free community and one-on-one education programs to all individuals regardless of social or economic status. We will encourage the restoration of optimal health to cancer patients, providing informed conventional options and an awareness to the natural ability of the body to heal cancer. The NAPCC works closely with the scientists of cancer and their ongoing advances in cancer research.
We need your help to continue teaching and inspiring individuals in your community on how to prevent and recover from cancer. Volunteers and donations are urgently needed this Christmas season. Are you able to sponsor a 2009, 6-Step Community program? You may visit our website at
www.napcc.ca
for more information or email us at
napcc@cogecoc.ca