My Loved One Has Cancer

Cancer Coaches : A new approach

Interesting article on Yahoo yesterday about the use of Cancer Coaches. While some coaches will try to help you and your loved one evaluate cancer treatments, most will help you navigate the healthcare and insurance system, evaluate alternatives, and help you communicate with family and friends.

We used a "Nurse Navigator" when starting the treatment process and she was invaluable. She saved us so much time and energy in understanding the choices and resources available to us. (Who knew massage was covered under our insurance as part of recovery treatment!).

Ask if there are coaches available to you as you evaluate all steps of the treatment and recovery process. They'll support you and ask questions you probably hadn't even thought of. Anything that can make this journey easier will help you!

Pantene Creates Wigs: Another Way To Donate

Pantene has a wonderful program in place now that collects donated hair and then wigs are created and distributed free to cancer patients. So far, over 18,000 donations have been received.

As these Pantene wigs are created, they are distributed at no cost through the American Cancer Society wig banks across the U.S. You can find out more about the availability of a Pantene wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-877-227-1596.

Sometimes we get so immersed in our own cancer journeys, it's great to help someone else out as well. You can find out more about the program specifics here.

Inspiring Video from Carnegie Mellon Professor Dying from Cancer About Living Life and Achieving Your Dreams

Here's a wonderful and inspiring video featured on the Wall Street Journal Online site. I just had to share it with you. Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, is dying from pancreatic cancer and gave his last lecture at the University on September 18, 2007. In his talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch shares the lessons he has learned both from cancer and from his life. He also encourages his students to achieve their own career and personal goals.

It's such an important reminder about how we deal with, and live life, not just the cancer in our loved one's life. I think we often lose track of our own goals and our own life when in this position, and this is a great reminder to still pursue, and celebrate your dreams.

Below is the Wall Street Journal video.

You can listen to Randy’s Pausch full final lecture on You Tube (broken down into multiple videos).