Family and FriendsSupporting persons with cancer

Bobbit SuntayThe Carewell Community

The Cancer Resource and Wellness Community

A A communitycommunity experience:experience:cancer affects…cancer affects…

Persons with the illness Family Friends Caregivers Work colleagues

Psychosocial StressorsPsychosocial Stressorsfeeling helpless, hopeless, and alonefeeling helpless, hopeless, and alone

Harder to access, engage in, and persist in treatment

Harder to respond positively to treatment

Harder to cope with and recover from cancer

Long range of impact: prior to diagnosis to long after “cure”

Vast scope of impact: patient, loved ones, colleagues, healthcare team, etc.

Decrease in quality of life

Decrease in duration of life

Role of family and Role of family and friendsfriends

Mitigating the impact of stressors

Help person with cancer live life fully despite the disease

HOW? Help with treatment Provide emotional support Assist with practical matters

Help with treatmentHelp with treatment Gather information on illness,

treatments, etc. Accompany patient to medical

appointments Help with physical care at

home/hospital

Provide emotional Provide emotional supportsupport

Listen Be present Support decisions Spend time together

Assist with Assist with practical practical mattersmatters

Chores at home Help with school or work Help with children/dependents Help with

transportation/accommodations Help with hospital paperwork Help with finances/insurance

Addressing the 3 Addressing the 3 stressorsstressors

Benefits:Benefits:

Decrease in depression, stress, and anxiety in all persons affected by cancer

Better communication and relationships between patients, loved ones, and healthcare team

Better decisions regarding illness treatment and management

Enhanced feelings of well-being, support, and hope

Better access and persistence through treatment

Improvement in quality of life and in chances of recovery

TheThe CarewellCarewell CommunityCommunity

TheThe CaCancerncer ReResourcesource andand WellWellnessness

CommunityCommunity

We are Patients, Family, Friends

Opened our doors in 2006

We provide psycho-social support

Dedicated to all persons affected by cancer

Resources and services provided free of charge

Volunteer-driven

Rely on contributions and collaboration

The Wellness Community worldwide

TheThe CarewellCarewell CommunityCommunity

TheThe CaCancerncer ReResourcesource andand WellWellnessness

CommunityCommunity

Support Groups and Counseling Medical Consultations and

Referrals Library and Resource Center Wellness and Fun Activities Respite Weekends and Field

Trips Talks and Workshops Community of persons with

cancer and their loved ones

TheThe CarewellCarewell CommunityCommunity

TheThe CaCancerncer ReResourcesource andand WellWellnessness

CommunityCommunity

www.carewellcommunity.org info@carewellcommunity.org 751-0242 815-1294 6th floor of S & L Building Dela Rosa corner Esteban

Streets Legaspi Village, Makati City

TheThe CarewellCarewell CommunityCommunity

TheThe CaCancerncer ReResourcesource andand WellWellnessness

CommunityCommunity

Cure Magazine 2011 Cancer Resource Guide

Caregiving for your loved one with cancer, CancerCare, 2005

The Total Cancer Wellness Guide, Kim Thiboldeaux, 2007

Cancer, Coping, Carewell, Robert Suntay, 2010

Cancer care for the whole patient, National Academy of Sciences, 2008