A cancer diagnosis can affect many parts of your life. It can affect how you feel, eat, sleep, work and spend time with your family. It can also affect your emotions and how you think about the future.
Your family and caregivers may also face new responsibilities and concerns.
This is why cancer care needs to look beyond the tumour.
Treating cancer remains important. Your treatment will depend on the type of cancer, its stage, your health and other medical factors.
You may also need help with symptoms, treatment side effects, emotional health, everyday activities and changes in your family or working life.
This is called whole-person cancer care. It means caring for you as a person while your cancer is being treated.
What Does Whole-Person Cancer Care Mean?
Whole-person care recognises that you are more than your cancer diagnosis.
Cancer can affect your:
- Physical health
- Energy and sleep
- Appetite and nutrition
- Emotional health
- Daily activities
- Work
- Family life
- Relationships
- Personal and spiritual needs
These needs may also change during your cancer journey.
Whole-person care looks at what matters to you and what support you may need at different stages of your care.
Managing Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects
Cancer and cancer treatment can affect people in different ways.
You may experience:
- Pain
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep problems
- Bowel changes
- Weakness
- Difficulty with everyday activities
Your symptoms may be different from those of another person with cancer. They may also change during treatment.
Tell your cancer care team if you have a new symptom or if an existing symptom gets worse.
Depending on your needs, your care team may suggest medicines, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, psychological support, palliative care or other forms of supportive care.
You do not have to manage difficult symptoms on your own.
Looking After Your Emotional Wellbeing
Cancer can affect how you feel emotionally.
You may worry about treatment, side effects, test results or the future. You may feel anxious, sad, angry or overwhelmed.
There is no single way you are expected to feel.
Talking about these feelings can help your healthcare team understand what support you need.
You may find support through:
- Your cancer care team
- A counsellor
- A mental health professional
- A support group
- Family and friends
- Patient support organisations
If emotional concerns are affecting your daily life, tell your healthcare team.
Staying Involved in Your Cancer Care
Understanding what is happening can help you take an active part in your care.
You should have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss what matters to you.
You can ask your cancer care team:
- What is the goal of my treatment?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- Which symptoms need urgent medical attention?
- How could treatment affect my daily activities?
- What support is available to me?
- Who should I contact if I feel unwell?
- What changes should I report to my healthcare team?
Write down your questions before an appointment if that helps you remember them.
You can also ask a family member or caregiver to attend appointments with you if you would like their support.
Supporting Your Daily Life During Cancer Treatment
Everyday activities can become more difficult during cancer treatment.
You may have less energy for work, household tasks, exercise, childcare or activities you normally enjoy.
Some days may be easier than others.
Think about which activities are most important to you and where you may need help.
Your healthcare team may also be able to suggest rehabilitation, physiotherapy or other services based on your needs.
Ask for help when everyday activities become difficult.
Supporting Family Members and Caregivers
Cancer can affect the whole family.
Family members and caregivers may help with appointments, medicines, transport, meals and everyday tasks. They may also provide emotional support.
These responsibilities can become demanding over time.
Caregivers should also look after their own physical and emotional health. They can ask the healthcare team for information and support when needed.
It can also help to talk openly about what support you want and what decisions you would like family members or caregivers to be involved in.
Considering Your Social and Practical Needs
Cancer can affect more than your health.
You may have concerns about work, finances, family responsibilities, transport to appointments or changes in your independence.
Some people may also think more about faith, meaning or their priorities in life.
These concerns are part of your cancer experience and are worth discussing.
Tell your healthcare team if practical or social problems are making it harder for you to manage your care.
Depending on the services available, you may be able to get help from counsellors, social workers, patient support teams, rehabilitation professionals or other healthcare professionals.
Why Your Personal Goals Matter
People living with cancer may have different priorities.
For one person, being able to continue working may be important. Another person may want help managing tiredness so they can spend more time with family. Someone else may be concerned about sleep, appetite or maintaining independence.
Tell your healthcare team what matters most to you.
This can help them understand your priorities when discussing your care and support needs.
Your priorities may also change during treatment, so it is helpful to keep talking about them.
Why Is Individualised Care Important?
No two cancer journeys are exactly the same.
Even people with the same type of cancer may have different stages, treatment plans, medical histories, symptoms and care needs.
This is why your support should be based on your individual situation.
Your healthcare team may consider:
- Your cancer diagnosis
- Your stage of cancer
- Your previous treatment
- Your current treatment
- Your medicines
- Your recent medical reports
- Your symptoms
- Your general health
- Your current care needs
- Your personal priorities
This information helps your healthcare team understand where you are in your cancer journey and what support may be useful for you.
How Does Cancer Healer Therapy (CAM) Fit Into Whole-Person Care?
At Cancer Healer Center (CAM), Cancer Healer Therapy (CAM) is an immune-focused, individualised supportive approach.
The approach considers your cancer diagnosis together with your current treatment, medical history, medical reports, general health and wider care needs.
The focus on individualised care is important because your needs may change during your cancer journey.
Your symptoms, daily activities, current treatment and personal care needs can be reviewed as your situation changes.
Cancer Healer Therapy (CAM) is used together with your cancer treatment.
Do not stop or change your cancer treatment without talking to your cancer doctor.
What Should You Bring to a Consultation?
Bring information that helps the healthcare professional understand your current situation.
You may want to bring:
- Your diagnosis
- Pathology reports
- Recent scan reports
- Blood test results
- Details of previous cancer treatment
- Details of your current treatment
- A list of your medicines and supplements
It can also help to write down the symptoms or concerns you want to discuss.
Think about what matters most to you at this stage of your cancer journey.
You can write down your questions before the consultation so you do not forget them.
The Takeaway
Cancer care is about treating cancer while also recognising the person going through it.
Your physical health, emotional wellbeing, daily activities, relationships, practical concerns and personal priorities can all be affected by cancer.
Your needs may also change during treatment.
Whole-person care aims to recognise these different needs and help you get the right support at the right time.
At Cancer Healer Center (CAM), Cancer Healer Therapy (CAM) follows an individualised approach that considers your diagnosis together with your current health, treatment and wider care needs.
References
- National Cancer Institute. Definition of Supportive Care. National Institutes of Health.
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/supportive-care - World Health Organization. Palliative Care.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care - National Cancer Institute. Coping with Cancer. National Institutes of Health.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping - National Cancer Institute. Family Caregivers in Cancer. National Institutes of Health.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/family-friends/family-caregivers-hp-pdq - National Cancer Institute. Survivorship. National Institutes of Health.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/survivorship
Frequently Asked Questions
Whole-person cancer care considers how cancer affects different parts of your life. This can include your physical health, emotional wellbeing, daily activities, relationships and practical needs.
