How a Cancer Coach Can Help
Being diagnosed with cancer can be a scary experience for both the patient and their caregivers. It is a moment that many people do not expect and that is almost impossible to truly be prepared for. One of our cancer coaches, breast cancer survivor Dwan Kwan, recalls feeling that her diagnosis was “sudden and unacceptable” and asking “How can this be happening?”
As challenging as it may be, the initial diagnosis marks only the beginning of the cancer journey. In the following days and weeks, the client and their caregivers will need to decide what treatment path to follow and then face surgery, chemotherapy, and/or other treatments with the goal of putting the cancer into long term remission.
This journey may seem daunting, especially for someone who is having their first personal experience with cancer. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Three Points Cancer Coach’s founder recalls finding himself
“facing an avalanche of often conflicting information and under pressure to learn quickly and make important decisions at the same time”.
Cancer coaches can help cancer patients and caregivers navigate the cancer journey by facilitating informed decision making and providing emotional support.
1. Decision Making
While time is often of the essence in starting cancer treatment, it is also important to not rush into a serious treatment before seeking multiple medical opinions and performing online research from credible sources. One example of why triangulation of multiple data points is important comes from a story that hedge fund manager Ray Dalio tells in his book Principles (and references on LinkedIn) about being diagnosed with a precancerous growth that after additional exploration turned out to not be cancerous at all.
Cancer coaches can facilitate triangulation by encouraging cancer patients and caregivers to seek multiple medical opinions as well as by gathering relevant information and writing questions for further discussion with doctors. This decision making support helps to empower cancer patients and caregivers to make the appropriate choices for their unique cancer journey.
2. Psychological Wellbeing
In addition to being physically demanding, going through cancer can be emotionally draining for both patients and caregivers. Our cancer coach Daphne Lim recalls finding it “challenging to concentrate” at work and feeling at risk of “burnout” while caring for her father during his battle with liver cancer.
Cancer coaches are experienced in helping cancer patients and caregivers deal with one of the most frightening experiences of their lives, and are able to listen to and acknowledge feelings in an empathetic, non-judgmental way. They can be a shoulder to cry on, someone to crack jokes with, and a supportive companion who can patiently sit in silence beside their client as they collect their thoughts.
Conclusion
While being diagnosed with cancer brings significant challenges, many people find that it also gives them valuable perspective on and renewed purpose in life. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor Shazmi Hussain feels that
“life has given me a second chance, which means that I am working towards being the best version of myself every single day”.
It is important for cancer patients and caregivers to get the assistance they need during their cancer journey. A cancer coach can help facilitate decision making and support psychological wellbeing so that cancer patients and caregivers can feel more confident and focus more energy on achieving successful treatment and long term remission. If you are a cancer patient or caregiver*, we invite you to book a free of charge introductory meeting with one of our experienced cancer coaches. We are here to help.
* We are currently serving Singapore-based colorectal, female breast, and lung cancer patients and caregivers. That said, even if you have a cancer type that we are not currently serving, we invite you to book an introductory meeting to explore how we may be able to help you.
