how to receive complete cancer care: empowering body, mind and spirit robert rutledge, md, frcpc...

How To Receive Complete Cancer Care:

Empowering Body, Mind and Spirit

Robert Rutledge, MD, FRCPCRadiation Oncologist and Associate Professor

Dalhousie University, Halifax

HealingandCancer.org

Overview

• Empower yourself with the best strategy to face a cancer diagnosis

• Maximize your chance of being cured or living as long and as well as possible

• Increase your sense of well being• Find purpose on your journey


Use What Works For You

• There is no one best way

• We are all unique

• Different strategies work best for various

personalities

• Use your rational mind and listen to your

own inner wisdom

• Your strategy will change with time

• Different needs at diagnosis, on treatment and in

follow up


What is Complete Cancer Care?

• Understanding what’s happening to you

• Getting the best from the medical system

• Empowering yourself with healthy lifestyle

• Exercise, diet, sleep, relaxation techniques

• Adopting a positive attitude

• Drawing on a spiritual life


Information is Power

Learn about

• Cancer in general

• Treatment options and side effects

• The medical system

• What else you can do

• Lifestyle habits

• Where to find support

• Role of complementary and alternative medicine


Purpose of Information

• Learn to speak the language of the medical system

• Increase your sense of control and well-being

• Help you make the best medical decisions

• Empower yourself with non-medical ways to improve your health and outcome


Too Much Information?

• If information gathering is making you tired

• If you find conflicting information

• See your doctor to clarify

• Trust what you are doing is the best for you


Understanding Cancer and the Medical System


Best Sources of Information

• Your physician/oncologist - individualizes the

information and gives you the best medical advice

• Prepare for these conversations by researching and

understanding cancer in advance


Sources of General Information about Cancer and its Treatment

• Librarian at a cancer centre or hospital

• National Cancer Society

• Eg. Canadian Cancer Society - www.cancer.ca

• Respected Community Based Organization

• Eg. Leukemia and Lymphoma society of Canada


How to Get the Most from the Health Care System

Learn to advocate for yourself by:

• Preparing for each doctor’s visit

• Contacting your doctor/nurse if you have questions or

concerns

• Drawing on extra services if needed

• Asking for a second opinion if needed


Getting the Most from your Doctor’s Visit

Before the visit:

• Create a concise summary of symptoms

• Bring a list of current medications and allergies

• Write down your questions before the visit

• Someone should accompany you

• Decide who will make record of the visit

• You may create a file with all your test results

• You can get a copy by visiting medical records


• Be honest and open• Speak up if you’re feeling overwhelmed: “I’m not sure I

understand”• Wait until the summary then ask all your questions• Take notes or record the interview• Find out what to expect• Know what to do for each side effect

• When do I need to act?

• Who you should call in case of problems?

Getting the Most From Your Doctor’s Visit


After Your Doctor’s Visit

• Keep a journal and list of results• If need be ask for a family conference• You are the most important person• You or a ‘family member’ may be able to do the talking• Call to clarify information or ask for appointment• You are entitled to a second opinion


Getting More Physical Care

• Multiple services are available in medical system• Nutrition

• Psychology

• Home care nursing

• Rehabilitation

• Spiritual care

• Palliative Care Team

• Social worker can help coordinate if needed

• Ask your nurse or doctor

• Talk to an expert


The Importance of Nutrition

• Effective way to improve your overall health

• Individualize to what works for you• Different diet during different phases of treatment

• Ask your doctor and/or professional nutritionist if persistent problems with:• Ongoing unintentional weight loss or loss of muscle

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea / constipation

• Treatment affecting the GI tract


General Nutrition Advice

• Follow Canada’s Food Guide recommendations www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-alimentindex_e.html

• Choose a variety of food from all food groups daily

• 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables/day

• Choose lower fat food groups• Fat to make up < 20% of caloric intake

• Choose high fiber foods• Whole grain breads and cereals

• Drink plenty of healthful fluids

• Maintain healthy weight


Taking Your Vitamins

• Ask your doctor

• Off therapy minimum:• Vitamin D 1000 IU / day

• Calcium 1,500 mg / day

• Healthy diet should provide the rest


The Benefits of Exercise

• Effective way to improve energy, sleep,

mood and overall health

• You need to listen to your body to guide

yourself

• Individualize to phase of journey

• Slowly increase activity each week

• After recovery, aim for at least 30 minutes

5+ days/week


The Importance of Sleep

• Melatonin experiments (hormone)

which suppresses cancer cells

• Need an average of 7-8 hours of

sleep per night

• Take care of yourself


Practice Relaxation

• Learn to relax

• Practice relaxation

techniques (i.e., yoga,

meditation, Tai Chi) to

calm the mind

• Proven to improve overall health

• Decreases heart disease, mental illness, hypertension,

and diabetes


Understanding the Emotional Aspects of Cancer

• Normal to feel any and every emotion including:

• Shock

• Worried, scared or anxious

• Guilty

• Lonely

• Sad or hopeless

• Angry

• These emotions can be exaggerated or come out

unexpectedly


Dealing with Difficult Emotions

• There’s no one right way

• Find a wise person to talk to

• Realize emotions change with time

• Be kind to yourself


When to Get Help with Emotional Problems

• Emotional distress is expected but if you:

• Feel overly depressed e.g., crying constantly

• Are withdrawing from all social contact

• Unable to enjoy life / feel hopeless

• Are so distressed can’t decide on treatment

• Can’t sleep because of anxiety

• Can’t talk about cancer because it brings up terrible

memories

• Talk to a psychologist


How to Get Help with Emotional Distress

• Tell your oncologist or nurse during the next

appointment

• Schedule a visit to your family doctor

• Call the psychologist / counsellor at the cancer centre

• Find another expert

• Support groups


Empowering Yourself

• Complete care integral to recovery

• You can definitely improve your quality of life, longevity,

and overall health

• Love yourself, love others

how to receive complete cancer care: empowering body, mind and spirit robert rutledge, md, frcpc...

Documents

medical system slide

medical records slide

halifax slide

outcome slide

advance slide

journey slide

understanding cancer

cancer diagnosis