By treating the patient as a whole, we ensure the common gaps in care do not get overlooked and the burden of cancer is reduced.
BY Sarah DeBord
PUBLISHED September 06, 2018
Sarah DeBord was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at age 34. In the years since, she has turned her diagnosis into a calling, and become an advocate for other young adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer and parents with young families facing cancer. She works as a communications and program manager for the Minneapolis-based Colon Cancer Coalition , volunteers her time with the online patient-led support community COLONTOWN , and blogs about her often adventurous experiences of living with chronic cancer at ColonCancerChick.com.
I was on the phone with a colon cancer patient who was looking for help and guidance. She had grown frustrated with her oncology team, and gradually explained the long list of complaints and opportunities where they had let her down. After validating many of her concerns, I told her, "It sounds to me like you are looking for palliative care, and they just aren't offering it."
In my world, palliative care is a term thrown around as frequently as my rounds of treatment, but it was the first time she had heard the word. As I began to explain it, I could hear her disappointment turn to hope over the phone. There was a word to describe the patient experience she wanted but wasn't getting.
In my world, palliative care is a term thrown around as frequently as my rounds of treatment, but it was the first time she had heard the word. As I began to explain it, I could hear her disappointment turn to hope over the phone. There was a word to describe the patient experience she wanted but wasn't getting.
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