When you or a loved one receive a cancer diagnosis, your mind and emotions run wild. What do I do? Where do I turn to begin to understand what is happening inside of me? What can I expect next?
Without a doubt, Jesus is the answer for our spiritual questions and will meet our deepest emotional needs. Still, God provides us with resources that can also help minister to us. Below is a list resources that I have found helpful in my own battle with cancer. I pray that you find them helpful to you as well.
Free Resources to Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers
American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org or 24 hour hotline 1-800-ACS-2345)
• Look Good, Feel Better: wigs, makeup, hair, skin care
• Courageous Kids Day: free Great America day every Mother’s Day for kids with cancer
• Road to Recovery: get free rides to treatment
• Reach to Recovery and Man to Man: one-on-one support for patients and survivors
• Hope Lodges: free places to stay if your treatment is in another city
• Youth Cancer Survivor Scholarship: college scholarships ($5000/year for 4 years) for cancer survivors ages 18-24
• Colleges Against Cancer: clubs at various college campuses across the U.S.
Hair Club for Kids (www.hairclub.com/hc_for_kids.php or 1-800-269-7384)
• Free wigs for people with cancer under age 18
Make-a-Wish Foundation (www.wish.org)
• People with cancer under age 18 can have a “wish” come true
• Call your local chapter to request a S.H.A.R.E.S. card affiliated with Make-a-Wish. Show your card to donate 3% of all your purchases at Lucky, FoodMaxx, SMART foods, or Save Mart to Make-a-Wish.
Livestrong Foundation (www.livestrong.org)
• Download worksheets and/or order a free Guidebook to help you deal with the multifaceted fight against cancer
• Find clinical trials you may qualify for
• Get one-on-one support from trained professionals with any of your cancer-related questions or concerns
The Wellness Community (thewellnesscommunity.org or 1-888-793-WELL during normal business hours)
• All resources are completely free
• Yoga, tai chi, and guided imagery classes
• Support groups
The Cancer Project (www.cancerproject.org)
• Free cooking classes across the U.S.
• Diet-related cancer research
Dave Dravecky’s Outreach of Hope (www. Endurance.org)
• Free encouragement basket with spiritual books and resources sent to patient
• Great pamphlets, articles and resources for quiet times and devotionals
• Info on how to start a cancer support group
Recommended Books
• There’s No Place Like Hope – A Guide to Beating Cancer in Mind-Sized Bites by Vickie Girard
• Do Not Lose Heart: Meditations of Encouragement and Comfort by Dave Dravecky
• Mourning Journey: Spiritual Guidance for Facing Grief, Death and Loss by Dennis Young
• Finding God in Pain and Problems by Tom Jones
• It’s Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong
• Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond by Marc Silver
• Our Mom Has Cancer by Adrienne Ackermann
• CANCER: 50 Essential Things to Do by Greg Anderson
• Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book by Susan M. Love M.D.
• The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health by Robert O. Young
Checklist for the Newly Diagnosed
Find the original checklist at http://blochcancer.org/2009/02/cancer-check-list/
1. Make a commitment. The most important single factor is to do everything in your power to fight the disease. This eliminates the necessity of making future decisions, because if something will help, do it. If it could hurt, don’t. It is a difficult commitment to make, but one that is most worth while.
2. Read Fighting Cancer. A step-by-step guide for a cancer patient available free, postage paid from 1-800-433-0464
3. Take the mental attitude quiz in Fighting Cancer – Chapter 4 is a self-assessment quiz to be certain attitude is receptive for successful treatment.
4. Get a qualified second opinion Often there is only one chance to successfully treat cancer. Regardless of the prognosis, get a qualified, independent second opinion.
5. Get PDQ. Physician Data Query is the government’s computer program showing every treatment for every type of cancer and is available free from 1-800-4-CANCER.
6. Have a qualified doctor who believes you can be successfully treated. A patient being treated by a pessimistic physician will fulfill that physician’s prophecy. Telephone calls to others may find a qualified physician who believes you can be helped.
7. Join a support group. It has been clinically proven that cancer patients who attend support groups live longer. Visit www.thewellnesscommunity.org or www.cancer.org for support groups in your area.
8. Do relaxation and visual imagery. It has the potential to help the quality and quantity of life with no downside risk. Visit www.thewellnesscommunity.org for free classes.
9. Call the Cancer Hot Line (1-800-433-0464). Talking with a survivor of a similar type of cancer could give the needed lift to fight.
10. Talk openly about cancer. Harboring feelings increases stress and reduces the function of the immune system.
11. Seek and accept support. Allowing others to serve benefits both supporter and patient and further reduces stress.
12. Pray. Prayers by others have been clinically demonstrated to reduce problems and increase healing, and prayers by the patient are far more effective. See James 5:16-17.
13. Live and enjoy each day. The quality of life is the most important factor.
14. Eat properly. A well balanced diet is necessary to maintain the immune system, a vital part in recovery. Visit www.cancerproject.org for specific information on how to eat to fight your cancer.
15. Exercise appropriately. Proper exercise enhances various physical functions as well as improves quality of life.
16. Take all actions promptly, properly and thoroughly. Cancer is never as curable as it is today and you want to go all the way to have the best chance of success.
