Cancer CarePoint Blog

Cancer care called uneven

USA Today summarizes a study published in  the Journal of Clinical Oncology recently.

Link: USATODAY.com - Cancer care called uneven

Although cancer patients usually receive good medical treatment, their care varies widely across the country and even within cities.

In a study published in Wednesday's Journal of Clinical Oncology, breast and colorectal cancer patients were given nearly all of the therapies recommended by experts.

The report, commissioned by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, examined the care of nearly 1,800 patients in Atlanta, Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Kan., and Los Angeles. Researchers at the RAND Corp. and the Harvard School of Public Health wrote it.

Parents of Kids with Cancer Suffer Post-traumatic Stress

The American Cancer Society web site news describes research of the stress of parents whose children have been treated for cancer.

Link: ACS :: Parents of Kids with Cancer Suffer Post-traumatic Stress

Summary: A study of the parents of children undergoing treatment for cancer finds that in most of the families, at least one of the parents has symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Although the symptoms may fade with time, they can interfere with the care of the child and the parent's well-being, researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Why it's important: In the past, parents who were having trouble dealing with their child's illness were thought to be either "anxious" or "depressed." But the parents may really be having symptoms of post-traumatic stress, which can be far more damaging. Parents who experience these symptoms may have trouble complying with their child's caregiving needs. They may respond inappropriately to health care providers. The family may not function well when cancer treatment is over. Recognizing the post-traumatic symptoms and helping parents overcome them may avoid these problems.

The bottom line: The study authors say health care providers need to be aware of the effect cancer treatments and tests may have on the psychological health of the parents. Parents should be counseled on how to deal with the stress of their child's treatment and taught when to seek more extensive professional help.

Community Cancer Care Videos

Below are some videos from the LegisLink Action Center that can viewed online:

Advances in Cancer Care The role of community cancer care in America's War on Cancer 2005 Video - 8 minutes Click here

Save Cancer Care TV News Segments 2003 Video - 2 minutes Click here

Save Cancer Care 2003 Video - 4 minutes Click here

America's Oncology Nurses Fighting on the front lines in America's war on cancer 2000 Video 12-minutes Click here

Save Cancer Care Multi-Media Coverage 2003 Video - 5 minutes Click here