Cancer Coaches

When I began this story, I thought it was going to be some kind of "New" age goofiness, but the article was actually very different, and may provide some good options for cancer patients.

The advice made her head spin: Have the lump removed. No, let them take the whole breast. Chemo? Radiation? Everyone seemed to have an opinion.

Bad advice, or just too much of it, can compound the trauma and damage done by the disease itself, cancer patients often find. Friends and relatives are important for support, but when these untrained people act as cancer coaches, they can sway people to make poor decisions about their care. This includes survivors, whose opinions are highly valued by patients suddenly facing the scary diagnosis. They may know a lot about cancer, but can do harm if they project their own experiences onto someone else, who may have a different form of the disease that needs different treatment.

The full story should be read, and there are many helpful links at the bottom the story, so if you know anyone with cancer, please pass it on to them!! Thanks!!


coaches