THE CANCER COACH PHILOSOPHY
It used to be that people just said "yes doctor" and followed directions.  But today's sophisticated medical consumer wants to have a more active role in researching and deciding their treatment options.  Most people, however, don't have the resources to gather and assess the technical information they need to make truly informed decisions.  Yet studies show that people who are "active patients," choosing their treatment and directing their medical care, consistently have more confidence and hope, live longer and have a better quality of life than passive patients have.

I believe that,  whatever your physical condition, whatever your prognosis, you can become an active patient and help yourself have a richer, more fulfilling, and possibly longer, life.  Literally dozens of well-designed studies have shown that this improvement in quality of life can translate into improved physical health as well, even when cancer is present.   My goal is not  to help you  just “beat” your cancer.  My goal is to help you use every  tool available to shake off the cancer and the effects of treatment,  while you enrich your life.  The skills you learn with the KickButt Cancer approach will not only help you today, but will be useful to you in meeting tough situations successfully  for the rest of your life.

In response to this need, professional advocates and coaches have stepped up to help people get up to speed quickly, so they can have maximum positive impact on their treatment.  Some advocates focus primarily on the medical side of things, but as a Clinical Social Worker who has worked for many years in medical settings, I help people deal with the spiritual and emotional side of having the illness, as well as teach them the essential skills they need to be active patients, and to sift through complex medical material and make life-saving decisions. 

Healing or Curing?
I believe that there is a significant difference between healing and curing.  Healing is available to all, even when physical cure is not.  Healing is an active process that happens from the inside out. It is a spiritual and emotional process of finding peace and a deep sense of purpose and well-being.  A physical cure is a joyous event, but without the healing to accompany it, it is empty. 

How Can I Regain My Hope?
There is an epidemic of false hopelessness in our culture.  Too many doctors compound the effect of that terrifying word “cancer” by alluding to a poor outcome, or quoting statistics that lead people to believe they are doomed. 

This is like having a native witch doctor put a hex on you!  It can create a counter-placebo response which has a devastating effect on your mood, and even on your physical healing processes.  Especially if your expected outcome is dicey, many medical professionals will take it upon themselves to be sure you understand the seriousness of your condition. It's important to have a short prepared speech that tells these well-meaning, but misguided, people "thanks but no thanks!" 

Don’t let anyone put limits on the length or quality of your life. You are a person, not a statistic.  If the statistics are important to you remember that someone has to be in the recovery group, and it might just as well be you.   No one can say how long you will live, or what the course of your disease will be.  No doctor, no loved one, no professional.  No one.  Not even you in the time of your greatest fear and hopelessness can say how long you will live. 

What about Attitude?
The most healthy, functional attitude to adopt  is: “this is a very serious situation, which requires that I marshal every asset I have to address it.  I cannot tell the outcome.  I can do my best (however ugly that sometimes will be), learn what there is to learn and savor the victories.  Let’s get to work!” 

Call at 253-752-7579
(Pacific time) to schedule a free 30-minute introductory coaching session.

The Cancer Coach Approach
My approach is this: first things first.  If you’re paralyzed with fear, you’re going to have a hard time enjoying your life.  If you’re nauseous, talking about nutrition for recovery is foolish.  If you feel isolated from family and friends, it’s hard to treasure your relationships.  So we begin where you are physically, emotionally and spiritually.  We work on the fear, the nausea, the isolation or whatever is your most pressing issue.  As we work through the most pressing issues, we begin to create your comprehensive Recovery Action Plan  that encompasses your anticipated medical treatment along with your unique  Recovery Toolkit with the skills and abilities you will need to use to be successful.  We then look at your hopes and dreams, and design some goals that you can begin to work toward now to create the life you want.