Colon Cancer Awareness

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States, but only two-thirds of those over the age of 50 have been screened for colorectal cancer. Roughly 22 million people who have a high risk of developing the cancer are not getting screened. Screening helps find precancerous polyps which can be removed before they become cancerous.

Though colonoscopies are the most commonly known form of colorectal cancer screening for people over the age of 50, there are several other methods approved by the American Society of Clinical Oncology: 

Tests that can detect both polyps and cancer:

·       Flexible sigmoidoscopy (Repeat every 5 years or as recommended by a physician)

·       Colonoscopy (Repeat every 10 years)

·       DCBE (Double contrast barium enema) (Repeat every 5 years)

·       CT colonography or CAT Scan (As recommended by a physician)

Tests that primarily detect cancer:

·       Guaiac-based FOBT (Fecal occult blood test) (Annually)

·       FIT (Fecal immunochemical test) (Annually)

·       Stool DNA test (Recommended by a physician) 

Always include cancer care in your home health marketing strategy. Promote the advantages of partnering with home health:

·      Enhanced condition management

·      Patient and family counseling

·      Regular condition assessment

·      Home safety and emergency education

·      Medication education

·      Physical, occupational, and speech therapies

All health care providers should promote wellness and cancer prevention:

·       Participate in colorectal cancer awareness events throughout the Month of March: https://www.ccalliance.org/about/awareness-month

·       Promote the importance of screening and early detection:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/sfl/

·       Join the Colorectal Alliance Nation of Allies:
https://www.ccalliance.org/get-involved

·       Visit oncologists in your service area to educate them about home health cancer care. Present a copy of your Cancer with Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy patient education guides that help patients better understand and manage their conditions.

Need more help? Check us out at TAGWebstore.com for your home health and Hospice Marketing and Educational print media.

Resources: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/screening , https://www.fascrs.org/colorectal-cancer-awareness-materials, https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/join-fight/raise-awareness/

Breast Cancer Companion Therapies

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and an opportunity for your agency to show your commitment to women’s health. Promote the importance of early detection, research, and support for breast cancer survivors on all your social media platforms.

Awareness is making a difference. Researchers continue to develop new methods for arresting invasive and noninvasive cancers. In addition to treatments, research has uncovered some natural companion therapies which cancer patients can use to help relieve symptoms, reduce pain, and increase quality of life.

Acupuncture

Recent studies indicate that the traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture may help reduce pain and relieve nausea caused by chemotherapy treatments. Acupuncture stimulates the brain through a process of inserting very thin needles in specific pressure points in the skin.

Massage therapy

Massage therapy is known to relieve stress, anxiety, fatigue, and depression and in some cases may relieve pain.

Tai chi

Tai chi is a Chinese movement-based exercise that focuses on balancing the body’s energies through movement, breathing, and meditation. Research indicates that practicing tai chi may improve mental and emotional health of cancer patents.

Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet is important all the time, but especially for those who are fighting cancer. This can be challenging as chemotherapy commonly disrupts a person’s sense of taste. Dietitians recommend adding seasonings like spices, herbs, peppers, wine, teriyaki or barbecue sauce to make food more flavorful. Dietary supplements can also be beneficial in filling nutritional gaps, but cancer patients should discuss all supplement use with their oncology team to avoid any adverse interactions with their chemotherapy regimen.

Some ways your home care agency can promote Breast Cancer awareness this October:

• Encourage your cancer patients to share their stories.

• Host a Passionately Pink fundraiser to benefit the SUSAN G. KOMEN Breast Cancer Foundation.

• Deliver HOPE kits to Oncology centers in your community.

• Speak at local women’s groups on the importance of breast cancer screening.

• Wear your Pink!

• If you don’t want to tackle hosting an event of your own, find a local event and join in: https://ww5.komen.org/FindAnEvent.aspx

 Visit TAGWebstore.com for home health and hospice educational print media.

Resources: Cancer.net, healthline.com, mayoclinic.org, cancer.org

Managing Cancer Pain

Cancer patients should never accept relentless pain as their new normal! All pain can be treated, and even if not totally alleviated, it can be minimized with a comprehensive pain management plan administered by a top-notch caregiving team.

A consistent high level of care is needed for a pain management plan to be effective. Home health and hospice teams provide just that. Home care nurses are trained to recognize tolerance changes that occur as cancer progresses. It can be hard for patients to describe their pain, but It’s important that they convey as much about it as possible. Pain is easier to treat at the onset, and staying in front of it is the key to controlling it.

Patients should participate in their pain management plan by documenting their pain:

• Where is the pain?

• Is the pain worse during the day or at night?

• Rate the severity of the pain, on a scale from 1 to 10 where 10 is the worst.

• How does the pain feel: sharp, shooting, achy, burning, throbbing?

• What makes it feel better: ice, heat, exercise?

• What makes it feel worse: lying, standing, walking?

• Does the medicine help the pain?

• How long before you feel any relief after taking the medicine?

Cancer pain can be the result of the cancer itself or of any number of treatments. It can range from dull to sharp, and intermittent to constant. While the severity of cancer pain can vary widely, the frequency of home health visits helps nurses identify unreported symptoms and spot the onset of new site pain before it becomes intense.

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and educating patients about their disease and treatment options can be challenging, especially when they are still processing the news. Help your referral partners explain pain management and palliative care services to their new patients. Newly diagnosed patients who are informed about palliative care have an easier time embracing it as their disease progresses.

Always keep cancer care at the top of your marketing strategy but especially during September, National Pain Awareness Month. Highlight the benefits of in-home care for cancer patients with limited mobility, diminished immune systems, and sickness caused by treatments.

Visit TAGwebstore.com for home health and hospice patient education brochures and flyers, as well as referral building tools like our popular Guidelines for Hospice Admission Flip Chart.

Resources: cancer.org, cancernetwork.com

Breast Cancer Awareness

Fall is just about here and It will soon be time to bring out your pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every October people of all ages and all walks of life will wear pink in support of the brave women and their families fighting breast cancer.

According to the CDC, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women besides skin cancer. The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found at an early stage.  While there are a variety of diagnostic tools available to detect breast cancer, mammograms are currently the most common screening method used. Mammograms are recommended every two years for women between the ages of 50 and 74.

Take the opportunity this October to remind your referral sources of the role that Home Health care plays as part of the patient cancer care team.

Home Health care benefits physicians by providing:

• Updated clinical assessment data.
• Better case management to reduce calls.
• Early detection/intervention for better disease management.
• A streamlined plan of care.
• In-depth outcome reports

 Home Health care benefits patients, families, and caregivers by:

• Improving quality of life through greater symptom management.
• Maximizing patient activity tolerance.
• Instructing when conditions indicate immediate attention may be needed.
• Reducing emergency room visits and re-admissions.

 Some ways you can get involved:

• As Health Care providers be sure to share information on breast cancer through your social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
• Encourage your cancer patients to share their stories.
• Partner with your referral network and host a fundraiser.
• Have your nurses speak at local women’s groups on the importance of getting screened for breast cancer.
• Wear your Pink!

Visit TAG Web store for your Home Health and Hospice marketing and educational materials.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! Gear up now to show your support for these brave women and help raise awareness for finding a cure.

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers specific to women. It is estimated that 1 in 75 women will develop it during their lifetime. The symptoms can be subtle and easily mistaken for other illnesses. Talk to your doctor if you are over the age of 50 and have any of the following symptoms for more than 2-3 weeks and they are new or unusual for you:

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Weight loss
• Pelvic discomfort
• Bowel disruption
• Frequent urination
• Satisfied with eating small portions of food

There is no viable screening tool to detect for ovarian cancer. Current methods are not sensitive enough to distinguish it from other noncancerous conditions. Women with a family history of breast, colon, or ovarian cancer are at a higher risk of developing the disease and should be vigilant about symptom recognition.  

Make A Difference:

• Visit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to find out how you can get involved.
• Promote a Wear Your Teal day for your staff and referral network. With action there is hope!
• Sponsor a run/walk event in your community, and be sure to provide teal ribbons for participants.
• Supply your referral groups with brochures on cancer and other women’s health issues.

Visit TAG web store for all your Home Health and Hospice resources.