Cancer Coaches-An extra pair of helping hands for the difficult times

Rapidly changing lifestyles, stress, food habits, and increased tobacco & alcohol consumption have aggravated the incidence of cancer in India. However, a cancer diagnosis no longer means a death sentence. Nevertheless, the journey of a cancer patient can seem overwhelming for more than physical vulnerabilities.
The mind of a cancer patient can get exhausted from all the worrying, the uncertainty, and fear of the unknown. That is why in every cancer patient’s guide created with the help of a reputed cancer doctor, there is a strong suggestion of employing the efforts of a cancer coach.

Who is a cancer coach?

A cancer coach is an expert with medical as well as psycho-social training. The role of a cancer coach is cemented by some of the best oncologists in guiding a patient and their family from diagnosis to treatment and whatever comes after. If you or your family member needs a little extra support in dealing with such a diagnosis, you can always trust your cancer doctor’s opinion in hiring a cancer coach.
Cancer coaches work across multi-disciplinary platforms and guide patients and their families to remove several barriers in accessing medical, operational, as well as financial support.

What is cancer coaching?

Cancer coaching is not an alternative approach to cancer treatment; on the contrary, it is a complementary strategy to enhance cancer treatment, care, and recovery. A cancer coach is your all-purpose guide selected in unison with the best oncologist, therapist, and financial support for you. They can help you create the most effective to-do-list to fine-tune your treatment plan, test plan, mental health plan, and more.

Even family members of the patient can benefit from a cancer coach. The professional can help family members express their frustration, relief, happiness, sorrow, pain, and achievements without worrying about the reaction.

They can also learn how to juggle daily life through it all. What your cancer doctor says or recommends can also be easily explained to you and your family with the help of a cancer coach.

The role of a cancer coach is nuanced in a cancer patient’s life. The job involves a thorough understanding of the disease, the treatment, the physical & financial pressure, and the mental trauma through it all. The individual should be well acquainted with the gross cancer landscape; cancer doctors, hospitals, supporting service professionals, and financial aid should be the focus of the individual.

The diagnosis itself can seem heartbreaking and life-changing. People often find it hard to deal with the reality of the situation. Then come the treatment and the side effects associated with it, these seem overwhelming for most patients and their families. Your cancer coach can help you get through it. All the financial burden, associated service requirements (even the tiniest ones, like having wheelchair accessible connectivity), second or third opinions, cost of those opinions, finding the most cost-effective solution for every problem that arises due to the disease, etc. can be handled by a cancer coach with the guidance of an expert cancer doctor.

Do you need a cancer coach?

Some of the best oncologists in Noida and the best cancer doctors in Delhi NCR are now recognizing the need to bridge the psychosocial gap in the life of cancer patients and their families. Cancer is draining, and a cancer doctor can and should only concentrate on eradicating the disease. Yes, the mental, social, emotional, and even spiritual deficit experienced by the patient and their loved ones are of similar importance, and that is why one must understand the role of a cancer coach in their life to ensure that they are going in the right direction. So yes, there is a need for a cancer coach in your life if you are a cancer patient or supporting a cancer patient.

How cancer coaches help

Along with a good cancer doctor, cancer coaches can:

• Lend an ear to your worries and stories
• Help you prioritize health and wellness goals
• Arm you with information, education, and practical skill to fight cancer
• Connect you with the right resources at the right time
• Support you in making the right choices regarding your cancer doctor, lifestyle pre, post, & during the cancer treatment
• Understand your challenges and help you as well as your family members overcome them
• Focus on long and short term impact of cancer
• Be the source of constant support without judgment
• Motivate and support you through it all

The first step after a cancer diagnosis is choosing a reputed oncologist in Noida or the best cancer doctor in Delhi if you are a Delhi resident. Then with the help of your cancer doctor, you can choose the best cancer coach in town to motivate you and guide you through your cancer journey.

Also Read: How to Take Charge of Your Health in Your Fifties