Surviving with Confidence
Based on the results of a new national survey showing that most cancer survivors had feared undergoing chemotherapy before starting treatment, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and sanofi-aventis have launched a new program, Surviving with Confidence. By sharing the experiences of survivors who have undergone chemotherapy treatment, the program aims to help dispel many common misconceptions about chemotherapy and to empower cancer survivors to be their own advocates and seek the highest quality care. Surviving with Confidence celebrates the strides in cancer treatment that are helping to extending survival and encourages people living with cancer to gather as much information as possible regarding their treatment options before making decisions. Read more about the national survey results >> A centerpiece of the campaign is an inspirational video featuring respected broadcast journalist and cancer survivor Linda Ellerbee, along with other cancer survivors sharing their experiences during treatment and in the months and years beyond. View the video >>
An important theme of Surviving with Confidence is to be your own advocate – to arm yourself with information, speak up, ask questions and participate in your treatment decisions and care. The survey showed that understanding the benefits/risks of all treatment options and what to expect greatly helps allay fears so people can make decisions based on facts rather than emotions. Greater dialogue between people living with cancer and their healthcare professionals from the time of diagnosis throughout their survivorship will help survivors and their loved ones navigate treatment and inspire them to find ways to persevere. Through programs like Surviving with Confidence, we can continue to advocate for survivors to openly communicate with their healthcare team, seek information and use that knowledge to go through their experience with cancer with greater confidence. Leave a comment below and let us know how you communicated with your healthcare team about your treatment concerns. Did your doctor give you a written treatment plan when you started and talk with you about what to expect? Did you have to ask about side effects? Do you think a written treatment plan would have made it easier for you to ask questions and talk with your healthcare team?
