Health Information is Better Than Cure

Although some states have recognized it for over 15 years, the law mandates that health professionals be trained on its use, and it is important for patients to ask about it.

One notable case was that of Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former presidential candidate and cancer activist, John Edwards. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and was able to bypass chemotherapy. She chose to take the route that was going to reduce her risk of cancer reoccurrence, and because of the state laws requiring that training and education occur, she was the first person in North Carolina to successfully use it at that time.

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The ability to deny an important aspect of health care to your loved ones is a disservice, and through usage of information that has been verified by third-party sources, including the National Cancer Institute, it is up to patients to ask it.

“There are a lot of options out there and that needs to be constantly checked for added prevention in the face of a disease,” said Loara. “It's better to be safe than sorry.”

Although Sarah Hennon, CSCP, FACS, knows that avoiding chemotherapy is beneficial, she agrees that having access to a greater degree of information is important.

“I wish that some of the information around cancer could be easier to understand and be more readily available,” said Hennon. “Personally, I used to think that it wasn't that important.”

Clinical trials allow for patients to gain an understanding of health matters other than the disease itself. Many of the drugs prescribed as part of clinical trials have either been shown to reduce pain or decrease side effects associated with cancer. At the same time, working on cancer research may actually help the body and the mind.

“I think it's wonderful,” said Loara. “I get to work with my colleagues every day to try to get better treatments for people who are diagnosed with cancer.”

Although the Food and Drug Administration will give approval on a certain medication for a certain illness, such as hypertension, it doesn't always mean that all of the concerns and questions are addressed.

“When I have questions about a drug, it’s always great when I can talk to my colleagues who have used the drugs and learn what it’s like.”

Practicing oncology also can allow patients to know how other doctors are handling a diagnosis.

“Physicians are so busy that they don’t always have time to discuss a patient’s cancer history. By working in a practice where they can talk to other patients, it is easier to see how someone might be treated differently,” said Loara.

Nurses are taught to be vigilant about communication and are part of medical information dissemination teams. They need to make sure that patients are not only being educated but are informed about the same information as the professionals in the room.

“I think everyone has at least the answers to a few things that help them understand their options, and I always let patients know that the doctor does too,” said Hennon.

Nurses can also play a major role in teaching patients about prevention. Using information from the American Cancer Society, they can place this information in an interactive way.

“I talk to patients about things like quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, finding a doctor who takes time to learn about their patients, and if there is anything that I can do to make their care easier, I always try to do that,” said Loara.

There are many choices in taking care of their health, but being careful about what information is available is an important step. By being educated about the disease, practicing a great attitude, and understanding what decision can help you live longer and healthier, patients can look back and be grateful they knew about it all along.