Being an Empowered Patient
‘Empowered’ is a word we hear a lot lately. You see it in trendy magazines and in news reports, on t-shirts and in self-help books, but what does it actually mean? Definitions of the word often refer to “giving power” or “making someone stronger,” but that misses a key point of empowerment, suggesting it comes from outside rather than from within.
Cancer patients receive devastating news and begin courses of treatment that often contribute to a sense of feeling out of control. It is hard to feel empowered when your world and health have just been turned upside down. It is perfectly natural after receiving a cancer diagnosis to feel the exact opposite of empowered – hopeless and vulnerable.
There are things that cancer patients can do to help them connect to the power that exists within themselves, even at such an uncertain time. We have covered a few of those in previous blog posts:
When a patient exercises their power, it can contribute to their overall wellbeing. In the world of cancer, there are things that patients can control and things they cannot. Working to identify those things that are within personal control may help to restore some of the vulnerability felt at such a challenging time.
One way to do that is to be proactive in cancer care and treatment: ask questions, network, research available options. “It is so important for my patients to feel like a partner in their care and treatment,” says Srilata Gundala, MD, the hematologist/oncologist who founded Hope & Healing Care centers in Lombard and Hinsdale, Illinois. “I want my patients to know that they can and should feel empowered to work with me and not feel so alone. The cancer being treated is primary, but so many other aspects of care during this time can be geared to what the patient needs, even as those needs change.”
So, what are some of the things that patients can do to exercise their power during treatment?
The Hope and Healing Cancer Services centers are set to enable patients to reach out and make appointments easy and within 24 hours of contacting the office. Once a cancer diagnosis is received, the patient can feel empowered to choose their provider and care setting and initiate contact.
If an insurer requires a referral from the primary care provider (PCP), do research to determine which oncologists fall within network and advocate for yourself with the PCP for the treatment team that feels like the best fit. It is always important to know and clarify specific policies and treatment options.
Patients can work with their oncologist and articulate the things that matter most to them during treatment. This can be side effects of treatment, asking about treatment schedules and conflict with important dates like holidays, graduations, birthdays, etc. or initiating discussion around nutrition, exercise and mental health needs.
Identify those people that can become part of a support network when help will be needed the most. Who can help with meals, transportation, errands and other tasks that may be harder to complete during treatment? Knowing there are people who can pick up the slack when needed can help a cancer patient focus their attention on health and treatment.
Cancer patients identifying, feeling and exercising the power they have, even in the midst of treatment, is something that can feel empowering. That sense of remaining connected to the power within is an important part of being as healthy as possible.
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
