Cancer Coaching
My Cancer Story
Cancer Coaching
Some Helpful Resources for Cancer Patients
In March, 2008, during a routine mammogram, a small, cancerous cell was diagnosed: I had DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ). In preparation for the lumpectomy a chest x-ray was taken. A large tumor was found in the upper lobe of my right lung; another smaller tumor was found in the lower right lobe. Fortunately none of these tumors were the same, meaning no metastases. This information didn’t take away my terror. I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSLC), adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutation, Stage 3b. There is no understanding why/how I got this cancer; I had never been a smoker and no one else in my family had had lung cancer.
I had surgery (a lobectomy) which removed the top right lobe of my lung and a piece of the bottom lobe. Upon recovery I had a lumpectomy done in my left breast. Then 4 bouts of chemotherapy over a 4-month period, followed by 6 weeks of targeted radiation to the lung. Follow-up cat scans were unclear for awhile; unfortunately eventually one showed small tumors had returned to both lungs. In addition, an MRI revealed a small tumor in my brain.
I had SRS (Stereotactic Radial-Surgery) to remove the brain tumor. I was then put on the chemotherapy drug, tarceva, known to be effective against the EGFR mutation. Both were successful: I have been tumor free for over almost two years. I am optimistic that I will continue to be tumor-free as long as tarceva is effective or as long as I can tolerate the (numerous and challenging) side effects of tarceva. And I can be hopeful that once I can no longer take tarceva that another effective drug will be available.
I’ve been doing my best to live a fulfilling and meaningful life; my life has changed immensely. I live a “new normal” life but one with a “silver lining.” I’ve realized what’s most important to me: my family and friends. This realization has helped me to make some significant changes in my life:
- I travel to visit family & friends; I stay in touch more often.
- I’ve moved closer to friends so that I am surrounded by a loving and supportive community
- I’ve moved to a beautiful environment that fills me with beauty every day.
- I work less and play more - I dance a lot.
- I’ve made significant changes in my nutrition, now eating mostly a plant-based, vegan diet and trying to control my sweet tooth!
- I foster an “attitude of gratitude” and appreciate all the richness in my life.
- I focus on what’s positive and good in my life; I appreciate every day I’m alive.
- I work on being mindful by living in a the present moment.
- I write a blog (“Dancing through Cancer” - http://lauriegeary.blogspot.com/) about my experiences of living with cancer
- I now coach people dealing with cancer
More and more hospitals and clinics are hiring life coaches to provide wellness coaching for cancer patients. Life coaching has been around for several decades, but has recently gained more prominence in the cancer community. This arose out of a growing awareness - especially among patients themselves - that treatment often didn’t focus on the whole person but rather on the disease.
In a recent research study 30 cancer patients participated in wellness coaching over a three-month period. Published by The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, the results showed various improvements including decreased depression and anxiety, increased physical activity, better motivation, and healthier diet. Other studies have indicated coaches can help patients communicate better with their doctors, make better health care choices, manage transitions, and maintain better relationships with family and friends. Life and wellness coaches provide cancer patients with support and guidance in the following areas: nutrition, exercise, work, relationships, and stress management. Coaches can help patients adjust to living their “new normal” life, managing all the changes and losses related to cancer. Alternatively, coaches can help patients face and deal with the very real prospect of death and dying.
A life coach who has experienced cancer will most likely be the best cancer coach.
As a Professional Certified Life Coach with over 15 years of experience, I am a good choice for someone looking for a cancer coach. I have been living with lung (and breast) cancer for the past 4 years, so I know what it is like to live with cancer. I want to support other people, newly diagnosed with cancer or surviving cancer, in living a full and meaningful life. This is part of my legacy - to help others benefit from what I have learned and experienced.
Life coaching assists people in identifying, then prioritizing, specific goals, taking action to reach those goals faster and with greater ease, providing a structure and process that holds the client accountable for the chosen actions.
In addition, Cancer coaching supports the client in dealing with all the challenges related to living with cancer.
I will support you during your cancer journey by helping you...
- deal with hearing your cancer diagnosis for the first time
- accept receiving negative results from follow-up diagnostic procedures
- celebrate positive results from follow-up diagnostic procedures
- manage treatment side effects
- .manage change; living in transition
- learn to live with all the losses associated with cancer treatments
- explore new options; making new choices
- take risks for personal growth
- make difficult decisions
- set realistic goals for the future
- learn to lead a healthier life style through proper nutrition, exercise, stress management
- provide helpful tools, resources, and referrals, as needed
- help reframe beliefs and offer different perspectives and ideas
- create a nurturing support system; minimize unsupportive behaviors.
- set boundaries necessary for personal care
- develop an attitude of gratitude
- face and plan for end of life
MOST OF ALL....I will help you learn to live well in your “new normal” life
My goal is to guide you through your cancer journey by empowering you, giving you emotional support while helping you build your strength and confidence as well as develop courage to face all your challenges. I want to help you be proactive in your own health care by sharing resources, tools, and information that I have found helpful in my journey. I will be a listening ear, a trusted friend, an encouraging and supportive partner, and a fellow traveler on this cancer journey.
I offer free consultations. Please call (617) 947-7430.
Some HELPFUL RESOURCES for CANCER PATIENTS
BOOKS:
by Kris Carr:
Crazy Sexy Cancer
Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips
Crazy Sexy Diet
Crazy Sexy Newsletter: www.crazysexylife.com
It’s Not About the Hair and Other Certainties of Life and Cancer, by Debra Jarvis
by Lance Armstrong:
It’s Not About the Bike - My Journey Back to Life
Every Second Counts
Enjoy Every Sandwich: Live Each Day as if it were Your Last, by Lee Lipsenthal
Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life, by David Servan-Schreiber
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Knockout: Interviews with Doctors who are Curing Cancer and How to Prevent Getting it in the First Place, by Suzanne Somers
The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell
Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul: 101 Healing Stories about those who have Survived Cancer, by Jack Canfield
The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, by Jack Kornfield
by Michael Pollen:
Food Rules
In Defense of Food
Omnivore’s Dilemma
by Tom Tam:
Tong Ren Therapy: What It Is, Why It Works, and How to do It
Tong Ren for Cancer
www.tomtam.com
www.tongrenhealer.com
Faith, Hope and Healing: Inspiring Lessons Learned from People Living with Cancer, by Bernie Siegel, MD
The Cancer Survivor’s Guide: Foods that Help You Fight Back, by Neal Barnard
The Engine2 Diet, by Rip Esselstyn
MAGAZINES:
Cure (free for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers) www.curetoday.com
Nutrition Action Health Letter, www.cspinet.org
FILMS:
Forks over Knives
Food, Inc.
Food Matters
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
YOU TUBE:
Sugar: The Bitter Truth
Tom Tam: Lazy Bum Healing
Dean Ornish
Neal Barnard
Dr. McDougall
BLOGS:
“Dancing through Cancer” - Laurie Geary
MGH Care Pages (search for lauriegeary2008)
“Navigating Cancer” (Cancer Blog Center)
I offer free consultations. Please email (ingear@comcast.net) or call (617) 947-7430.