Just as cancer is not a single disease, but there are many that are grouped under the same name, each patient who goes through it lives a personal, unique story , often marked by instances and particularities shared on an emotional level: the shock of the diagnosis , the fears, the question “why me”, the concern for the suffering of those around them, the learning.
“Demystify cancer” , the first book by journalist Daniela Hacker, specializing in issues of access to health, addresses the human side of the disease through the testimonies of people who have gone through it, including those of the actors Federico Bal, Gustavo Garzón and Dalia Gutmann; doctors Alberto Cormillot and Alejandra Fontao; of the journalist Patricia Kolesnicov and the politician Iván Petrella, among others.
“This is a disease that crosses different dimensions. It penetrates emotionally when the patient does not have emotional support or does not feel content. It also affects their economic income and affects their organization and their family roles,” says Hacker.”And, at times, -he adds- it separates families when it pushes them to migrate from the peripheries to health centers or from countries without free access to health towards others with more democratic access.”
Medical oncologist MatÃas Chacón, former president of the Argentine Association of Clinical Oncology (AAOC), describes the book as “a journey towards the unscientific perception of cancer by individuals full of objectives.”
And he maintains that “the narration oscillates between daily life and the changes generated by the impact of the disease and the various moments passed by the interventions and the family, work and social circle.
Likewise, it affirms that “the message that the author builds during the different testimonies converge in the concept that life goes on and cancer is just one more stage in the life of humanity.”
17 truths about cancer
“Before, cancer was a bad word. Today, it is a frequent disease because one in three people has the possibility of having it . It is a disease that grows as age advances. Cancer grows because the life expectancy of the population increases,” says Chacón in the book, which is free to download.
Demystifying cancer also addresses how scientific-medical advances have revolutionized cancer treatment and prognosis, what are the prevention measures, the main risk factors and the activities that contribute to well-being.
Given that many taboos and false beliefs still weigh on cancer , the book, which had the support of All.Can Argentina, the Emergencies Foundation and Argentina Pharmexx and with the medical supervision of Julia Ismael, former director of the National Cancer Institute, places special emphasis on these key notions:
• Cancer is a group of diseases under the same name. Each case is particular .
• Prevention is essential . A cancer detected in the early stages has a better chance of being cured.
• Unless the patient decides otherwise, the diagnosis must be given by the doctor, not a family member.
• The patient must be informed , know their rights and decide on their treatments, unless they prefer to delegate it or decide that they do not want to receive information. Her environment must respect this right.
• Not everything that is published on the internet is adjusted to particular cases. For this reason, you should always consult a doctor .
• Having a serious illness can cause fears, stress, sleep problems, and other symptoms. Having psychological help is highly recommended, even once the treatment is finished. Also, it can be helpful to reach out to patients who have been through the same thing to share their experience. Patient associations can also provide guidance and emotional support.
• Sex can be complicated during illness . It is important to talk to the doctor or seek psychological help.
• Nurses are essential supports for patients during treatment.
• You can accompany the patient in many ways, so it is always good to ask them what their needs are. There are those who need affection and company, others who require help with bureaucratic procedures and with medical visits and, also, those who need care at home, especially if they have small children.
• Young children perceive that their parents are going through something serious. Therefore, hiding the information is not advisable . Specialists recommend talking to them and giving them the information that, due to their age and characteristics, they can understand.
• Many times the patient’s relatives also need psychological support .
• The bureaucracy to access medication is extra work for the patient. Having the help of family and friends or the advice of patient associations can be a relief. The Patient Navigator programs that many agencies have are helpful in trying to get around the bureaucracy.
• The language of war used in reference to cancer puts the responsibility for the cure on the patient.
• Science advanced and continues to progress. For this reason, when cancer cannot yet be cured, it is sought to transform it into a chronic disease and to live with it. In cases where there is no curative treatment, there will always be palliative care to accompany the patient until the end of his life.
• Patients have the right to receive the treatments indicated by their doctors, which must be assigned in a timely manner.
• There are activities that can be very positive for the patient during treatment, such as art, meditation or reflexology .
• It is important not to put more pressure on the backs of patients with outside expectations. Going through cancer does not imply that people should change or modify their lives. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to get through cancer.
