Curious Dr. George: There is so much involved in comprehensive care of patients with cancer beyond strictly diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Access to appropriate clinical care, deep insurance coverage, navigating a complicated care path, understanding options, overcoming systemic inequities, communicating effectively, and even securing necessary transportation come to mind. How can Cancer Commons help a patient with advanced cancer cope with all these challenges, including the often-present mental and emotional stresses?
Unsha Bakker, MSN, RN, OCN, CBCN: Roughly 30–40% of individuals diagnosed with cancer experience psychological distress and mental health challenges, with many more sharing that impact, including caregivers and loved ones. Beyond that already alarming prevalence, lived experiences often surpass what data and literature can minutely illustrate. Each patient’s race through the cancer-care continuum often occurs in a silo, as access to healthcare outcomes is highly predetermined by social determinants of health, finances, location, and access to support systems. The focus of a patient’s care typically starts with a race against rapidly dividing cancer cells, while mental health distress continues to escalate just as exponentially, but becomes bookmarked for later in the corner of the room.
Cancer Commons offers hope to fight this fate, and gives individuals a chance to stop drinking from the overwhelming firehose of cancer care information, at no cost. Whether someone contacts us as a primary resource or a final opinion, not one person is turned away from our services. Cancer Commons offers a warm hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on. Grounded by compassion, empathy, and true human touch, Cancer Commons’ mission is to provide emotional support during turbulent times, a plethora of resources, and treatment guidance that colors outside of the lines—in contrast to the traditional, black-and-white box of the healthcare landscape. Cancer Commons’ goal is to see someone as whole, beyond just a diagnosis, through a deep, meaningful, and holistic lens—not just as anonymous numbers lost in a sea of patients.
Over many years of speaking with patients, caregivers, and loved ones, I have heard many mention feeling debilitated—as though a rug had been pulled from underneath them, shifting them into a permanent survival mode. Unfortunately, despite the well-documented mental health effects of cancer, barriers associated with mental health care remain. These include but are not limited to financial toxicity, access, stigmas, lack of health care literacy, and even, simply, the time to quietly care for oneself while juggling the realities of life that cannot take a back seat.
At a time when showing up authentically can feel terrifying and life altering, Cancer Commons wishes to hold space for all patients’ experiences. Some patients come to us having been told to celebrate their next birthday as if it will be their last, or to feel grateful that they are in remission; while others may be entering hospice and may not even make it to their next life milestone, bucket-list experience, or cherished aspiration.
While individuals may experience guilt, shame, and vulnerability associated with speaking their truth, mental health support can simply start with validating and witnessing individuals in their pain, quietly listening to their feelings in moments that are raw and genuine.
Self-care is often the last stop on the road, while it often should be the first. Reminding individuals to take part in one-on-one guidance with us, connect with others who have experienced similar life changes, and keep in mind resources available to them can hopefully create a sense of belonging and community while improving mental health. Cancer Commons can be that soft landing, where patients can start untangling the strings that make the impossible possible, in a completely judgment-free environment.
Unsha Bakker is Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Brain Cancer Support & Solutions Alliance (BCSSA), a collaboration between Cancer Commons, Head for the Cure, and the Musella Foundation. She can be reached at oncology@cancercommons.org.
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