I had chemo side effects.
The session really helped
ease the side effect of pain.
I felt lighter and more positive!
The sessions are very effective.

— HT Recipient

Everyone remembers the moment they heard their physician say "You have cancer" or a loved one say "I have cancer," and how their life was instantly turned upside down and everything changed. Facing tests, tough treatment regimens, and many medical consultations, cancer patients often look for services that can provide support, relieve stress, and promote healing.

HPCC has gathered suggestions from other Healing Touch Recipients that helped them during their cancer journey.

Helpful Handouts

There is a great deal of confusion once a cancer diagnosis is received. The After Diagnosis Checklist and the Important Questions to Ask handouts are designed to help cancer patients navigate through their treatment journey.

Websites for Newly Diagnosed

• The National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute offers useful information for all phases of the cancer journey, including understanding your cancer diagnosis, treatments and side effects, helpful information for caregivers and family and a variety of support resources: cancer.gov​​ 

• Montage Health organization offers wellness services designed to help cancer patients live well at any point in their cancer journey: montagehealth.org

• Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Susan Bacon Cancer Resource Center offers patients, family members, and the public a variety of support services: svmh.com

• If breast cancer is your diagnosis, the Breast Cancer Assistance Group of Monterey County offers need-based grants for those that need help with their basic living expenses. This is an organization for the local Monterey community only: bcagmc.org

How Friends and Family Can Help

As the cancer patient goes through the treatment process, their tribe wants to step in and help out. The following organizations give family, friends, and others who wish to help some guidance and suggestions for stepping up and ​helping out. 

•  Lotsa Helping Hands is a helpful website for newly diagnosed patients and their families. It provides an organizing tool for families to communicate with their support community.  Tasks are added to a calendar and support teams can sign up to provide meals, run errands, provide rides to doctors or carpooling for children, offering well wishes, and more. It organizes support crews while protecting patient privacy: Lotsahelpinghands.org

• Keeping friends and family up to date on health issues is hard and can be emotionally draining. Caring Bridge is a free online journal where an individual or caregivers can give updates, share photos, set up fundraisers, manage tasks, and more: caringbridg.org

Caregiver and Family Support

A cancer diagnosis affects all those who receive this life changing diagnosis, including family, friends, and co-workers, but especially caregivers. They often don't know what to do to help and sometimes don't know what to say. Here are several valuable sites that offer a variety of information and support for the family, caregivers, and friends.
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Helpful Websites

• American Cancer Society has a page on their website dedicated to the Caregivers and Family.

• National Foundation for Cancer Research offers guidance and support connections for caregivers and family members. In addition, it covers a variety of topics like employment rights for cancer patients and caregiver burnout.

• Huffpost has an article called "8 Little Ways You Can Actually Help Someone Dealing With Cancer." The article suggests ways to encourage, help, and be present for someone diagnosed with cancer. 

• Hope has Arrived is a website dedicated to finding hope, strength, and peace against cancer.

• Caregiver Roles & Challenges is a website that offers guidance for caregivers and family members.

• Taking Care of Yourself is a website that provides helpful suggestion for ensuring the health and well-being of the caregiver.