Staying Relevant: Until there’s a cure, there’s Cancer Services

For over 50 years, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge has been in this community serving cancer patients, their family members and caregivers. Using the word relevance expresses our promise to stay meaningful and relevant to their needs – even though those needs have changed drastically over the years.  

When Cancer Services opened its doors in the 1950’s, those who heard the words “you have cancer” had fewer options and less hope than today’s cancer patients. As a result, the agency had a hospice feel, providing loaned equipment, home visits and sick room supplies.  Thankfully, today’s advancements have made cancer survivorship a real thing. There are over 12 million cancer survivors in America and the number continues to grow. Over the years Cancer Services has continually responded to stay relevant to today’s survivors. When chemotherapy became mainstream, we addressed its side effects by opening our wig boutique and offering nutritional supplements. When exercise became a recommended option, we started aerobics, yoga and Zumba geared to the physical abilities and needs of survivors. With more people living long-term with cancer, we’ve expanded our support groups and started hosting more survivorship events.

Through our programs and services – and with the generous help of this community – we promise to stay relevant to the needs of cancer patients and their families.   

 

Q&A: Caregiver Bill of Rights

Every Sunday, Cancer Services publishes a Cancer Q&A in the Health Section of The Baton Rouge Advocate.

Q: My sister has been diagnosed with cancer and I am her sole caregiver. I find myself being short with her and other people more and more and then I feel guilty about it. Is this normal?

A: It is normal for caregivers to experience feelings of guilt, fatigue, and irritation. It is important for caregivers to pay attention to their own feelings and needs. The National Cancer Institute suggests referring to the following while caring for a loved one.

Caregiver's Bill of Rights:

• I have the right to take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the ability to take better care of my loved one.
• I have the right to seek help from others even though my loved one may object. I know the limits of my own endurance and strength.
• I have the right to maintain parts of my own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would if he were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can do for this person. I have the right to do some things just for myself.
• I have the right to get angry, be depressed, and express difficult feelings once in a while.
• I have the right to reject any attempt by my loved one to make me do things out of guilt or anger, (It doesn't matter if she knows that she is doing it or not).
• I have the right to get consideration, affection, forgiveness, and acceptance for what I do for my loved one, as I offer these in return.
• I have the right to take pride in what I'm doing. And I have the right to applaud the courage it has taken to meet the needs of my loved one.
• I have the right to protect my individuality. I also have the right to a life that will sustain me in times when my loved one no longer needs my full-time help.

The Caregiver Support Group at Cancer Services meets the second Friday of every month at noon. Anyone caring for a loved one, no matter the ailment, is encouraged to attend to help better take care of themselves. Call Natalie at 225-927-2273 if you’d like more information.

For more information contact Courtney Britton, librarian at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge at (225) 927-2273 or visit the Resource Center at 550 Lobdell Avenue.