Going through cancer requires patients and caregivers to navigate an enormous number of changes in their daily life, including the necessity to come up to speed quickly on complex medical issues, to navigate building and managing a care team of multiple doctors, to handle confusing insurance claims and questions, and to find ways of making yourself or a loved one comfortable following various treatment-related side effects.
In order to navigate this complex maze, many patients and their caregivers choose to engage with a coaching service to help make this transition a little easier. Although multiple different types of coaching are available -- everything from navigating career transitions to end of life considerations -- we will focus here on medical coaching and 5 situations where individuals are most likely to benefit from exploring it.
- Individuals and families overwhelmed by navigating medical complexities. You’re not a doctor so all of the new medical terminology you’ve been confronted with might be troubling or triggering for you. A cancer care coach can help you work through all of the medical complexities and translate them into layman’s terms. It’s hard to advocate for yourself when you don’t know your rights or fully understand the breadth of your condition. But don’t worry! Cancer coaching can help you navigate this terrain.
- Cases that are “on the fence” between treatment options. Maybe you’ve had multiple opinions and you’re still not sure the best option for you. A cancer care coach will help you weigh all the options and pick the best one given your unique situation, wants, and needs.
- Individuals interested in finding + participating in clinical trials. Cancer care coaches are experts in understanding the often confusing inclusion and exclusion criteria required for each clinical trial and can help you find local, regional, or national opportunities. Cancer care coaches know your unique personal situation and are also familiar with the medical aspects of cancer so they can better discern what will fit your situation and help you be an advocate for yourself in your medical treatment.
- Situations involving multiple medical bills. Medical systems make mistakes too, so having an advocate in your corner who can review all of your medical bills to make sure you aren’t being double charged or otherwise erroneously billed for services usually saves enough to cover the cost of coaching itself.
- Individuals and families struggling to cope with their diagnosis. Most coaches have licensed social workers on staff who are trained in helping patients and families come to terms with a diagnosis. Having someone who has experience walking families through these difficult situations can often provide a huge relief, knowing that there is a sherpa by your side to guide you.
