Cancer

Overview   
Symptoms   
Treatment   
Products   
Resources

Cancer affects people of all ages, however, 77% of all cancers are diagnosed in people age 55 or older. Cancer can affect most parts of the body. It is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Over one million people get cancer each year. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.

Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called metastasis, occurs as the cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of the body.

Cancer usually forms as a tumor or may involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.

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Symptoms of Cancer

Some of the nonspecific signs and symptoms of cancer include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Changes in the skin

Some of the common symptoms of cancer include:

• Change in bowel habits or bladder function
• Sores that do not heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• Thickening or a lump in the breast or other body part
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Recent change in a wart or mole
• Nagging cough or hoarseness

Of course, many of the symptoms outlined above can be indicative of other medical conditions besides cancer and a physician should be consulted to best determine what condition(s) may exist.

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Treating Cancer

The four major types of treatment for cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biologic therapies. Cancer treatments are based upon each patient’s unique situation.

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Products for Cancer Patients

Products for patients cancer patients will vary based upon an individual’s condition and the part of their body affected. Patients who are undergoing chemo and radiation therapy may initially suffer from hair loss and skin dryness and can benefit from cosmetic aids. Other patients, as they are affected by the cancer, may require a range of products throughout treatment or as they live with the damage caused by their cancer.

Cosmetic Aids

• Wigs, hair pieces, hats and sleep caps come in various styles and can help improve a patient’s self-esteem.
• Post-surgical garments can offer the mastectomy patient a comfortable garment to wear immediately after surgery.
• Mastectomy bras and breast forms offer a patient an alternative to breast reconstruction surgery and can help improve their self-esteem. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match any women’s breast and a custom prosthesis is also available.

Skin Care Products

There are several skin replenishment systems available to counter the damaging effects of chemo and radiation therapy. These products are applied directly to the affected skin areas and help moisturize the skin and aid in skin rejuvenation.

Homecare Bedroom set-ups provide all of the products available that help to improve their daily quality of life. These include:

• Hospital Beds in semi-electric or full electric versions allow the patient to separately raise or lower the head and feet and are often outfitted with bedrails to prevent accidental falls.
• Bed Accessories include egg crate mattresses, low air loss and gel mattresses to help prevent and reduce bedsores for patients who spend a great amount of time in their beds.
• Over-Bed Tables are similar to those used in the hospital for eating and reading in bed. They are available in flat or tilting models which aid in reading.
• Bedside Commodes are stand-alone toilet seats with a removable pail for people who are unable to walk to the bathroom. They can also be easily converted to a raised toilet seat to be used directly over the toilet.
• Patient Lifts and Slings assist in transferring patients from their beds to a wheelchair, bedside commode or bedside chairs. They are available in manual and fully electric models and accommodate all weight capacities.
• Trapeze Bars hang over a patient’s bed and assist them in lifting themselves to a sitting position or to change positions in bed.
• Lift Chairs come in numerous styles, fabric grades and colors and assist patients with difficulty getting up from a chair but activating an electric chair that causes the chair to raise the patient to a standing position. All lift chairs also partially or fully recline with an elevated leg rest.
• Safety Polls and Rails offer stability when rising or sitting as well as from accidental falls in the bed or bathroom.

Bath Safety Products help to maintain stability and compensate for loss of strength when toileting and bathing. These include:

• Bedpans and Urinals are available for patients who are unable to get up from bed to use a bedside commode or the bathroom.
• Elevated Toilet Seats enable patients who have difficultly in standing to remain independent in the bathroom.
• Bedside Commodes are stand-alone toilet seats with a removable pail for people who are unable to walk to the bathroom. They can also be easily converted to a raised toilet seat to be used directly over the toilet.
• Bath Chairs, Transfer Benches and Handheld Showers make getting into and out of the bathtub easier, safer and more convenient.
• Grab Bars provide stability when standing after sitting on the toilet or when entering and exiting the bath or shower.
• Personal Care items include sitz baths, lubricant jelly and gloves.
• Accessories include washcloths, shampoo sets, air fresheners, powders and ointments.

Nutritionals are liquid supplements that help people maintain their necessary daily intake of nutrients when they are unable to eat regular foods. Products are available that are especially formulated for weigh gain, diabetics, children, cancer, stroke patients (thickened beverages) and for wound care. Other products help add calories, fiber, and protein to the diet.

Mobility Products help the patient with ambulation and/or mobility either within or outside of the home and are now available in fashionable styles. They include:

• Canes are used by people who are independent enough to use a one-handed walking aid. They have fairly good balance and just need the added stability and support that a cane provides. Canes are used in the hand that is on the opposite side of the body that is weaker or injured.  They are available in numerous sizes, handles and styles. Aside from the traditional “umbrella” handle, ergonomic and orthopedic grip handles are now available. Wood canes are sized by cutting with a saw. Aluminum canes are adjusted by using a spring button.
• Quad Canes have a base with four points of contact on the floor to provide extra stability and support for people when walking. They are available with a small or large base and their size is selected according to the amount of support needed by the person.
• Forearm Crutches are used by people who have long-term or permanent mobility problems. The cuffs on the top of the crutches wrap around the forearms while the orthopedic handles are gripped below. The height is adjustable at the base with a spring button, and they are available in adult and child sizes.
• Walkers help people remain mobile by providing stability and support while walking. They transfer most of the weight and work from the user’s legs and feet to their arms and hands. Walkers are available in rigid and folding models, plus a variety of accessories are available such as wheels, baskets, pouches, backpacks, glide brakes, seats, trays and glass holders.
• Rollators are walkers with wheels and brakes to eliminate having to lift the walker to walk. They feature small or large wheels for indoor and outdoor use, respectively. Brakes offer extra security when going down inclines. The walkers fold for transport and many have seats so users can sit and rest when they get tired.
• Manual Wheelchairs are no longer “one size fits all” and are available in a variety of styles and sizes. The standard basic wheelchair folds easily for transport, has locking wheels, detachable foot rests that swing-away for transferring, footplates, elevating leg rests and arm rests that are either permanent full length or removable desk length. Optional features include reclining backs, adjustable seat length, hemi or low seat frames, articulating footrests, solid tires and anti-tipping devices.
• Transport or Companion Wheelchairs are popular with caregivers because they have four small wheels for convenience when transporting the chair in a car or other form of transportation. They are available in very lightweight models and are designed to be pushed by the caregiver.
• Lightweight Wheelchairs are also popular with end-users as they weigh so much less than standard chairs and are easier to self-propel. They are preferred for outdoor usage and wheelchair sports.
• Power Wheelchairs are motorized wheelchairs that are controlled by either a joy stick or a puff mechanism. These are primarily used by quadriplegics or people with medical conditions who are extremely weak and cannot push themselves in a manual wheelchair.
• Scooters or Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMV’s) provide motorized transportation for individuals who either need or prefer power mobility. Scooters can be used indoors and outdoors and are available in both front-wheel and rear-wheel drive models. They also come in lightweight models that break down into smaller parts for easier transport.

Aids for Daily Living (ADL’s) help people remain independent by facilitating their daily tasks in eating, dressing, bathing and toileting. These include:

• Reachers, Dressing Aids, Velcro Buttons, and Zipper Pullers
• Door Openers, Lamp Switches and Key Turners
• Pill Dispensers, Pill Cutters and Crushers, and Eye Droppers
• Long Handled Combs, Brushes and Bathing Tools
• Silverware, Plates, and Kitchen Aids to help open jar, containers and boxes.

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Resources on Cancer

American Cancer Society (ACS)
www.cancer.org

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org


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