Support for the Journey...

THE MATTER 

OF A GAS CARD

Lisa Manzini-Pace, LCSW

   Hope Cancer Resources    

The patient was tall and solid with a weathered and wise face.  He asked for the Social Worker after finishing his chemo treatment at the oncology clinic.  He drove to his daily treatments  from somewhere well into Oklahoma.  The previous week he had called in advance and a gas card had been left at the reception desk.  This no nonsense man had anticipated the same thing this week.

The social worker invited him to her small office in the clinic and explained that a gas card could be given to him in person as well.  The patient indicated that time was an important factor and asked again about how to arrange for it in advance.   He sat for a while after having been issued the gas card.  The social worker asked him a little about himself.  He wasn’t a big talker but indicated that his wife had severe medical issues and would soon require surgery in Fayetteville.  They commiserated on the complexities of health and medical care.  The man had a pleasant sense of humor and they laughed a little.

Each week on the same day he would ask to see the social worker for his gas card.  She learned where he was from originally, the work he had done, about his family and more.  He was not a natural talker but seemed to enjoy the little chats.  The social worker found them pleasant as well.  He liked to laugh despite the hardships of his situation.

In later visits the patient confided that his wife wasn’t doing well.  He, however, appeared to bear up quite well despite his treatments.  They talked about the news.  It had been a turbulent couple of weeks in the nation and the world.

                

Last week the patient asked the social worker if something was wrong.  This surprised her because there had been a serious occurrence but she felt she had concealed her sadness.  She explained about the death of a young man, a senseless and tragic event.  The patient nodded with understanding.   He knew about loss.  He had been in Vietnam.  His kindness was apparent.  He later confided that his wife’s situation was even more complicated.  The social worker offered reassurance and walked him out.  As he was leaving, the man turned back with a sad smile and said, “See you next week.”

More Than a Mission Statement

When we created our mission statement back in 2009 we thought we covered the bases pretty well. But a mission statement is really just "the big picture" of the organization it represents. For those individuals fortunate enough to have never watched a loved one endure a battle with cancer, or gone through one themselves, it's hard to imagine exactly what "cancer support" can entail.

Our social workers work with patients to determine their immediate needs, as well as needs that may arise in the future as they are going through treatment. Since we meet with patients on their very first visit to the oncology clinic, it's common to hear "I'm fine, I won't be needing any help." But we still share our services and programs... just in case. And many times, we hear from them later when the reality sets in. Cancer treatment is extremely difficult - physically and emotionally. On both fronts, we meet patients' needs.

Here's a list of the opportunities for giving support that we encounter every day with the patients and families we serve:

Financial Assistance

Prescription Assistance: Hope Cancer Resources assists with the purchase of cancer-related prescriptions and will help find long-term drug assistance whenever possible. The medications used to treat cancer are not like those used to treat a case of strep-throat or a stomach bug. And you don't have to be uninsured to find yourself facing a financial struggle when diagnosed with cancer. When medical insurance covers a percentage of your prescription medications and your chemotherapy drug is $2000 for a 30-day supply, you could end up writing a check for $500. And that's just for one medication. In 2011, we purchased 981 individual prescriptions for patients at a total value of $45,035. In addition, we assisted in matching patients with pharmaceutical company programs that provided $173,414 in prescriptions to patients in Northwest Arkansas.

Emergency Financial Assistance: We provide direct, temporary assistance to cancer patients who are struggling financially due to their treatment, including payments for housing and/or transportation needs as well as dental needs associated with their cancer diagnosis. Just as with prescription medication costs, a cancer-related financial crisis can be completely unexpected. A patient undergoing cancer treatment may be forced to take time off work or incur travel expenses, or just have more medical bills than usual. We help alleviate the stress associated with making sure that bills are paid while medical necessities are provided. Last year, we provided $188,380 in emergency financial assistance and $56,175 in gasoline cards to help patients get through their treatment.

Emotional Assistance

Our services compliment each other in every way. Every time we interact with a cancer patient or their family members there is an opportunity to provide emotional support. Even the smallest thing - like providing a brochure - can reduce a patient's stress level. Licensed social workers help patients and caregivers cope with emotional distress through counseling, education and information on support groups offered in our community, including those facilitated by our staff. In 2011, we served 2,337 patients with 9,348 hours of emotional support through support groups, counseling, and intensive emotional support.

Spanish Interpretation

Imagine being faced with a diagnosis of cancer and not being able to speak the same language as the medical staff providing your treatment. Our Spanish interpreter is available to assist patients during appointments as requested by patients and their caregivers. Last year, our interpreter provided 599 hours of assistance to patients in need.

Tobacco Cessation
Every list ever published telling us how to be healthier and reduce our risk of cancer puts stopping smoking at the top. We all know it's a deadly habit, but it's a terrible one to try to quit on your own. Our Certified Health Education Specialists will meet one-on-one with patients to talk about strategies and resources to help you quit using tobacco products. In 2011, we provided smoking cessation counseling to 94 individuals who made the decision to quit.

Transportation
Sometimes a patient's biggest obstacle when trying to survive a cancer diagnosis is just getting to treatment. Some types of cancer or medications cause patients to be unable to drive for their own safety. Some patients simply don't have adequate transportation or anyone who can get them to and from their appointments. We provide rides to and from treatment and other cancer-related medical appointments when a patient has no other options available to them. Last year, our drivers made 2,299 trips totaling 129,043 miles to guarantee every patient had an equal shot at recovery.

Please visit the Hope Cancer Resources website for more on our services and contact information.

When You Can't Afford the Test

You may have read recently that the American Cancer Society is reporting a decline in cancer deaths over the last two decades. Unfortunately, while many of the more common types of cancer are declining, some of the less-common types are actually on the rise. Many types of cancer can be found in early stages with screenings and tests that are prescribed by a physician, making successful treatment and recovery more likely. And, if a patient has health insurance coverage with a decent preventative component, chances are they won't pay anything for the procedure. Unfortunately, too many Americans have no access to health coverage that will pay for these tests. Even a co-pay or deductible for one of these tests can cost hundreds of dollars, making them impossible for many people to afford. This can lead to delayed care and late-stage, more deadly, diagnoses.

Hope Cancer Resources provides a program as a local resource in Northwest Arkansas for patients who need costly tests done, but who are under- or uninsured and unable to pay for them out-of-pocket. Our Save-A-Life program requires a simple financial application, and, if the applicant qualifies, a staff member will coordinate with a medical provider who will perform the screening and send the bill to us. In 2011 we paid for 503 screenings valued at $318,301. That's certainly an impressive number, but value aside...the reality is that many of the patients we assisted would not have had the screenings done at all if the Save-A-Life program had not been available, putting them at an increased risk for a late-stage (and more deadly) cancer diagnosis. 

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Many woman have a screening for cervical cancer every time they visit their gynecologist, called a Pap test. The pap test is the initial test for cancer screening, but an abnormal result does not necessarily mean that you have cervical cancer. There are other causes of abnormal pap tests; however, your doctor may feel that a colposcopy is needed to rule out cancer. During the colposcopy,which is done in a gynecologist's office, the doctor will take a small tissue sample for biopsy. Based on the results of the biopsy, another procedure may be needed, or the doctor may choose to do more frequent pap tests for a period of time to assure that the abnormal cells are clearing.

"Mary" was a patient who contacted our office because she could not afford a pap test. Upon questioning, we learned that she did not have a primary care physician because she could not afford to see one. She was referred to an area community clinic that charges on a sliding scale according to income. Mary was established at the clinic with a primary care provider who performed a pap test. The results of the test were “abnormal” and the provider determined that she needed a colposcopy. Because she could not pay, the community clinic referred her to Save-A-Life. After determining that Mary was eligible, our Save-A-Life coordinator set up an appointment with a participating gynecologist and faxed a voucher stating that we would cover the cost of the colposcopy. The biopsy results revealed a low-grade level of abnormality and it was determined that she did not need further treatment at that time, but needed another pap test in six months. Because her financial situation was unchanged six months later, Save-A-Life paid for the follow-up pap test as well.

For many people in Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding region, not having access to healthcare increases their chances of being diagnosed with a late-stage cancer. By providing prevention education and information about our programs like Save-A-Life, we are working to be part of the solution for that challenge.