Collin County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 15

sician is in good communication
with your cancer team will reduce
any confusion and set the tone for
a good outcome.
Even though a cancer physician or
cancer center may have the best
credentials or be part of the biggest group in the nation, they still
might not be the best choice for
you. If the physician or their staff
does not support you and your
well-being and share a passion for
cancer recovery, then the journey
becomes much harder, and decisions become much more difficult
to make. You will eventually grow
leery of your team and wonder
if they have your best interest at
heart. Today’s healthcare crisis is
no excuse for minimal support from
physicians, nurses and support
staff. Your care requirements play
a vital role in the day-to-day effort
of dealing with your cancer. If your
team does not share in this vision,
then you must find another provider with a good support staff, willing and able to help you recover &
thrive in spite of having cancer.

Researching on the Internet can
be both your best friend and a
bogeyman in the closet. Information reaches us now at lightning
speed. That is both good and bad.
Information can give you power
over the cancer, or it can cause
unneeded anxiety when you see
written or visual reminders of what
could go wrong at any time.
Separating fact from the fiction will
not only ease some of your fears of
cancer, but it will allow you to process good information and share it
with your team. Family and friend
dynamics play an important role as
well. Friends want to be there for
us… sometimes too much. Fighting for a new normal requires having some clear boundaries for both
family and friends. Cancer can
have its privileges! If you do not
want visitors, then be clear. Remind
your family that while you love the
visit, you are not in entertaining
mode.

ter most just how blessed you are.
Even in the most difficult of circumstances, there are blessings along
the way.
Tina Withrow is a certified cancer
navigator and patient advocate. She
is also the director of client service
at Health-Sync. If you or someone
you love needs help in dealing with
a cancer or health crisis, you may
contact Tina at 214-546-2215 or
twithrow@ health-sync.net. www.
health-sync.net.

One thing cancer gives is the gift
of time. Time to reflect. Time to prioritize. Time to tell those who mat-

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Schedule your softer 3D mammogram today by calling
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WORLD-CLASS CARE. MOMENTS AWAY. | CENTENNIALMEDCENTER.COM

COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | WINTER 2014
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