From cancer nurse to cancer patient: One woman’s story

(BPT) – Throughout her career, Lindsay Norris had a close connection with cancer, helping others battle the disease. Then one day, it became even more personal.

The 33­-year-­old oncology nurse still remembers the moment she heard the news of her own diagnosis – Stage 3 colorectal cancer. ‘I’ve been in those conversations so many times,’ she said. ‘I’ve shared a plan of care so many times. I’ve explained this stuff so many times.’ Lindsay knew the cancer journey but now she was the one on the receiving end of the conversation.

Living with cancer

While the magnitude of a cancer diagnosis cannot be denied, a Pfizer-sponsored survey of over 1,500 cancer patients and caregivers to assess resources, tools and general perceptions of cancer shows nearly 85 percent of the patients surveyed have a positive outlook on cancer and 83 percent have been inspired to make positive changes in their life following their diagnosis. In fact, nearly 90 percent of patients surveyed believe cancer has forced them to prioritize important things in their life and 3 in 5 patients surveyed said cancer allowed them to discover the ‘real me.’ That said, day-to-day life with cancer is challenging and the same survey shows a majority of those patients and caregivers surveyed say it would be helpful to have an all-in-one mobile tool or app while managing life with cancer, stating some of the most helpful resources would be the ability to keep track of questions that come up during the day (77 percent) and during medical appointments (76 percent), keeping track of medications (71 percent) and being able to communicate with loved ones (71 percent). Pfizer recently launched LivingWith(TM), a free mobile app to help patients and their loved ones manage life with cancer and organize certain important information in one place, which may help to address some of these tasks and communication challenges.

While Lindsay has adjusted some things in her life since her diagnosis, her commitment to her work as a nurse has remained steadfast and each day she comes to the hospital as both patient and professional. ‘I figured I have to come every day for treatment anyway, so I might as well work,’ she said of juggling care for her patients with her own treatment schedule. ‘I’ve always taken pride in my job and taking care of my patients. I have always tried to put others before myself.’

Of course, like most people with cancer, Lindsay, a mother of two young children, has her good days and her bad days. On her good days she can go without taking a nap and is able to make dinner for the family and enjoy bath time. But on her bad days, she simply can’t enjoy these activities and that’s when her husband steps in to help. The missed opportunities sadden her, but she understands these struggles are part of living with cancer and refuses to let them define her.

She still remembers breaking the news of her diagnosis to her family and her 3­-year-­old son Harrison referring to the disease as mom’s ‘cancer owie.’ He said to me, ‘Mom, after your cancer owies are all gone and you’re done taking your special medicine, you can have a sleepover in my boys­-only fort.’ Lindsay keeps this goal in mind, and while her battle with cancer is far from over, she’ll have her sleepover in that fort.

Chronicling a patient’s story

Lindsay’s story is one of several featured now on ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com, a novel program sponsored by Pfizer that allows people to share inspiring stories and follow along on Facebook and Instagram to receive and share daily stories of inspiration. Lindsay is extremely proud to be part of the campaign and is hoping the LivingWith(TM) app and her story connects with others. ‘I want to make it a positive experience. And hopefully when my son is an adult he’ll look back and be proud of the way his mom handled it. The best piece of advice I received is to ‘do everything you can today, and then do everything you can tomorrow.”

Lindsay and others involved in the campaign are interested in the possibilities of the LivingWith app, particularly how it may give patients and caregivers a sense of control when it comes to managing the many aspects of life with cancer such as building a network of support from friends and family to get help with daily tasks, recording and remembering important information from doctor visits and finding information about local events and nutrition articles. It even provides a section to track those ‘cancer-owies’ that Lindsay’s son noted, to help people provide an accurate assessment during their doctor visits. Join Lindsay and others affected by cancer who have downloaded LivingWith(TM) from the Apple App store or Google Play and visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to help you or a loved one manage life with cancer.

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* Pam will never forget the desperation of a woman new to Manitoba who was forced to live in her husband’s hospital room and eat off his plate as he underwent cancer treatments because they had no one to turn to and no money to live. As the head of CCAN in Manitoba, Pam has worked as a nurse in rural Manitoba and is a cancer survivor herself. She believes change is possible and that we all need to play a part.

The Canadian Cancer Society, in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Action Network (CCAN) undertook a comprehensive review of research on the financial impact of a chronic illness and then completed interviews with health care professionals, frontline workers as well as cancer patients, caregivers and their families to compare the research findings with the Manitoba experience.

For more information and to read the full report visit www.cancer.ca and choose Manitoba from the dropdown.

The Financial Hardship of Cancer – Pam K.’s Story