Cancer Coaching for Patients and Survivors
Written by Kara Kenan. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Going Beyond the Pink, and is a breast cancer survivor herself.
As you face the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis, it can be difficult figuring out how to navigate through it all. That’s where a cancer coach can help. Cancer coaches are there to listen to you and are able to provide you with support, resources, and more.
What is cancer coaching?
Cancer coaching is an emerging field, similar to health and life coaching, but it focuses on the unique needs and concerns of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.
A cancer coach helps patients and survivors throughout any stage of their diagnosis. They help empower cancer patients and survivors as they navigate their diagnosis, treatment, and the impact cancer has on their life and relationships. They are a guide and support around things like health literacy, health-related self-management skills, and implementing healthy behaviors along with supporting coping skills and wellbeing around the impacts of cancer on relationships, vitality, career, priorities and mindset. They also provide support in areas of physical and emotional challenges. This can include exercise, nutrition, mental health and much more.
Additionally, cancer coaches can help connect you with local practitioners or services that are geared towards your needs. They have networks for referrals to meet the unique needs of cancer patients, like mastectomy clothing suppliers, counselors and therapists, physical therapists, fitness professionals, etc.
Since everybody’s cancer experience is unique, a cancer coach can help personalize the type of coaching and care you receive. The patient meets one-on-one to discuss the diagnosis, financial assistance, and the needs and challenges they are experiencing now, and will in the future. Having a cancer coach can help you regain your self confidence, and improve your overall quality of life all while navigating your “new normal.”
Cancer Coaching at GBTP
Cancer coaching is coming to Going Beyond the Pink!
This service will be available beginning this summer. Our Founder and Executive Director, Kara Kenan is certified in Cancer Coaching and is an Oncology Patient Navigator. She’ll be working to train others in cancer coaching so Going Beyond the Pink can offer the best support for breast cancer patients and survivors.
If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming cancer coaching programs, please visit our cancer coaching page on our website.