Transcript Joel T Nowak, MA, MSW

Joel T Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.
 Director of Advocacy & Advanced
Prostate Cancer Programs for Malecare
 Survivor of four cancers including
Thyroid, Kidney, Melanoma and
Advanced (metastatic) Prostate Cancer
 Joel @Malecare.org
 Malecare.org
The Problem
 Studies have shown that men are dying
nearly five years earlier than women.
 This difference is even more
pronounced for African American men
 In addition to a shorter lifespan, men
are almost twice as likely as women to
die of heart disease.
Prostate Cancer- A Killer of Men
 Prostate Cancer will strike 1 in 6 men
 Prostate cancer is the second largest
cancer killer of men in the U.S.
 33,720 men will die of prostate cancer
in 2011 - ACS
 This number is growing each year
Towards A Solution
Become an Empowered Patient
The Truth
 Often we hear broad statements that
are asserted with such authority that
we assume that there is real scientific
research behind them
 Too often we find that this may not
be the case.
An Empowered Patient
 We all can be patients, but we must
learn to become empowered patients
 Empowered patients are those who
become 100% partners in their care
decisions with their doctors
 Become the CEO of your medical care
How to Be An Empowered
Patient
 Go to the best possible doctors at the
best possible health facility, we have
many in NYC
 Educate yourself about your disease.
Finding the Right Doctor
 Cancer care is big business for the
doctor and the hospital
 You are hiring a professional, so get
different opinions from different
doctors
Finding The Right Doctor
 Ask questions about your disease and
about their treatment goals.
 Does the doctor share your values and
your goals?
Finding the Right Doctor
 Ask them about their experience
treating men with prostate cancer
 What about off label drug use and
clinical trials?
 Most important question is, After I
listen to your treatment plan, may I
choose what I believe is best for me?
Finding the Right Doctor
 Find out how you can communicate
with them and does this system work
for you?
 Will they permit you to tape an office
visit and bring a friend with you?
 What is their philosophy on pain
management?
Managing Your Doctor &
Insurance Company
 Make yourself human to your doctor.
Give them your life story and make sure
they know that you are loved and cared
for by others.
 Let your insurance company know you
are a human being and that you will
fight when necessary to preserve your
life.
How To Be An Empowered
Patient
Face to face & on-line support groups
 Malecare.org
 Call : 1-800-4 cancer
 Ask questions of your doctors and
other survivors
 Use the internet (Web Savvy Patient by
Andrew Schorr

How To Be An Empowered
Patient
 Listen To Your Body
 Have a goal for everyday
 Finish unfinished business and
eliminate stress from today
 Find a positive in your diagnosis
Making Decisions
 Decisions need to be made about
treatments
 There are many options
 They all have positives and negatives
 There are no automatic correct answers
Making Decisions
 Statistics are important only when you
are trying to make a decision.
 Once you have made your choices the
only statistic that matters is the
statistic of one, YOU
Making Decisions
 When making treatment decisions
remember that your cancer is unique
just like you: you are unique.
 Take your time to make decisions,
understand the upside and the possible
downside of each treatments.
Making Decisions
 Always get 2nd and even 3rd opinions
 Talk with other survivors and ask them
their experiences and feelings
 However, remember we are each
individuals with different values
Gleason Grade
Living with Cancer
 You did not choose to have cancer, but
you do.
 Cancer is something you have, it is not
who you are
 Stay in the present – the further out we
go the more stressful
Living with Cancer
 You always have choices, choose to
always be positive
 This has to be a very conscious
decision.
 Interrupt negative thoughts – your
brain can only handle one thought at a
time
Living with Cancer
 When you are comfortable with a
decision, NEVER look back.
 Remember, you made the best
decision you could make. There is
never room for should’ves or could’ves.
Living with Cancer
 You can be angry and depressed today,
but tomorrow decide to accept your
situation and make the best of it.
 When life hands you lemons, make
lemonade.
 Live your life today
Living with Cancer
 Get second & third opinions
 Get copies of all your medical records
 Read them and understand them
 Ask questions and ask more questions
Living with Cancer
 Wrap yourself in a blanket of love
 Surround yourself with positive people
 Learn how to receive from others –
receiving can be a gift to others
 Let others take care of you
Living with Cancer
 Be honest about your feelings and share
them. Saying them out loud helps
 Then consciously decide to move on
and live your life
 Don’t do what you can not do, but do
what you can
Living with Cancer
 Learn to say NO
 Set up a web page to report your
progress
Living With Cancer
 Having cancer is NOT a punishment
 Remember you are still alive- so live
your life
 Use what is working, don’t struggle
with what isn’t working
Living with Cancer
Get those feel good endorphins
circulating:
 Exercise everyday for at least 30 mins.
 Walk when you can (get a dog, I did)
Living with Cancer
Epigenetics – The study of environmental
influences that can mitigate gene output
 Stress is immunosuppressive
 Use Psychotherapy & Anti-
Depressants if needed
 Use energy medicine – TiChi, Yoga
prayer, biofeedback
Living with Cancer
 Use support groups and your fellow
survivors to share your experience, they
know how you feel.
 Avoid toxic people: Put a sign on your
door that says:
Don’t come in if you can not be
positive
Living with Cancer
 You are not any sicker or closer to death
because you were diagnosed today.
 Actually, being diagnosed can extend
your life because you can now start the
battle against your disease.
Living with Cancer
 Never lose your faith
 Never lose your hope
 Believe in the strength of your prayers
 Believe in the strength of your faith
 Believe in miracles, they do happen
Take Home
Have A Happy and
HEALTHY
Day
Who I Am
Joel T Nowak
malecare.org
Men Fighting Cancer, Together
[email protected]