Olympic Gold Medalist Dara Torres and the Colon Cancer Alliance
Help People with CRC and Their Loved Ones Form Roots of Support
NEW YORK, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- People with colorectal cancer (CRC) who
have friends or loved ones caring for them, by providing emotional support,
accompanying them to doctor's appointments or helping with daily activities,
are more likely to feel that they have enough information to make confident
treatment decisions than those who do not have a support network. These are
the findings of a recent survey conducted by the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA)
among people living with CRC or caring for someone with the disease.
"People with colorectal cancer often want to avoid 'burdening' others with
requests for help," said Randy Lopez, CCA board member and CRC survivor. "At
the same time, family and friends can feel uncomfortable offering help or
initiating discussions about the ways in which their lives are going to
change. Communication and support create empowerment, which is critical for
fighting the disease."
According to the CCA survey, 83% of respondents who have loved ones
helping them cope agree that they have enough information to make treatment
decisions, compared to 67% of respondents who are caring for themselves.
Additionally, the majority of respondents (81%) agreed that they would be
likely to bring information about new and different therapies to the attention
of a healthcare provider if they were aware of those options.
Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, whose father was diagnosed with CRC in 2001,
is an advocate for building a personal support network to navigate the
sometimes-daunting journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Torres
recently partnered with the CCA in the launch of the Roots of Support in CRC
program, an initiative aimed at encouraging people with CRC and their loved
ones to confront the disease as a team.
"I understand how people can feel at a loss when someone they care for is
diagnosed with colorectal cancer," said Torres. "I am one of six kids, and we
found that the little things we each could offer made the biggest difference
for our father -- searching the Internet, asking his doctors the tough
questions, running errands -- doing the things that came easily for us, but
were difficult for him to ask for. Providing this kind of support helped
educate our family in the process and gave us confidence in deciding what to
do next."
About the Survey
In April and May 2004, the CCA conducted an online poll of adult men and
women living with CRC or caring for someone with the disease. A total of
361 interviews were completed, including 233 people with CRC (65%) and
128 caregivers (35%). Conducted by WirthlinWorldwide, an independent market
research firm, the survey gauged what types of support are provided most often
to people with CRC, who primarily offers support, and how knowledgeable
respondents felt in the areas of disease education and treatment.
Additional Survey Findings
Emotional support and involvement in physician visits is key.
* The two greatest ways in which people with CRC receive support from
loved ones is through:
- Providing emotional support (92%) and
- Accompanying them to doctor's appointments (80%).
Caregiving may be linked to gender and stage of disease.
* Men who are living with CRC are more likely than women to have a loved
one or friend who is actively involved in helping them cope with the
disease (82% vs 66%).
* Approximately two-thirds (64%) of advanced CRC respondents report that
a friend or loved one is "very involved" in their treatment decisions,
compared to 47% of early stage respondents.
The "little things" matter.
* Assistance with household chores, such as cooking, cleaning and
laundry, accounted for nearly 70% of support provided by loved ones.
* More than 60% of caregivers help by running errands, while more than
40% assist with personal care.
"These survey findings show that a support network matters," said Amy
Kelly, Program Director for the CCA. "Roots of Support is a much-needed
program that reminds people living with CRC that they do not have to face this
disease alone. It also encourages others, whether they are a family member,
friend, co-worker or neighbor, to recognize the importance of the unique
support they can offer, however big or small."
Roots of Support in CRC
The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) developed the Roots of Support in CRC
program to help people living with CRC and their loved ones fight the disease
together, through outreach, communication and education. Components of the
program include a patient guide titled "Cultivating a Network of Support" and
a guide for loved ones titled "Offering Hope and Support." Brochures can be
ordered and/or downloaded free of charge by visiting http://www.ccalliance.org/roots.
Roots of Support in CRC is made possible through the generosity of
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and ImClone Systems Incorporated.
About Colorectal Cancer
According to the Colon Cancer Alliance, colorectal cancer includes cancers
of the colon, rectum, appendix and anus. When abnormal cell growth occurs, a
tumor develops. If the cells of a tumor acquire the ability to invade and thus
spread into the intestinal wall and to other sites, a malignant or cancerous
tumor develops. Most colorectal cancers develop first as colorectal polyps,
which are growths inside the colon or rectum that may later become cancerous.
In 2004, an estimated 146,940 new cases of colorectal cancer will be
diagnosed and 56,730 Americans will die from the disease. Colorectal cancer is
the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women combined, second
only to lung cancer.
About Dara Torres
Dara Torres is the first American to swim in four Olympics (1984, 1988,
1992 and 2000) and the second-most decorated U.S. female Olympian, with nine
Olympic medals. Dara will serve as an NBC correspondent for the 2004 Summer
Olympics in Athens, Greece. After her father was diagnosed with colorectal
cancer in 2001, she became actively involved in his treatment and education.
She is committed to raising awareness about CRC and the critical role of
family and friends in confronting the disease.
About the Colon Cancer Alliance
The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is a national patient advocacy
organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer.
The CCA brings the voice of survivors to battle colorectal cancer through
patient support, education, research and advocacy. In order to achieve these
goals, the CCA hereby declares war on colorectal cancer. Today, CCA has over
9,000 members, including colon and rectal cancer survivors, their families,
caregivers, people genetically predisposed to the disease and the medical
community.
For more information about the Roots of Support in CRC program, visit
http://www.ccalliance.org/roots or call 1-877-422-2030.
Contact: Amy Kelly
Colon Cancer Alliance
954-341-0212
SOURCE Colon Cancer Alliance
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Related links:
http://www.ccalliance.org
CONTACT:
Amy Kelly of Colon Cancer Alliance,
+1-954-341-0212
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