A Paper Presented in Partial Fulfillment

This paper will explores different ways which people can be helped and encouraged when coping with the necessary changes they must make after receiving a cancer diagnosis. It will explore what constitutes a caring, therapeutic environment; it will examine the resources available to the patient; and it will consider effective ways to assist the patient cope with the drastic changes and adjustments that they must make to accommodate their disease.

Recently, I have been appointed as the lead facilitator of Houston’s ThyCa, a thyroid

cancer support group where I will develop and execute my action plan. It will be my role as a proactive change agent to educate patients on how they can cope both with their disease and with the radical changes ravishing their body. People are terribly frighten by the unknown,

but even more frightening is when people are coping with foreign cells or cancerous growth. If

they are able to understand their illness through education, then they are less anxious or stressed.

Emotional adjustments with denial, anger, fear or anxiety, guilt, grief or sadness, and depression are typically needed in various degrees and orders when coping with thyroid cancer in particular or chronic illness in general. The feeling of denial results in the patient or the patient’s family and friends refusing to accept the diagnosis, belittling the seriousness of the illness, or avoiding the consequences. Denial can be considered positively, for it allows for a gradually process in coping with the devastating information and life changes that must be made. (Cox, 1994)

Anger is the initial defense; it is a primal reaction, and it is appropriate. Anger can be misdirected, and it can be destructive. It is misdirected when it directed to people and not the circumstance. It is destructive when it is excessive, for it will destroy glycemic control, mental health, and personal relationships. (Rubin et al. 1986)

The focus of this committee will be to examine all of the instructional, technological, and social needs of ThyCa membership committee after using the proper research method.

cancer disease and diet books available today; http://www.thyroid-info.com/ will provide lists

Some topics in this essay:
Voluntary ThyCa, McDaniel Hepworth, Implementation Applying, Free Country, Objectives/Strategies Knowing, E-mail E-mail, Dan Baker, Wood Wood, Medicine California, La RA, thyroid cancer, et al, patient family, local support, chronic illness, change agent, bridges 1997, family friends, emotional intelligence, cancer patient, illness thyroid cancer, chronic illness thyroid, et al 1996, committee focus committee, caring supportive environment,