Cancer Care

Introduction

We understand that the prospect of cancer can be extremely daunting.

Our experienced, specialist team of carers are trained specifically to every individual’s complex package of care, learning about your likes, dislikes, hobbies, passions, and views.

Cancer Care

Whilst providing dignified, outstanding care at home, we also help reduce stress with day-to-day activities that may become strenuous, allowing you, or your loved one, a stress-free environment to live comfortably.

Our support ranges from simple household activities through to complex care. With outstanding quality care, our clients have been able to live a peaceful, fulfilled, and meaningful life, all within the comfort of their own home.

What is Cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, a condition where cells in a specific part reproduce uncontrollably. Cancer starts when certain changes within the genes of a cell, or a group of cells, occurs. Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, forming new abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass tissue, otherwise known as a tumour, whereas other cancers, such as Leukaemia, do not.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of cancer will vary depending on what part of the body is affected. Some general signs and symptoms associated with, but not specific to, cancer include:

• Unexplained bleeding or bruising.
• Unexplained fevers or night sweats.
• Hoarseness.
• Lumps that can be felt beneath the skin.
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Fatigue.
• Weight changed, including unintended loss or gain in weight.
• Noticeable skin changes, such as changes in moles.
• Persistent indigestion and discomfort after eating.
• Unexplained muscle or joint pain.
• Persistent coughing.
• Difficulty in breathing.

Facts & Statistics

• There are around 367,171 new cases of cancer every year. Shockingly, that’s over 1000 cases every day.
• 50% of cancer patients survive cancer for 10 or more years in England and Wales.
• Cancer survival is improving (and has doubled!) in the last 40 years in the UK.
• 38% of cancer cases are preventable within the UK.
• Each year, 36% of all diagnosed cancer cases in the UK are in people aged 75 and over.
• Incidence rates for all cancers combined, in the UK, are highest in people aged 85 to 89.
• In females, there were more than 179,000 cancer cases in 2017. Males accounted for 187,000 cases in the same year.

There are five main types of cancer

Carcinoma – this form of cancer begins in the skin that line or cover internal organs. There are many subtypes of this cancer, including adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Sarcoma – this form of cancer begins in the connective or supportive tissues, such as bone, fat, muscle or cartilage.

Leukaemia – this is a cancer of the white blood cells. It starts in the tissues that make blood cells, such as the bone marrow.

Lymphoma and Myeloma – these cancers begin in the cells of the immune system.

Brain and spinal cord cancers – these are known as central nervous system cancers.

What does our cancer care include?

Specialist-led care:

Critically for those recovering from, or living with cancer, we provide specialist-led care, which means our professional carers are trained to monitor and identify any changes within your health, specific to your care plan, responding appropriately as and when required, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions. As a part of our dedication to providing outstanding care at home, we continually measure the outcomes of the cancer care we provide. Rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, our care services mean you can remain at home with confidence and peace of mind. When needed, we work with multi-disciplinary teams and other healthcare professionals, such as district nurses, social workers and case managers, to ensure that all medical equipment, procedures and requirements can be delivered at home.

Outstanding palliative care at home:

Our professional carers receive specialist training in how to care and support a person approaching the end of their life, supporting them to remain comfortable at home. Working with a local, award-winning hospice, we employ a dedicated end-of-life link worker, providing a holistic, tailored, and personalised approach to managing symptoms, supporting any complex medical procedures that may need to occur. Our flexible and dedicated approach to planning care at this stage in someone’s journey is committed to providing comfort and dignity at home, ensuring a person’s needs, wishes and choices are carried out right to the very end of their life. To ensure wellbeing of loved ones, our end-of-life link worker provides welfare calls and checks, offering support through the grieving process.

Dignified and sensitive personal care:

We provide expert, discreet and person-centred personal care, supporting task-orientated aspects of caring for someone, like bathing and getting dressed. We also support activities that may promote someone’s self-esteem and confidence, like having your nails maintained, hair cleaned or even styled.

Managing and administering medications:

We understand the critical importance of managing medication for those living with cancer. Our compassionate carers are expertly trained in medication administration, using an innovative electronic, recognised care system to ensure that all medication is managed continuously. Our carers are also able to collect prescriptions from the pharmacy.

Domestic Duties:

Our carers will support you to create a clean and clutter-free environment at home, allowing you to spend your time doing the more important things, like spending time with loved ones. Our carers will clean all rooms and vacuum the house, learning how you like to keep your home, reducing the stress of daily household tasks.

Ensuring Safe mobility in your home:

We work very closely with occupational therapists who will provide expert guidance and advice to the latest equipment available, which can help improve safe movement and mobility around your home for you and your loved ones. The occupational therapists we work closely with also provide expert recommendations with regards home adaptations, making your home life as easy as it can be.

Planning and Cooking Meals:

We are great believers in the values of nutrition and hydration, and we understand the importance of how appetite can change when you live, or recover, from cancer. We work closely with our clients to create a specialist menu that meets their likes and dislikes. In case that a client requires assistance eating, our carers are also trained in this aspect.

Social visits & trips:

Our carers understand the importance of socialising with friends and loved ones, helping you stay connected in your local community. Whether it’s a stroll down to the park, attending a group that you remain loyal to, visiting the shops or another activity you love to do, we’ll support you in all aspects of your life.

Companion care:

As a part of our care service, we help you look after your much-loved pets, including feeding, walking, and taking general care. We work with you to understand how you want your pet to be cared for.

What’s included in our service?

Our personalised, tailored and flexible cancer care service includes:

• A free, full home care assessment and consultation before care begins.
• Access to outstanding and expert support 24/7.
• An award-winning, dedicated care team.
• Continuity of care with friendly faces.
• Social activities and lifestyle enhancement.
• Bespoke and tailored care plans developed with input from your loved ones.
• Social activity support and lifestyle enhancement.
• A full spectrum of care, from companionship to complex, end-of-life support.

Useful Resources

We are dedicated to supporting families and their loved ones through their cancer journey, assisting them whenever they may require extra support at home. There are several leading cancer charities and foundations in the UK who support families in facing cancer. You aren’t doing this alone!

Marie Curie is a fantastic charity that we have worked with before, who provides care and support for those living with terminal illness Marie Curie nurses are available to those affected by cancer, to provide medical care, as well as emotional support to you and your loved ones when you need it most, all where you are most comfortable, your home.

Cancer Support UK provides both practical and emotional support to people living with cancer, focused on helping them through their treatment period. Their Cancer Coach programme is structured to deliver support and resilience, helping individual’s whilst receiving care and after.

The UK’s leading cancer charity, Cancer Research, provides information, support and advice to those facing cancer. They have a wealth of knowledge that they share, providing information about prevention, treatment and a range of support services available all across the country.