Breast Cancer Treatment Support Program Established
VNA Care Network recently established a Breast Cancer Treatment Support Program for income eligible women in more than 200 eastern and central Massachusetts communities. The program was made possible, in part, by a $10,000 grant from the Boston affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The new program will provide supportive services not covered by other programs for income-eligible women with the goals of increasing access to care and helping women complete breast cancer treatment. Services will include medical social worker home visits to assess patients' needs and link them to community services, as well as supportive measures such as:
- nontraditional therapies like acupuncture and Reiki to reduce stress and side effects of treatment
- transportation to medical appointments and language translation services
- medications, nutrition counseling, and nutritional supplements
- home care aide and homemaking services, and respite care for dependents
"Dealing with breast cancer is stressful enough without financial barriers keeping you from getting the most out of treatment," said Margaret Johnson, RN, women's health coordinator for VNA Care Network. "We cared for hundreds of women with breast cancer last year and saw the challenges faced by women with fewer resources. One patient returned home from chemotherapy and cared for her five children without any outside help, leaving her with little time to rest and heal. Supportive services, like respite child care, can help women stay in treatment and, in turn, improve their chances of beating the disease."
Supportive services for breast cancer patients are rarely covered by insurance plans. The $10,000 Komen Breast Cancer Foundation grant will help VNA Care Network begin to meet this need.
The Breast Cancer Treatment Support Program augments VNA Care Network's existing breast cancer services. Through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Women's Health Network, VNA Care Network helps income-eligible women with limited or no insurance coverage receive free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. VNA Care Network also provides health care services, such as nursing, home care aide support and rehabilitation therapy, in the homes of breast cancer patients.
For more information, call VNA Care Network at 800-728-1862.
Posted: Feb. 14, 2001