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survivorship and patient services ACS offers free Personal Health Manager kit to help newly diagnosed patients Being diagnosed with cancer can be stressful and confusing. The American Cancer Society wants to help newly diagnosed patients understand their cancer and prepare them for their cancer experience. The Personal Health Manager is a free care management tool that helps patientsorganize and manage the information that they receive from their health care provider, treatment facility, ACS, and other sources.
The Personal Health Manager is currently offered in English and Spanish. In 2008, the American Cancer Society will reach more patients by offering the kit in nine additional languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, and Vietnamese. The Great Lakes Division has bilingual volunteers who are currently reviewing content that has been translated into Arabic, French, and Polish. The Great Lakes Division’s Patient Resource Center recently received a call from a woman diagnosed with breast cancer. After explaining the Personal Health Manager kit, the woman said, "Really? You give out such a thing? For free! I was just telling my husband the other day that I’m going to need something to keep all my information in." As someone who is facing cancer for a second time, the woman said that her experience with cancer this time around has been much more supportive and encouraging. "There is so much more information out there now! Fifteen years ago, no one offered to send me information or offered programs like Look Good…Feel Better!" The Patient Resource Center also recently offered a Personal Health Manager kit to a patient receiving treatment for lung cancer. His kit included information on lung cancer, a booklet about treatment, a booklet on nutrition, and brochures on other ACS programs and services discussed with him during the call. The man, an ACS volunteer, was very grateful for the information. "Now I know why I’ve been donating to the American Cancer Society all these years," he said. "This information is great and I never knew it was available." The American Cancer Society is here to help and can do so by:
If you or someone you know needs assistance, support, or resources, please call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. | |
The Personal Health Manager comes in a sturdy plastic case that is filled with information specific to each patient’s cancer, as well as the Society’s programs and services. The Personal Health Manager also allows patients to organize their information and materials, insurance information, test results, and medical bills as well as write notes about their appointments, treatments, and questions for their healthcare provider. |
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