But what do you do when a coworker or employee is fighting a battle against cancer? Oftentimes we spend more than 40 hours each week with our coworkers. Even at the closest-knit offices, there is often a professional wall that doesn’t allow for the same kind of personal relationship we have with our loved ones.

If you’ve found out that a coworker or employee has cancer and you want to be a good member of their support team, here are a few ways to offer assistance and encouragement.

• Don’t force anything. Everyone is on their own journey and will have their own preferences. Just because your friend with cancer wanted to talk about every step of their treatment doesn’t mean your office mate will. Be respectful and communicate about their needs and wants before jumping into any unwanted conversation or attention.
• Be flexible. We fall into routines with our coworkers. That routine is likely going to change as your coworker goes through treatment. Be flexible and provide creative solutions like offering longer lead time on deadlines and scheduling meetings that fit their new schedule.
• Offer to rearrange responsibilities. Check in to see how your coworker is feeling about their normal workload. You may decide to talk to your manager about rearranging the team’s responsibilities so everyone can complete their work with less stress.
• Listen. One of the best things to do for a person is to simply be there and listen. Most people going through treatment have a whole support team of doctors, family members, and loved ones telling them what they should and shouldn’t do, reading about the latest studies and suggesting new options. Be a sounding board and only give opinions and suggestions if asked.
• Be normal. Someone in treatment has had their whole world flipped upside down. Their friends and family are likely very concerned and their life outside of work has changed dramatically. Provide a place where the person can feel like at least one part of their routine is somewhat normal.
• Pay attention to the rest of the team. This is especially important if you are the boss or supervisor. A cancer diagnosis can affect everyone in a patient’s circle and that includes their team members. Check-in often to make sure everyone is feeling comfortable with their workloads and any other changes.

The post When a Coworker or Employee has Cancer first appeared on Anchorage & Valley Radiation Therapy Centers.

The health and safety of our patients is our top priority at Anchorage and Valley Radiation Therapy Centers. In an effort to reduce the number of people coming in and out of the clinic, we are taking new precautions to ensure ongoing protection for all who come through our doors and particularly for our most vulnerable patients who may have compromised immune systems.

Precautions include:

• We are actively screening staff, patients and approved escorts upon arrival. This includes obtaining temperatures and asking a series of questions.
• The front entrance will remain open; however, access will be limited.
• Patients may receive phone calls from our staff who are working from home. These calls may come through on private or unknown phone numbers.
• To reduce potential exposure, we are no longer permitting patients to bring an escort to their appointment unless they’re a new patient or they have a mobility issue that requires assistance.
• We ask patients to arrive five minutes early to their appointments, call when they arrive and remain in their vehicle until they’re given further instructions.
• We ask escorts to remain in the vehicle until the end of the appointment.

Please consider reading the full list of precautions here.

We continue to closely follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 evolve. We are committed to providing the safest environment possible for our patients and employees. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this challenging time.

The post AVRTC’s COVID-19 precautions for staff and patients first appeared on Anchorage & Valley Radiation Therapy Centers.

We encourage everyone who comes into our office to bring their questions with them. Please don’t be afraid to ask us anything, we are here to make this experience as comfortable as possible.

You’re always free to call us, but we understand the urgent need to find answers to a foreign diagnosis. As we live in the age of the internet and it’s tempting to hop on Google and search for answers, make sure you are using trusted websites.

Here are a few places to start:

RT Answers
This website was created by members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) to help people understand how radiation oncologists use radiation therapy to safely and effectively treat cancer.

The information on the site is created by physicians and members of the radiation oncology team who are experts in radiation therapy.

Visit RT Answers and search for answers to all your radiation oncology questions.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network
NCNN is an alliance of 28 cancer centers that are committed to providing patient care, research and education. They put together the NCCN Guidelines for Patients and the NCCN Quick Guide to empower people to make informed decisions about their care. They also have created a number of cancer-specific guides.

Check out all of NCCN’s resources.

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a familiar name but do you know about all the resources they offer? They fund and conduct research so they can share expert information to support patients. They have a great section on their website about radiation therapy. From the basics to specific cancer treatments, the information on their website can be very valuable.

Find it all on the American Cancer Society website.

The post Where to Turn for Answers About a Cancer Diagnosis first appeared on Anchorage & Valley Radiation Therapy Centers.