Cancer
Managing symptoms for breast and prostate cancer
Resources
Disease Profile:
Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women other than skin cancer. Although the disease occurs mostly in women, men can have breast cancer as well. About 212,920 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. Currently there are more than 2 million women in the U.S. who have been treated for breast cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 8.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 234,460 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed this year. The death rate for prostate cancer is decreasing, largely due to early detection and management.
Cancer treatment accounts for an estimated $74 billion during 2006, almost 5% of total U.S. spending for medical treatment. During the last decade, the costs of treating cancer increased by 75%. Breast and prostate cancer treatment is particularly costly to employers, with each disease representing approximately 11% of all cancer treatment expenditures.
High-touch intervention
Focused Health services are designed to help adults better manage their symptoms related to breast or prostate cancer. Enrollees work closely with their nurse manager (oncology specialists) to help identify and manage treatment-related symptoms, improve nutrition and prevent complications.
Our services are especially helpful to those individuals who are:
- Newly diagnosed or have been living with
breast or prostate cancer for some time - Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment
- Recently recovering from cancer-related surgery
- Experiencing disease, drug or therapy-related symptoms
- Being routinely monitored for a potential recurrence of breast or prostate cancer
Results
Through active participation, enrollees in the Focused Health Program report having:
- Greater control over symptoms and side effects from chemotherapy or radiation treatment
- More knowledge about disease type, stage
and treatment options - Improved personal, family, work and social life
- Reduced absences at work
- Less need for unnecessary ER visits or
hospital stays - Confidence about communicating with their oncology team
- Sensitive support when experiencing distress, anxiety or depression
Data excerpted from National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society.