Dealing With Anxiety July 8, 2015 Chat

One of the questions on our October of 2014 survey asked about chat topic ideas for the coming year. Over 90% of the survey takers rated "Dealing With Anxiety" as important or moderately important topic. Tonight's chat proved the importance of the topic among the members of our community. We had 53 participants, 536 tweets in the hour and over 1.2 million impressions. We were happy the Association of Oncology Social Workers (@oncosocialwork) was able to join us.

The questions that guided our discussion and a few of the responses:
T1: What instances seem to cause the greatest anxiety among cancer patients and survivors? What are your triggers?

@gyncsm T1 Whenever I have to take a blood test or ultrasound or other test. Waiting for the results is hard.

— Lisa Gonzales (@runlikeacoyote) July 9, 2015

T1 My greatest anxiety is the annual scans & tests I need to make sure cancer aint back. Triggers is when I see the hospital #gyncsm

— Dr. Gia Sison (@giasison) July 9, 2015

T1: anxiety regarding the cost of cancer care is huge - not just monetary - also time away from work/family/friends #gyncsm

— Shannon Westin (@ShannonWestin) July 9, 2015

T2: Have you spoken to your healthcare provider about what causes your anxiety? Did it help? Do providers bring up and provide info?

T2: AS a provider, I find a calm demeanor combined with a detailed plan seems to reduce my patients anxiety. #gyncsm

— Rick Boulay,MD (@journeycancer) July 9, 2015

T2 Patients want to be "good patients" for their doctor - don't want to admit they need help at times #gyncsm

— AOSW (@oncosocialwork) July 9, 2015

@MDAndersonNews uses a distress thermometer to help determine which patients need a referral for support #gyncsm

— Shannon Westin (@ShannonWestin) July 9, 2015

T3: What are tips and resources to relieve anxiety? What have you found to be helpful in dealing with anxious feelings?

@gyncsm T3 Running helps me deal with anxiety. It reminds me I AM healthy again. Also, sharing my feelings w/ friends & asking for prayers.

— Lisa Gonzales (@runlikeacoyote) July 9, 2015

@gyncsm Yoga has changed my life, and not hiding any struggles, it's really helped. #gyncsm

— Kristal Turner (@KristalTurner) July 9, 2015

T3 diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation skills, exercises, journaling, lists of "projects", many other skills #gyncsm

— Alene Nitzky Ph.D RN (@AleneGoneBad) July 9, 2015

T4: In the bigger picture, what are ways that we can change the healthcare system itself so that patients experience less anxiety?

Need to use allied health professional (social work, nurse navigators, etc) more to provide resources to patients and caregivers #gyncsm

— Jen Burzawa (@jburzawa) July 9, 2015

T4 maybe some structured check-ins - telemed/other during that wait post visit for first check up; referrals ahead of time #gyncsm

— Christina Lizaso (@btrfly12) July 9, 2015

T4 Make navigating insurance processes easier - just making the appointment shouldn't cause anxiety! #gyncsm

— AOSW (@oncosocialwork) July 9, 2015

If you missed the chat you may read the transcript here and the analytics here. Please scroll down for list of resources mentioned during the chat. And you may continue the conversation on the Smart Patients platform at https://www.smartpatients.com/gyncsm

We hope you will join us next month on August 12, 2015 to discuss Dealing with Short and Long Term Side Effects. Please remember to tweet using the #gyncsm hashtag to share information with our community.


Dee
#gyncsm co-moderator and co-founder

RESOURCES

Definitions of Anxiety and Depression
http://www.anxietycoach.com/anxiety-and-depression.html

NCI  @theNCI - Adjustment to Cancer:Anxiety and Depression
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/anxiety-distress-pdq

Cancer.Net @cancerdotnet
http://www.cancer.net/coping-and-emotions/managing-emotions/anxiety

Cancer Care
http://www.cancercare.org/tagged/anxiety?gclid=CJ3A86XkzMYCFQmKaQod4GUPuA

Cure Today: Scanxiety With Lynch Syndrome
http://www.curetoday.com/community/georgia-hurst/2015/04/scanxiety-with-lynch-syndrome

ASCO One in Three People with Cancer has Anxiety or other Mental Health Challenges
http://www.asco.org/press-center/one-three-people-cancer-has-anxiety-or-other-mental-health-challenges

JCO : Screening, Assessment and Care of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms...
http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/32/15/1605.full

Gyn Onc : Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer http://t.co/bdOGIIIcGU

British Journal of Health Psychology: Social support, anxiety and depression after chemo for ovarian cancer: A prospective study http://t.co/YmGwnUKQLx

JCO : Evidence-Based Treatment of Anxiety in Patients With Cancer 
http://t.co/99PebxIS8v

CancerConnect.com   Psychosocial Needs of Survivors of Gynecologic Cancers Must Be Addressed http://t.co/4lMSF9w5AZ

Medivizor 15 tips for Coping with Scanxiety
http://medivizor.com/blog/2014/06/03/15-tips-cope-scanxiety/

13 Things People With Anxiety Are Tired of Hearing, And What You Can Say Instead
http://themighty.com/2015/07/13-things-people-with-anxiety-are-tired-of-hearing-and-what-you-can-say-instead/?utm_campaign=site_twit&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Health Journeys - Meditation resources
http://www.healthjourneys.com/Store/Anxiety-Relief/29

NOCC - Living with OC
http://www.ovarian.org/coping.php

Reiki: Helping to Relieve the Anxiety of Cancer Patients
http://t.co/o9wP7XvfPw

Society of Gynecologic Oncology @SGO_org
https://www.sgo.org/

NY Times:
Anxiety Lingers Long After Cancer
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/anxiety-lingers-long-after-cancer/?_r=1
Lost in Transition
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/16/lost-in-transition-after-cancer/

@nannyangel

Nanny Angel Network provides free, professional relief childcare to mothers with cancer & their families.

Zero Suicide Toolkit for Professionals

http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/toolkit

Recurrence - What Now? October 2014 Chat

Tonight our topic was "Recurrence- What Now". It was a lively discussion with health care providers and researchers  providing information and survivors sharing a variety of thoughts about having a recurrence from dealing with the fear of recurrence to how they chose their treatments after recurring.

We had thirty-seven participants and 435 tweets in the hour. You can find a copy of the transcript here and analytics here.

The topic questions we presented:

T1A: What are the signs of recurrence for the main GYN cancer types & how is recurrence confirmed? 

T1B: If you had a recurrence, what signs/ symptoms did you have? Please include in answer which gyn cancer you had.

T2A: How likely is a GYN cancer recurrence and where might the recurrence occur?

T2B: If you had a recurrence, where did your recurrence occur? Please share cancer type in your tweet.

T3A: What treatments might be offered for a recurrence? Different than first-line?

T3B: Survivors: What factors did U consider when choosing a treatment 4 recurrence? Did U consider #clinicaltrials? join trial?

T3C: From the provider perspective, what factors do you feel patients should consider? How do clinical trials fit in?

T4A: What tips & resources can help patients and families cope w/ the emotional impact of a recurrence? also the fear of recurrence?

T4B: If you had a recurrence, what did you find helpful? Survivors, what helps you cope with fear of recurrence?

Please scroll down for the Resources shared during the chat.

Remember that you can continue this conversation or ask questions about the topic on Smart Patients. Be sure to use our link  -  https://www.smartpatients.com/gyncsm
to be connected to our community and its discussions. This platform is open to those impacted by cancers and their caregivers and families only. Please read our post for more information.

Next month's tweet chat topic will be Alternative and Complimentary Therapies. Please join us on November 12, 2014 at 9pm EST.

See you in November,

Dee
Co-founder/Co-moderator #gyncsm Chat


Recurrence Resources


All Gyn Cancers: 
SGO article on Gyn Cancer Surveillance - http://t.co/jE1zHVNKNk

Addressing Fear of Cancer Recurrence -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24756313/i=8&from=ovarian%20cancer%20recurrence%20quality%20of%20life

Psychological responses to cancer recurrence @DrZVOhttp://t.co/zK74g3F9sC

Clinical trials - OCRF - http://www.ocrf.org/about-ovarian-cancer/clinical-trials
                      -NCI http://t.co/ta9WcYPvuc
                      - OCNA http://t.co/kvsH0Cbuf9
                      - EmergingMed http://t.co/ol70kBmFJw

"Autonomy" Dr Don Dizon  http://connection.asco.org/Commentary/Article/ID/3289/Autonomy.aspx

Online Support : http://www.inspire.com/

When Cancer Comes Back: Cancer Recurrence via @AmericanCancerhttp://t.co/8eAUbV2yUV

Tech Times  3 in 10 Cancer PatientsStruggling with Anxiety, Depression  http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17339/20141007/3-in-10-cancer-patients-struggle-with-anxiety-depression.htm#ixzz3FSxokl3l

Dealing with Cancer Recurrence Cancer.Net http://t.co/pRKzR5c2Z8

SURVIVORSHIP: Six Tips for Managing Fear of Cancer Recurrence. Via MSKCC http://t.co/hAxrQwtjUv

Ovarian Cancer Recurrence: 

Cancer.Net http://t.co/mXk8NcO1KQ

NCI http://t.co/I0iR9eDHPL

Risk of recurrence chart http://t.co/I0iR9eDHPL

Recurrence guide @NOCC_National http://t.co/szfq9NsnV3

Top 10 Warning Signs of Ovarian Cancer http://t.co/MmsrYaHQvi

Connect with Other Survivors OCNA http://t.co/5FbqHtzY0C

Hope Annie Ellis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAgccM84HXw

Drug Combo Shows Promise for Women with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer http://t.co/1pftFKizuO

Topic Questions for our Oct 8th Chat

Wednesday's ( October 8, 2014 at 9pm EST) #gyncsm chat topic will be "Recurrence- What Now?".

Here are the questions that we will be asking during the chat. You will see that some questions are addressed to health care providers and some are directed toward those dealing with a gyn cancer diagnosis and their caregivers. 

T1A: What are the signs of recurrence for the main GYN cancer types & how is recurrence confirmed? 

T1B: If you had a recurrence, what signs/ symptoms did you have? Please include in answer which gyn cancer you had.

T2A: How likely is a GYN cancer recurrence and where might the recurrence occur?

T2B: If you had a recurrence, where did your recurrence occur? Please share cancer type in your tweet.

T3A: What treatments might be offered for a recurrence? Different than first-line?

T3B: Survivors: What factors did U consider when choosing a treatment 4 recurrence? Did U consider #clinicaltrials? join trial?

T3C: From the provider perspective, what factors do you feel patients should consider? How do clinical trials fit in?

T4A: What tips & resources can help patients and families cope w/ the emotional impact of a recurrence? also the fear of recurrence?

T4B: If you had a recurrence, what did you find helpful? Survivors, what helps you cope with fear of recurrence?

We have some exciting news to share with all of you on Wednesday or check this blog on Monday for our announcement. 

See you Wednesday night!

Dee

Co-moderator