Become an advocate
By GWEN FARISS NEWMAN for Smart
When Barbara Titanish’s best friend, Jeanette Cartwright of Stewartstown, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Titanish became her advocate, helping her through two years of treatment.
In 1994, Titanish and Cartwright created H.O.P.E., a cancer patient support group based in New Freedom.
Cartwright passed away six months after the group was founded. The group now has about 40 volunteers who help more than 400 families.
So, if a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, how can you help?
• Deliver meals, either hot and ready to eat, or frozen and dropped off in a cooler.
• Car pool children. This helps family life continue on as normally as possible and brings enormous peace of mind.
• Drive to appointments. Patients often are too weak to drive back home.
• Make goody bags. Include snacks, reading materials, music and other relaxing activities. “Anything that can occupy them while they’re at chemo.”
• Give a notebook so the patient can take notes at doctor’s appointments, jot down questions, or journal their feelings.
• Accompany them to appointments. “Two sets of ears are better than one.”
• Locate a support group. (A list of local cancer and other support groups is available at www.smartmagpa.com.)
• Listen. “What one patient might need varies from person to person. It can be as simple as someone to talk to,” Titanish said.
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