“More than 60 of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home Why No Comprehensive Support ”

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Support?” (Katie Quintas) [#115] Brad Power and Robert Burleson October 9, 2024 “Here's the reality that families face once they're outside the doors of the hospital – cancer patients and families are on their own. Less than .

001% of all funds raised for cancer actually go to families navigating cancer, which is a scary number. 60% of the cancer journey happens in the home where there's no support for all the things that need to be done. Grant organizations do not provide financial help after the journey ends or the patient passes, and bankruptcy then becomes the only choice.

75% of all bankruptcies are the result of medical bills. Today, regrettably, cancer research and treatment have overtaken the care journey in funding those battling cancer.” – Katie Quintas “It became very clear to me what cancer families need, which is why I started Here to Serve. They needed a one-stop organization that meets all their needs in the home.

They need financial help and practical help in the home so they can focus on their sick family member.” – Katie Quintas Meeting Summary Caregivers of patients with children in the home battling cancer are on a journey they never thought possible. They are not trained to navigate cancer, nor know where to go to get help or resources as they try to manage their family’s needs in the home.

Most are overwhelmed by treatment and, therefore, unable to seek practical support in the home and financial resources. Many spend their time researching the disease to make sure they are getting the proper medical treatment. They throw caution to the wind when it comes to getting physical, emotional, and financial help in the home.

The result can be loss of job, income, home, and emotional stability. Only .001% of all funds raised for cancer go to families who are actually navigating cancer treatments.

However, these same families’ stories are leveraged to fund cancer research and hospitals that treat cancer while leaving cancer patients and their families struggling physically, emotionally, and financially to survive this grueling journey. It is important to note that more than 60% of the cancer journey happens in the home, where there is zero support.

Katie Quintas is uniquely qualified to discuss the comprehensive needs of pediatric cancer families.

She is Founder and CEO of Here to Serve, a 501(c)(3) charity that collaborates and cooperates with the community, including individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, to reduce the physical, financial, and emotional stress of individuals, families, and caregivers during a family member's cancer journey.

Here to Serve combines the services of other nonprofit organizations, corporations, and professional services and mobilizes a network of volunteers to provide targeted non-medical care to families battling a child's cancer or a parent of young children battling cancer.

ly member's cancer journey. Here to Serve combines the services of other nonprofit organizations, corporations, and professional services and mobilizes a network of volunteers to provide targeted non-medical care to families battling a child's cancer or a parent of young children battling cancer.

In addition, Here to Serve helps with logistics by identifying resources and provides targeted assistance with child care, finances, meals, household chores, transportation, pet care, and living and home needs. Here to Serve is the only national nonprofit to provide one-stop wraparound support in the home.

This gives caregivers more time with their child and family not having to worry about the logistics of home life and financial concerns.

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Support?” (Katie Quintas) [#115] Katie launched Here to Serve in 2011 after her husband, son, and mother were diagnosed with cancer during a 30-month period; her son and husband within six months of each other. Unfortunately, her mother and husband passed away while her son is in remission today.

Her experience gave her the impetus to fulfill an unmet need to coordinate service organizations as well as volunteers to help individuals and families navigate the cancer journey. In doing this, parents and young spouses could avoid losing their jobs, earning ability, homes, as well as sanity and hope. Cancer is a three-legged stool: research, treatment, and journey.

Regrettably, cancer research and treatment have overtaken the care journey in the conversation and funding of those battling cancer. Katie is seeking to change that. What are the comprehensive needs of families of cancer patients?

Once past the shock of diagnosis, finding a cancer doctor and starting a treatment, families with children with cancer need support on many additional fronts: ●Everyday household tasks (meals, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, caring for pets) ●Emotional support, mental health (stress, exhaustion) ●Financial support ●Work issues (quit, go on leave, adjust schedule) ●Family dynamics (social plans, holidays, birthdays and vacations) ●Managing helpers ●Managing the child’s education (tutors?

, stop school?) ●Respite for caregivers What are the services that are available to address these needs?

●Financial aid (requires research and much paperwork to successfully apply for limited amounts of assistance) ●Pro bono tax accountant ●Handymen, plumbers, electricians, carpenters ●Transportation ●Holiday decorations ●Air purifiers ●Adaptive equipment ●Help with packing up, moving, and unpacking a home during relocation ●Accommodations ●Clinical trial transportation and housing ●Family trips ●Help with holidays, birthdays, and memorial services How can caregivers access needed services, both for the patient and themselves?

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No

mber's cancer journey. Here to Serve combines the services of other nonprofit organizations, corporations, and professional services and mobilizes a network of volunteers to provide targeted non-medical care to families battling a child's cancer or a parent of young children battling cancer.

In addition, Here to Serve helps with logistics by identifying resources and provides targeted assistance with child care, finances, meals, household chores, transportation, pet care, and living and home needs. Here to Serve is the only national nonprofit to provide one-stop wraparound support in the home.

This gives caregivers more time with their child and family not having to worry about the logistics of home life and financial concerns.

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Support?” (Katie Quintas) [#115] Katie launched Here to Serve in 2011 after her husband, son, and mother were diagnosed with cancer during a 30-month period; her son and husband within six months of each other. Unfortunately, her mother and husband passed away while her son is in remission today.

Her experience gave her the impetus to fulfill an unmet need to coordinate service organizations as well as volunteers to help individuals and families navigate the cancer journey. In doing this, parents and young spouses could avoid losing their jobs, earning ability, homes, as well as sanity and hope. Cancer is a three-legged stool: research, treatment, and journey.

Regrettably, cancer research and treatment have overtaken the care journey in the conversation and funding of those battling cancer. Katie is seeking to change that. What are the comprehensive needs of families of cancer patients?

Once past the shock of diagnosis, finding a cancer doctor and starting a treatment, families with children with cancer need support on many additional fronts: ●Everyday household tasks (meals, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, caring for pets) ●Emotional support, mental health (stress, exhaustion) ●Financial support ●Work issues (quit, go on leave, adjust schedule) ●Family dynamics (social plans, holidays, birthdays and vacations) ●Managing helpers ●Managing the child’s education (tutors?

, stop school?) ●Respite for caregivers What are the services that are available to address these needs?

●Financial aid (requires research and much paperwork to successfully apply for limited amounts of assistance) ●Pro bono tax accountant ●Handymen, plumbers, electricians, carpenters ●Transportation ●Holiday decorations ●Air purifiers ●Adaptive equipment ●Help with packing up, moving, and unpacking a home during relocation ●Accommodations ●Clinical trial transportation and housing ●Family trips ●Help with holidays, birthdays, and memorial services How can caregivers access needed services, both for the patient and themselves?

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Suppo

ation and housing ●Family trips ●Help with holidays, birthdays, and memorial services How can caregivers access needed services, both for the patient and themselves? ●Conduct online research to find available services

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Support?

” (Katie Quintas) [#115] ●Same ask friends to help, set up “meal train” ●Some ask friends or family to start a GoFundMe account ●Some join a cancer support group online ●These efforts and others can be splintered and cause more stress on the caregiver as she/he tries to manage not only the cancer patient’s treatment but also the people trying to help.

The need for a one-stop solution is clearly evidenced by these splintered resources, but trying to manager the volunteers who wish to help. How can you learn more? ●Check out the Here to Serve website and contact Katie Quintas at katie@heretoserve.

org ●Check out Nancy’s List for a list of support services ●Review the notes from our discussion with Nancy Novack and others on financial support advice for those going through cancer here ●Check out We Are Here, which offers services surrounding cancer The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action.

You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health.

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Support?

” (Katie Quintas) [#115] Meeting Notes KEYWORDS prostate cancer, cancer patient lab, nonprofit organization, cancer journey, caregiver challenges, financial distress, emotional support, respite care, insurance issues, patient advocacy, wraparound support, fundraising challenges, community support, cancer research, family needs SPEAKERS Katie Quintas (89%), Brad Power (9%), Roger Royse (1%), David Plunkett (0%) SUMMARY Katie Quintas shared her journey of founding "Here to Serve" after her husband and son's cancer diagnoses, highlighting the lack of support for cancer patients at home.

She detailed the extensive services provided by "Here to Serve," including financial aid, meals, transportation, and emotional support, noting that only 0.001% of cancer funds go to families. Despite their success, funding challenges persist, with 85% of their support going to children and 15% to adults.

OUTLINE Katie Quintas' Personal Story and Founding of Here to Serve ●Katie Quintas describes the difficulties she faced as a caregiver, including balancing work and caregiving while her husband and son were undergoing cancer treatment.

Quintas' Personal Story and Founding of Here to Serve ●Katie Quintas describes the difficulties she faced as a caregiver, including balancing work and caregiving while her husband and son were undergoing cancer treatment. ●She explains her search for a nonprofit to help cancer patients at home and her decision to create Here to Serve when she couldn't find one.

●She outlines the universal experiences of receiving a cancer diagnosis, including panic, searching for information, and finding the right doctor and treatment plan. Impact of Cancer on Daily Life and Caregivers ●Katie discusses the various challenges cancer patients and their families face, such as work issues, financial impact, and family dynamics.

●She highlights the importance of making choices, including getting second opinions and adjusting to the physical, emotional, and logistical impacts of treatment. ●Katie emphasizes the significant impact on children, including school, social plans, and vacations, using her own family's experiences as examples.

●She describes the emotional and mental toll on caregivers, including stress, exhaustion, and the decision to seek antidepressants. Long-Term Impact on Caregivers and Families ●Katie explains the long-term impact on caregivers, including the overwhelming nature of offers for help and the eventual feeling of being a burden to those who are helping.

“More than 60% of the Cancer Journey Happens at Home; Why No Comprehensive Support?” (Katie Quintas) [#115] ●She discusses the financial distress and feelings of abandonment that caregivers experience as friends and family move on with their lives. ●Katie highlights the challenges of obtaining resources, including the paperwork required for grants and the frustration of small amounts of funding.

●She emphasizes the importance of wraparound support for cancer families, including meals, childcare, transportation, and emotional support. Here to Serve's Services and Support ●Katie outlines the services provided by Here to Serve, including updates on CaringBridge, meal calendars, housekeeping, and gift cards.

●She describes the organization's efforts to manage GoFundMe pages and provide respite care, including trips and holiday celebrations. ●Katie shares examples of the support provided, such as tax accountants, handymen, and cars for families traveling to hospitals.

●She emphasizes the importance of a community of support and the need for financial help to focus on the family's needs during the cancer journey. Challenges and Future Plans for Here to Serve ●Katie discusses the challenges of fundraising and the need for more funding to help more families.

●She explains the decision to focus on children due to the greater appeal and the difficulty of fundraising for adults. ●Katie shares the organization's annual event and the impact of the economy and the election on fundraising efforts.