When finding out about an oncologic disease, one is taken over by fear, uncertainty and despair. First the diagnosis, then the treatment. And then the person is left alone with that uncertainty and thoughts of how to live on. Very often people need to learn how to get on with their bodies (after breast mastectomy etc.), wounds, pain and they have to learn a whole new nutrition, they must understand the disease, as well as they have to return to their families and work. Rehabilitation should work with these processes, but until now, rehabilitation services for oncology patients are not provided in Latvia.
Every year in Latvia, about 10 000 people are diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Regardless of the type of the cancer and its stage, it is a shock for the person and a co-emotional experience for friends and family. After the diagnosis, the road of treatment begins. Surgery, chemotherapy or beam radiotherapy. Afterward, the person is left alone with his problems. Alone and learning to live with the knowledge “I had cancer”. Alone, when trying to return to his family, friends or work.
Currently, a psychological support call service is in operation, to which more than 20 people call per day. The next necessary step, is the rehabilitation programme and entering it. To establish and launch the first rehabilitation programme in Latvia, at least LVL 10 000 are needed. By gathering this money, those people willing to return to their lives, but who currently have no opportunity to do so, could receive support.
It is common practice in the world for a person to participate in a rehabilitation programme after the treatment of cancer , where he meets and consults the specialist (what does my disease mean), meets and consults other patients (I am not alone), learns to live with the thought of the disease and rediscovers the joy of life. Quite often family members take part in these rehabilitation programmes as well, because the family has to learn to live together again after the cancer.
What will be achieved by this project? In cooperation with specialists, the support association for oncology patients Dzīvības koks is ready to create the first psychosocial rehabilitation programme in Latvia for oncology patients and to provide support to the first patients. The programme will provide hope, the strength to go on, and will prepare patients for further work with themselves, will help them understand the disease, to acquire a positive experience and to adapt to the social environment.
To create such a programme and to provide support to the first 40 patients, LVL 9 986 are needed.
Project implementer: The support association for oncology patients Dzīvības koks; more information is available at www.dzivibaskoks.lv.
Project published in the portal: 26 May 2008
The Project is placed online on: 26.05.2008
Project completed 01.05.2009
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