Health Education for Cancer Patients and Their Families

The educational needs of cancer patients and their families must be addressed, including prevention, risks, treatment, survival, and end-of-life care, as health education represents the link between research and efforts in patient care. Nursing staff play a guiding role, assisting both patients and their families. Their role includes assessing needs and fulfilling them, taking into account future or ongoing support. There is a short-term plan for future communication with patients in a way that suits them, whether in person, by phone, or via email.

Cancer patients, whether newly diagnosed or living with a chronic illness, often have many questions such as:

• What is cancer?
• What specific type of cancer have they been diagnosed with?
• What are its causes?
• What are the possible treatments?
• How to cope with cancer?
• How to survive the illness?