New Online Toolkit Now Available to Help People Living with Lung Cancer

A lung cancer diagnosis may bring up a variety of difficult emotions, and navigating the next steps involved in daily life can be especially overwhelming for patients and their loved ones. Emotions may range from anger at the loss of control and uncertainty about medical decisions to fear about what happens next. And these feelings may be coupled with the fact that when patients and their families go online to learn more, they see discouraging statistics on incidence or complex medical information, when what they really need is help dealing with the impact of lung cancer on their lives and emotions. As hard as a lung cancer diagnosis can be, there is support and practical information available on NavigateLungCancer.org to help lung cancer patients and their loved ones during the days ahead. The website was designed to be a comprehensive, go-to resource supporting the lung cancer community holistically, providing practical, day-to-day information that goes beyond their diagnosis. In developing the site, Bristol-Myers Squibb partnered with seven leading patient advocacy organizations to ensure it would provide the type of logistical, financial and psychosocial resources that are needed and meaningful for the lung cancer community. "NavigateLungCancer.org will allow patients and caregivers to spend more time focused on the path forward and less time figuring out the next step," said Bonnie J. Addario, Founder and Chairman of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation. "A lung cancer diagnosis comes with a whole new set of day-to-day challenges and we've collaborated with other cancer organizations and stakeholders to collect nutritional, financial, organizational or even physical assistance services in one place and make it available for patients and their families." In addition, the site offers interactive resources that may help manage living with lung cancer and the impact on everyday activities, including the interactive "The Road Ahead" and "Personal Journal" tools. The Road Ahead Considered a simple guide for patients and their families to find the right resources at every juncture in their lung cancer journey, "The Road Ahead" includes an overview of organizations offering financial assistance for everyday activities, such as house cleaning, transportation services, fuel costs and meal delivery programs. Visitors can also find valuable information to address legal and financial concerns and community support groups. A Personal Journal Many faced with a lung cancer diagnosis need an outlet to articulate their emotions during a challenging and uncertain time. An online and downloadable "Personal Journal" tool allows patients and caregivers to record their hopes and fears via a series of questions developed by oncology social workers. Visitors who sign up to receive email updates from the website will also be mailed a treatment journal to keep track of appointments and capture thoughts and feelings. Visitors to the site can also download educational assets and register to receive emails with helpful tips and supportive messages about what you or a loved one might be going through. Beyond being a resource for patients and caregivers, the site is also optimized for nurses, providing educational videos that may allow them to learn more about lung cancer patient needs from patient advocacy groups and research in the field from clinical trial institutions. NavigateLungCancer.org was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb in partnership with the Cancer Research Institute, Lung Cancer Alliance, Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, LUNGevity Foundation, Cancer Care, Cancer Support Community and Free to Breathe. Bristol-Myers Squibb does not endorse these organizations. The information provided is meant for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace a physician's medical advice.