Navigating The Very Real and Deep Depression Often Associated with Lymphoma

The results from a recent global patient survey by the Lymphoma Coalition are in, and they indicate various concerns that suggest changes in relationships, body image, and depression are real and major issues for many lymphoma patients.

Many have been suffering, specifically from various psychosocial impacts, raising questions that explain whether or not lymphoma patients are receiving adequate proactive support throughout the course of their treatment.

The CEO of the Lymphoma Coalition, Karen Van Rassel, stated that one of the greatest negative challenges facing patients during treatment is isolation. Many of the Hodgkin lymphoma patients found that issues concerning quality of life were just as challenging as the physical effects of the cancer itself.

How a new app aims to help

A new application, called the Lyfe app, is designed to provide virtual support through a barrage of relevant articles local resources and a virtual community as just one effective way to address the quality of life concerns face by those with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The community of the Lyfe app provides patients and supporters a friendly outlet connect with others dealing with similar issues and to share their stories locally, nationally and all across the globe.

The Lyfe app is available for download in both French and English and contains insightful and helpful articles that include practical tips designed to help patients during all states. The app also includes modern information geared specifically towards helping family members and providers with help and support during a most challenging and difficult time.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helps patients and caregivers find online support and health information

Another online community, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Community, provides a free online network of education and support to blood cancer patients and family members. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Community launched in 2016 and has proven itself to be a valuable resource for both patients and caregivers with an accumulated user database of nearly 5,000 users within its first year.

On June 15, 2017, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society announced a brand new service for the Community in a partnership with the Israeli technology start-up company, Medivizor. A major component of the partnership is that it provides both patients and caregivers with blood cancer diagnoses access to modern and cutting-edge health information that is tailored to their specific medical issues.

After speaking with countless patients, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society learned that what patients desire is a way to connect with and to learn from other patients who have a similar diagnosis. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society provided a solution in the form of the Community, which was launched in February of 2016. There is currently a user database with almost 5,000 users who regularly go online to share opinions, experiences,and advice. In an effort to ensure that the information shared is accurate and up-to-date, the Community is monitored by Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Specialists which include master's level oncology nurses, health educators, dieticians,and social workers who spend their time providing medical input, reviewing user contributions, providing resources, and giving advice. 

Read on to learn more about how patients with lymphoma can find the support they need.