FairLife Webinar :

Psychosocial Support for Lung Cancer Patients, their Families and Caregivers is key to addressing the Impact and Stigma associated with the disease.

 

On the webinar, held by FairLife L.C.C., on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, 21 speakers highlighted the need of a holistic approach to lung cancer patients, caregivers and families and the significance of improving their mental health – highly affected by the impact and stigma associated with the disease. The event was coordinated by the Journalist Christina Vidou. The event’s purpose was the presentation of the Psychosocial Support Pilot Program “BREATH”. The program is implemented by FairLife L.C.C. in collaboration with mental health professionals and is provided nationwide, free of charge, to patients with LC, their caregivers, and families, with the kind support of TIMA Charitable Foundation, Lung Ambition Alliance – AstraZeneca, Roche, AMGEN, Takeda, Novartis, PHARMASERVE-LILLY, and AEGEAS AMKE. In addition, the key contributors to the program are: (1) The Hellenic Institute for Group Analytic & Family Psychotherapy, which provides individual and group sessions to patients with LC, their caregivers and families, (2) Merimna, which provides counselling support to children, adolescents and parents who are dealing with the loss or the potential loss of a loved one due to LC, and (3) The Guidance Center for Cancer Patients – Kapa3, which informs patients with LC about their rights. The event was held under the auspices of The Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO), The Hellenic Federation of Cancer (ELLOK), Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE), and The Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC).

Watch more : https://youtube.com/live/ZgRxvZNMYDI?feature=share

The President of FairLife L.C.C., Ms. Korina Pateli Bell, Ms.Thomais Sarakinioti, Communication Specialist at FairLife L.C.C., and Ms. Mariam Theodoraki, Psychologist in the BREATH program, presented important numerical data about the organization. According to these data, the FairLine 111 57 information line received approximately 1,450 calls during a period of one and a half years. Most importantly, from August 2022 to January 2023, when the BREATH project was running, it received approximately 80 calls and 198 electronic requestsforpsychological support,from various regions of Greece. Of the people who contacted FairLife L.C.C about the program, 55% were family members and caregivers, 35% were patients and 10%were others. Finally, regarding the evaluation of the program by the participants, everyone agreed on the easy accessibility to the program, on the satisfactory first communication with FairLife L.C.C and the therapist, as well as on the fact that they would recommend the program to others.  The number of sessions were subject to disagreement. Specifically, 50% agreed that the number was sufficient, 29% suggested an extension to the number of sessions, and 21% remained neutral. Finally, 90% completely agreed that the information they received from FairLife L.C.C’s information sources was beneficial for their understandingof the disease.

The first part of the webinar was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Health,Ms.Zoe Rapti, Mr.Michalis Nikolaou MD, MSc, PhD Pathologist Oncologist, Secretary General ofthe Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO) Mr.George Kapetanakis, President of the Hellenic Federation of Cancer (ELLOK), Mr.Dimitris Kontopidis, 2nd Vice-President of the Greek Patients Association, and Mr.Paul Kidner, Advisor, TIMA Charitable Foundation, who all pointed out the impact of LC on mental health and the importance of FairLife L.C.C’s work to psychosocially support patients, caregivers and families. The Deputy Minister of Health emphasized the negative influence that the stigma of smoking has on the mental health of patients with LC, indicating the need to eliminate it.

In the continuation of the webinar, mental health professionals such as Mr.Stelios Kymbouropoulos, Psychiatrist, MEP, Ms.Irini Dimopoulou, Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Ms.Georgia Vassiliou, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Mr.Christos Velissaropoulos, Scientific Program Manager, Clinical Psychologist, Psycho-oncologist, Analyst, Educator-analyst, Vice-President of the Hellenic Institute for Group Analytic & Family Psychotherapy, and Ms.Eleftheria Ralli, Psychologist, Head of the Counseling Centre for Support in Grief “Merimna”, spoke about the negative influence of LC on the patients’ and their environment’smental health, and pointed out the importance of their psychological support in the context of a holistic treatment of the disease. The importance of the holistic approach to patient care was also identified by Ms.Evangelia Bista, Operations Manager of the Guidance Center for Cancer Patients – Kapa3. Finally, Ms.Dimitra Kanalupitis (MD), Pathologist Oncologist, Director of the 4th Oncology Clinic of IASO Hospital, emphasized the issue of the stigma related to smoking and LC, explaining that LC patients, compared to patients with other forms of cancer, have an increased feeling of guilt, as LC is directly related to smoking and patients feel  they have only themselves to blame, while also experiencing the  judgement of others.

Finally, patients and caregivers of the BREATH program, the “protagonists of the program” as characterized by FairLife L.C.C., spoke openly about their personal experience and their struggles with the disease., the people who shared their stories were: Ms. MarjoForsblom, Member of the Board of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE), Ms.Polly Gaitani, Stage 4 Survivor, Mental Health Counselor, Ms.Maria Kalambaka, Caregiver, Mr.Christos Apostolakos, Patient, Mr.Apostolos Kyriakis, Caregiver, and Ms.Milka Ivanova, Patient.  Everyone pointed out the importance of mental health in dealing with the disease, as well as the strength they gained by sharing their thoughts and feelings with a specialist through the psychological support offered by the BREATH program.

Communication Manager FairLife L.C.C.:
Nelly Kapsi   
Napoleontos 18, 16675 Glyfada                                  

Tel: 213 0165784
FairLine 111 57

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Athens, March 8, 2023.