Step-by-step ways to help
a relative or friend fight cancer
By Annette and Richard Bloch
Authors of Fighting Cancer and Cancer . . . there's hope.
This book is available to you without charge with the belief that it will truly help you, the supporter, to improve the quality of life of the cancer patient and increase their chances of successfully fighting their disease. After you have read the book, please give it to another supporter. If you are unable to do this, please give it to a library or minister so that they may loan it to someone it can help.
We would appreciate hearing your feelings after you read this book. Drop us a note. We care about you and the one near to you with cancer.
Annette and Richard Bloch
New Contact Information as of September 10, 2006
The Cancer Hot Line
One H&R Block Way
Kansas City, MO 64105
Phone: 800-433-0464 or 816-854-5050
The sculpture on the front cover, Search for
Support, was created by the world-renowned Mexican sculptor, Victor
Salmones (1937-1989).
Note: In this book, the patient is referred to as "they." This was done to alleviate the awkward "he or she." Also, the authors arbitrarily refer to the physician as "he" and the supporter as "you" or "she."
Published by
R.
A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc.
New Contact Information as of September 10, 2006
One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, Mo. 64105
816-854-5050
800-433-0464
A not-for-profit corporation
Manufactured in the United States
First Printing, January, 1992
Second Printing, March, 1995
Guide for Cancer Supporters is more than the ideas of one person or family. Questionnaires were sent to numerous doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, facilitators of support groups, supporters of cancer patients and cancer patients seeking their input and suggestions. This is a compilation of the results of all of those along with the experiences of Richard Bloch, who was diagnosed as having terminal lung cancer in 1978 and given 90 days to live. After 2 years of strenuous treatments he was pronounced cured. In 1989, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and again endured a year of chemotherapy after surgery. He was supported through all of this by his wife, Annette and their three daughters. Their input along with the experiences of talking to more than a thousand cancer patients and their supporters by telephone and in person at the R. A. Bloch Cancer Management Center and R. A. Bloch Cancer Support Center are what make this book comprehensive and reliable. It is arranged for the primary supporter as well as the casual acquaintance. Checklists at the end of each section summarize the possibilities described in detail. It is a "must read" for anyone who wants to truly help a cancer patient improve the quality of their life and their chances of successfully fighting the disease.