More people than ever are living with and beyond cancer. The NHS recognises that living a good quality of life is as important to people as survival. Receiving care that is tailored to a person’s needs can have a significant impact on their experience and quality of life.
What is Supported Self-Management (SSM)
Self-management means being involved in managing your own health. This is important when you have an illness like cancer that can affect your life for many years. Self-management can help you to know what support is available when you are at home. It can improve your quality of life and help you feel more in control.
Self-management is about:
- understanding what is most important to you
- knowing what you can do about it
- finding out what other help is available and how to get it.
How can self-management help me?
- Being involved in your care can help you:
- feel more in control of your life.
- understand your condition and how it can affect your life
- know when you need help and who to get it from
- make positive changes to improve your health
- adjust to life after treatment
- manage any side effects of treatment
- know about possible signs that the cancer has come back
Self-management helps you work with your healthcare team. Together you can decide what you need and what will help you. This will help you manage your health.
You can ask your doctor or Cancer Nurse Specialist about self-management if they have not talked to you about it.
- A treatment plan tailored to your priorities
- Increased skills to self -care
- Reduced expenses associated with attending out-patient appointments
- Retain direct access and support of a Health Care Professional
- Timely access to your results
- Single point of access via the Cancer Support Worker
- Promotes personalised care
- Increases empowerment