ABSTRACT
Cancer treatments have advanced significantly over the past few decades. Where previously cancer was a certain death sentence, new and more aggressive cancer treatments have resulted in increasing numbers of cancer survivors. However, while aggressive treatment can lead to extended life expectancy and ultimately survivorship, these new treatments are not without physical and emotional ramifications. At times, patients may even wonder if cancer treatment and its side effects are worse than the disease itself (Harpham, 1994). In addition, the length of hospital stays is on the decrease and the family has become responsible for administering more complex treatment to their sick family members at home (Barg, 1997). For these reasons, the rehabilitation phase for cancer patients and their families is often more difficult than undergoing actual cancer treatment (Harpham, 1994).
