How telehealth can make life easier for people with cancer

When Rob Tufel (pictured above) was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he already knew how challenging it can be to go through treatment. He was a 2-time cancer survivor and had worked in the field of oncology for more than 30 years.

But he was surprised by how poorly he still felt months after his successful treatment.

“I could barely leave my house,” Tufel said. “I was dealing with a lot of different symptoms.”

He’d lost more than 15 pounds and was struggling to return to his normal weight. And the need to urinate frequently at night made it impossible to sleep.

Fortunately, Kaiser Permanente’s telehealth services made it easy for Tufel to connect to care from the comfort of his home. When it was time for an appointment, he could simply join a videoconference from his living room. Or he could make a phone call without even getting out of bed.

“Having access to my doctors without needing to get in my car was incredible for me,” he said.

Telehealth connects patients to a care team from home

Patients with cancer can spend hours in waiting rooms, infusion chairs, and radiation centers, in addition to traveling to and from clinics.

Telehealth allows them to connect with doctors and specialists from home for some appointments. This is especially helpful for people who have trouble walking or who live far from cancer centers. It also helps people who may have difficulty arranging child care or taking time off from work.

After the first treatment, doctors can use virtual care to check in with patients regularly for long-term monitoring and care.

Tufel often spoke with a dietitian in addition to his cancer specialists. The dietitian helped him find foods he could digest more easily.

He also had a video call with a physical therapist, who showed him exercises and ways to breathe better to help his stomach and bladder work well.

And he had a video call with a psychologist to talk about his mental health and how he was feeling.

“One of the biggest advantages of virtual care is how it connects patients to the specific care they need, regardless of where they live,” said Tatjana Kolevska, MD, medical director of Kaiser Permanente’s national excellence in cancer care program.

Virtual care offers support for patients with cancer

Kaiser Permanente members have access to an array of cancer support services.

For nonmedical needs, you can call our cancer support line to:

• Get help with money matters, billing questions, and health insurance
• Find out about transportation options for appointments
• Get information and other local resources

“Telehealth has the potential to revolutionize cancer care,” said Dr. Kolevska. “It can help make high-quality care more accessible for all our patients.”

Enjoying life again after prostate cancer treatment

After treatment, Tufel was able to go back to work at Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area. It’s part of a group of centers across the country that offers assistance to people with cancer.

He said that dealing with cancer is tough, but virtual care helped him get through it.

“Some cancer care must be delivered in person, but we’re proud to provide our patients with choices when appropriate,” said Dr. Kolevska. “We believe high-quality care should be easy to get — when and how you want it.”

Learn more about cancer care at Kaiser Permanente.