A June 2010 study in Clinical Cancer Research compared two groups of women battling breast cancer. One group received interventions to reduce stress such as relaxation training and advice on minimizing stress. The other did not. Patients in the intervention group had a 45 percent reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence, improvements in multiple immune function measurements and improvements in various quality of life outcomes.
It is widely accepted that stress negatively affects the immune system. These studies and more suggest stress also enhances tumor growth. Every financial planner knows money issues can cause stress. It is no stretch then to say financial planning for cancer patients can be a high impact endeavor.
One recipient of assistance echoed Rick Fingerman’s thoughts when she said simply, “It was such a relief to know that someone who was walking into that room was there to help.”
The Foundation for Financial Planning has launched a new initiative to raise $1 million dollars to develop and support pro bono programs for at-risk families affected by cancer.
I am a board member of the Foundation for Financial Planning, but I am also the grandson of a former cervical cancer patient, financial planner to two clients with prostate cancer and the friend of a current breast cancer patient. I have seen the physical and emotional pain they endured first hand and I have been inspired by their fights against this horrible disease.
I have also seen firsthand how proactively tackling finances reduces a patient’s stress levels. While that gives me a sense of satisfaction it is also a source of frustration. I can’t help but a few families directly and there is no shortage of people that could use the help.
It is because of my limitations that my wife and I have joined others and contributed to the foundation’s pro bono cancer initiative. I may not be able to help many more families, but I can fund the effort to make such help more prevalent.
My hope in taking a break from traditional retirement and financial planning subjects and writing about this initiative is two-fold; First, get more financial planners involved in this pro bono work. Second, get planners that can’t roll up their sleeves to open their checkbooks for this great cause.
I know readers have their own cancer stories to tell and have been inspired by the fight as much as I have. Think about how this wretched bane on humanity has affected your life, your family or your friends and consider making a gift.
To learn more and donate, please visit the pro bono for cancer campaign website. If you’re an FPA member and interested in potential volunteer opportunities, please reach out to FPA at [email protected].