As an oncologist who sees cancer patients all the time, Anna Beck is accustomed to having to deliver hard news about chemotherapy, radiation treatment and impending surgeries.
Her dream is to also be able to throw in this bit of good news: Oh, and by the way, someone will be coming by on Thursday to clean your house.
She's not alone. Dozens of cancer physicians who have started the Utah Cancer Foundation are determined to create a fund that will provide housecleaning services for people who "don't have the strength to run a vacuum."
Their collective brainstorm is a program called Spring Clean, which is scheduled to start Tuesday and continue through the end of the month. As people throughout Utah do their spring cleaning, they are encouraged to donate items worth $40 and more to the foundation, which will in turn auction those items on eBay.
The drop-off point for the donations is at 5263 S. State in Murray (801-263-0535).
Also, cash donations will be accepted online at www.utahcancerfoundation.org or at any Utah cancer specialist office (www.utahcancer.com).
The idea, as Beck explains, is to "relieve cancer patients of their day-to-day stresses and allow them to focus their precious energies towards family and uplifting activities."
In her practice, she says she sees many women, in particular, who are diagnosed with cancer and find that their hands are beyond full.
"They have small kids, a husband, a home and a career — and they have cancer," says Beck. "It's just overwhelming.
"When my patients ask me what they can do during chemotherapy," she says, "I tell them the three things they can't do: vacuum, wash the dishes and clean the bathroom. I'm joking, of course, but then I nudge the person who is sitting with them so they'll understand that the point is give them a break."
The problem is compounded when the person who needs to help with the housecleaning is also the person who needs to help with the cancer care.
Enter the housekeeping helper — a qualified house cleaner whose services are bought and paid for by proceeds from Spring Clean.
"Anything we can do to alleviate people's fatigue is a huge help," says Beck. "People who are battling cancer should be able to work at their jobs and take care of their family. It's important to still do the essentials. But things like housecleaning? We should be able to help with that."
In the future, the foundation would like to expand aid to areas such as transportation and lodging.
"We're not here to find a cure for cancer," says the doctor. "What we're trying to provide is help for people who are wrestling with cancer right now."
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.