Optimizing Your Treatment
RN Sue Ebner talks about optimizing your treatment. |
Being diagnosed with cancer can leave you feeling overwhelmed and fearful. But you do not have to face this situation alone. Patients can work closely with their doctors to select the best treatment and include family and friends in a health care team. The entire staff of Midnight Sun Oncology is here to help you achieve the best possible health and cope with the challenges of treatment.
Being diagnosed with cancer does not necessarily mean you will die from cancer. Even if your cancer cannot be “cured,” we can almost always significantly improve the length and quality of your life with treatments.
There are many things you can do to positively impact your health and state of mind during treatment. Good nutrition, physical exercise and sharing your experiences can help you feel better, both physically and emotionally and can also decrease the effects of chemotherapy.
Online Resources
Becoming informed is another way to gain control over your situation and ensure the best outcome. We advise that you read our entire Web site to become informed about cancer staging (What Is Cancer page), types and goals and side effects of chemotherapy (Chemotherapy Goals page), and more. Three additional Web sites we highly recommend to assist you in learning more about cancer during your treatment are:
www.Chemocare.com: Web site of Scott Hamilton, Olympic figure skater/cancer survivor. Contains extensive cancer-related information for parents and families.
www.NCCN.org: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer.
www.cancer.gov: The Web site of the National Cancer Institute offers comprehensive information about cancer.
Preparing For Your Appointment
Your anxiety about your treatment can be alleviated in part by asking your doctor pertinent questions. We advise you to print out and bring the questions below to your first appointment. You can write the answers down during your appointment and refer to them later.
- What is my diagnosis?
- What stage is my cancer?
- Has the cancer spread?
- What outcome can I expect, and what are the risks and benefits of my cancer treatment?
- What are your recommendations for my treatment options?
- What will my cancer treatment schedule be and how long will treatment last?
- What chemotherapy medications will I be taking, what side effects can I expect and how will they be managed?
- Should I eat before I come for chemotherapy treatment? Continue to take my regular medications? Avoid medications such as Tylenol, aspirin, Ibuprofen or others?
- Are there any restrictions on my activities?
- Who should I call if I have a problem? Daytime number? Nighttime number?
- What resources and/or support groups are available to help me deal with my illness?
 Download PDF of pertinent questions prior to your appointment.
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For additional info on things you can do (and why) to prepare for chemotherapy treatments, such as going to the dentist, getting a PAP smear, arranging in advance to get a wig, arranging transportation and child care, etc., visit Chemocare.com. |
Take Charge
We encourage you to get support by talking to other cancer patients, friends or a clergy member. You might also want to read books and visit the many Web sites recommended throughout our Web site that can provide you with information about your particular cancer.
It is also a good idea to bring a family member or friend to your appointments to help you to recall answers to questions you ask your doctor. Many of our patients tell us that these things were very helpful to them during their recovery. And remember, Midnight Sun Oncology staff are here to help you manage side effects and to provide you with the best possible treatment and outcome of your particular cancer or blood disorder. We care for you and we care about you.
Many patients find it useful to keep all the information concerning treatment, such as answers to questions you have asked your doctors, laboratory and test results, doctors’ instructions, admissions and consultation information, in a file or notebook. That way you can easily find these materials when you need them.
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