Page 30 - LIVESTRONG Digital Guidebook

Ask your health care team about
cancer treatment options:
• Can you tell me about successes you have had
with different types of treatment?
• What clinical trials are available?
• What are the benefits of each type of treatment?
• What are the risks of each?
• What would you recommend to one of your
loved ones?
Find the right health care providers for you:
 Ask members of your health care team for
their opinions.
 Talk with loved ones, friends and cancer
survivors about their experiences.
 Contact nonprofit cancer organizations
to request help.
LEARN ABOUT ALL OF YOUR
TREATMENT OPTIONS AND THE
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Look into your options for cancer treatment. Ask for
information that is specifically related to your type how cancer treatment could affect your life. Talk with
and stage of cancer. Start by talking with members of your health care team about those needs. For example,
your health care team. They can help you identify a
treatment plan for your needs.
Seek other medical opinions about treatment
options as well. For example, you may find that an
oncology surgeon will recommend surgical treat-
ment. Another health care provider might recommend
Ask yourself questions about your needs such as:
• Are there concerns about having children in
the future?
• What effect will cancer treatment have on my
ability to work?
• How will cancer treatment affect my loved ones?
• What would be the best way to address
my concerns?
30 L I V E S T R O N G G U I D E B O O K
chemotherapy. You will need to find the method
that you prefer. Loved ones, friends and other survi-
vors may have experiences to share. Most cancer cen-
ters have oncology social workers or patient naviga-
tors to provide the support and information you need
to make good decisions. In the end, you will need to
be the one to decide.
The Navigate Cancer Foundation offers free
services by experienced cancer nurses. They will
work with you and your loved ones to answer ques-
tions and provide information about your type of
cancer. They can explain your medical records and
scans. To help you make the best decisions, they can
talk with you about treatments. The nurses will listen
to your concerns and refer you to qualified health
care providers for another medical opinion. Call
866.391.1121 or email info@navigatecancerfounda-
tion.org.
Also, talk with your health care team about com-
plementary or alternative medicine (CAM) treatments.
CAM treatments such as acupuncture or massage may
be added to your main cancer treatment plan. Learn
more about options by contacting the National Cen-
ter for Complementary and Integrative Health. Go
online to https://nccih.nih.gov/ or call 888.644.6226.
IDENTIFY SPECIFIC CONCERNS
AND NEEDS YOU HAVE
Identifying needs early can be very helpful. Think about
if you want to have children in the future, find out how
certain treatments might affect that possibility. In this
case, you may want to ask for a referral to a fertility pres-
ervation specialist before you begin treatments.
FIND THE HELP YOU NEED
Your health care team will help you get the medical
care you need. They can also refer you for support
services. Many nonprofit cancer organizations offer
services to help you find resources and answers to
your questions.
For example, the Foundation’s cancer navigation
services offer a variety of support that is provided
by professionals in the cancer field. Call toll-free at
855.220.7777 or go online to LIVESTRONG.org/
WeCanHelp.
www.LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp