Page 51 - LIVESTRONG Digital Guidebook

sign an informed consent agreement that indicates
that you understand the risks when you decide on
and begin treatment.
You and your health care team will also need to
update your plan as you go through cancer treat-
ment. This will help ensure that the best decisions
are made for you. Ask a loved one, friend or patient
navigator to go to appointments with you to provide
support, ask questions and record the information
provided by the health care team.
TRAVEL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
You have the right to get the best possible health care.
Some patients travel outside their communities to
get another medical opinion. Others travel to receive
cancer treatment.
If you have health insurance, ask for approval in
writing from the insurer before you travel. Ask them
to also put in writing what they will cover and how
much they will pay.
Contact a social worker at the treating hospital or
medical center for help finding support services. Non-
profit cancer organizations can also help you find ser-
vices. The Foundation provides written information
about assistance programs for cancer patients online at
LIVESTRONG.org/tags/assistance-programs. There
are also more resources listed in this book in the “Addi- can contact the National Patient Travel Center
tional Resources” section.
Some cancer centers help patients who travel
for care by providing short-term housing for loved
ones. Some nonprofit programs provide help with
air and ground transportation to travel for treatment.
The National Association of Hospital Hospi-
tality Houses can help you find lodging and support
LIVESTRONG means finding the best treatment and support services.
See the LIVESTRONG Guidebook Planner and Journal pages:
During Treatment: Working With My Health Care Team
Read more about living with cancer at LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp
• Diagnosis and Treatment Information
• Finding and Evaluating Resources
• Transportation and Other Support Services
• Health Care Assistance Programs
www.LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp
Ask your health care provider questions
about each type of treatment such as:
• What are the treatment options for this type
and stage of cancer?
• Will treatments occur in the clinic (outpatient)
or in the hospital (inpatient)?
• How long will each type of treatment last?
• What side effects are possible?
• What can be done to control side effects?
• Can this type of treatment affect sexual function
or fertility?
• Will treatment affect the ability to do
day-to-day activities?
• What would you (the provider) choose as
treatment for yourself or a loved one?
• Will you provide a treatment plan for the
entire length of therapy?
• Can I work during treatment?
away from home. Contact them online (nahhh.org)
or call 800.542.9730.
If you need to travel by air for treatment, you
for help. They provide free referral services for med-
ical air travel. Based on need, they can refer you to
an appropriate patient air transportation program.
They can help arrange bed-to-bed air ambulance
services. You can also find information on charita-
ble or discount airline ticket programs for patients
and their escorts. To learn more, contact them at
757.512.5287 or visit patienttravel.org.
JUST DIAGNOSED: MEDICAL CONCERNS 51