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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Summary

If you already read about in treatment for chemotherapy, you will see that much of the general content in that document is the same as for radiation. Since most of us tend to see things we missed during a single reading, it is recommended that you take the time to reread familiar sections. It is better to be safe instead of sorry.

Radiation has been used as a treatment for cancer since the early 1900s.

Radiation for colorectal cancer is painless, quick and silent. It takes place over a period of weeks or months. 

When radiation is given at the same time as chemotherapy, it is known as ChemoRadiation. For information about chemotherapy, and information about ChemoRadiation, see the documents in “To Learn More.”

For information about the practical aspects to consider before EBRT starts, click here.

The discussion concerning In Treatment is divided into the following which are covered in other sections of this document.:

NOTE: 

  • Keep in mind that your primary doctor is also part of your medical team. Ask your specialists to keep him or her up-to-date. Don't skip your regular appointments.
  • If you are treated in a hospital other than your local hospital,  get a copy of your medical records for the local hospital where you will do the follow up. You are legally entitled to a copy. There may be a charge. For additional information, click here.

At The Start Of Radiation Treatment For Rectal or Colon Cancer

  • Do not be surprised if starting treatment makes cancer feel real.
  • If you would like to read about radiation treatment, how it is given, and look at an overview , click here.
  • Ask the doctor:
    • What would be considered an emergency during treatment and how should you handle it. (Pack an emergency bag "just in case."  The odds are you will not need it, but it can’t hurt).
    • How to get through to the doctor if you have a concern or problem that you do not think can wait until regular office hours. It is better to call the doctor than end up in the hospital with a serious complication that should have been treated. Most doctors have 24 hour answering services. Some doctors give patients their mobile phone number. (It can't hurt to ask for it).
    • What to do if a natural disaster occurs and you cannot get to the radiation facility or the facility is shut down. (For tips about how to prepare for a disaster, click here.)
    • Before speaking with your doctor, review tips about how to maximize limited time with a doctor. For instance, learn the meaning of the basic medical words that are likely to come up so conversations can be faster and more precise. For more information, click here
  • If you need transportation to and from treatment, contact the American Cancer Society at 800.ACS.2345. 
    • The Society has volunteers on hand to help. 
    • The more notice you give, the more likely that the Society will be able to find a driver when you need one.
  • Keep in mind that treatment decisions may change as treatment goes along. A change does not mean that the original treatment was wrong. Medicine is a combination of science and art.
  •  Stock up on single portions of your favorite comfort foods “just in case.” 
    • Include some in your freezer that you can defrost as needed. 
    • When you freeze foods for this period of time, make the portions smaller than usual for those occasions when you don't feel like eating a lot.
  • If you have children, and haven't told them yet about your condition and/or treatment, now is the time to do it in an age sensitive manner. See the document in "To Learn More."
  • Schedule doctors’ appointments for your convenience.
    • An appointment early in the day or at the beginning of that part of the day when the doctor sees patients generally gets you in and out quickly. Doctors' schedules tend to back up as the day progresses.
    • If you have appointments with different doctors and/or tests coming up, consider scheduling them for the same day or setting doctor appointments for the same day every week.
  • If you have health insurance:
    • Check with the doctor’s office to be sure that everything is squared away with the insurance company. If not, get involved – at least to extent of following up with the doctor’s office and the insurance company to make sure treatment is being covered.
    • Start thinking about how to pay your share.
    • When you have time, read: How To Maximize Use Of Your Health Insurance
  • If you do not have health insurance:
  • Since fatigue generally accompanies radiation therapy, start modifying your schedule to make room for rest.  This will become more important as treatment progresses.
  • Comfort. If you are uncomfortable in the hospital gown used in the radiation facility, consider making your own or buying one of your own.
    • A free hospital gown pattern that fits most women and men is located on the web site of Lazy Girl Designs offsite link 
    • You can purchase hospital gowns designed for women with breast cancer through Healing Threads offsite link

 WOMEN: NOTE: It is advisable to avoid becoming pregnant during radiation treatment. Radiation can be harmful to a fetus. In general, the guideline is to wait for 2‐5 years after the end of treatment before becoming pregnant. If you want to get pregnant before then, talk with your health care team. 

During Radiation Treatment

Ask your radiologist whether you can eat and drink before a treatment.

Side effects such as skin irritation and fatigue during treatment are either controllable or there are techniques to lessen the effect. There may also be long term side effects. 

Keep in mind that treatment decisions may change as treatment goes along. A change does not mean that the original treatment was wrong. Medicine is a combination of science and art.

There are do's, don'ts and tips to be aware of during treatment. For example,

  • Don't apply powder or lotion to the radiated area before treatment. 
  • Do speak with your radiologist about what to do if you have to miss a day or two. The efficiency of the  treatment depends on having as few delays as possible.
  • If needed, transportation is available to and from treatment.
  • Call the treatment center before leaving for a treatment to find out if appointments are on time. Radiation therapy machines must be taken offline periodically to recalibrate the machine or for repair.

NOTE: Do not be surprised if the start of radiation brings up strong emotions. To help cope with them, see the documents in "To Learn More."

 

 

Side Effects

There may not be any side effects during the early part of radiation treatment, but they may appear as treatment goes on, and then become more bothersome as treatment continues. Some side effects may linger after treatment ends.

It is worth keeping in mind that side effects are a price for regaining health or at least minimizing the effects of cancer. Most people would say the price is small compared to the potential reward.

To help minimize side effects, start by doing what you can to prevent them.  Try the following:

  • Before a radiation treatment, take some time to relax. Consider meditating or doing deep relaxation breathing. Both meditation and deep breathing can be done anywhere at any time. You don’t need any special training to do either technique. For information about meditation, click here. For deep breathing, click here.
  • After each treatment, eat small, easy to digest, meals  that are easy on the stomach.
  • If you find you get queasy after treatment, it may because you have food in your stomach.
    • Try fasting for several hours before and after each treatment. 
    • If nausea continues, let your radiation oncologist know. He or she can prescribe anti-nausea medication.
    • For other practical tips for dealing with nausea, click here.
  • Keep track of your symptoms. We provide a symptoms diary  to help keep track. When you are ready to see a doctor, you can change your diary into an easy to read graph with the push of a button.

For information about dealing fatigue and other side effects that may appear, see the documents in “To Learn More.”

In General 

  • Do your best to live a lifestyle that helps your body function at its disease-healing best
    • The same lifestyle may also help prevent a future recurrence. 
    • It is not worth spending even a minute worrying about your previous habits. Focus on what you can do now to improve your diet.
    • Don’t expect to make big changes overnight. Start small, with one step at a time. 
  • A healthy lifestyle includes:
    • The food you eat, 
      • Even if your nutritional habits are great, they can probably be improved.
      • Do your best.
      • Be practical, not obsessive.
    • Exercise
      • Yes, exercise - even during treatment  - but only to the extent approved by your doctor. You may have to take exercise easier during treatment .
      • Exercise during radiation treatment can irritate the skin due to changes caused by treatment.  To minimize discomfort, while exercising:
        • Wear  comfortable clothing such as cotton.
        • Avoid excessive sweating
        • Consider wrapping the sensitive area with a gauze pad or bandage.
    • Getting appropriate rest and sleep. Keep in mind that while actively undergoing treatment, you may need more sleep than the average person. For information about sleep, click here
    • Stay hydrated with safe drinking water. (To learn about safe water, click here.) 
  • Reduce risk of infection in all aspects of your daily life. Infections slow recovery. To learn how, click here.  
  • Practice good oral hygiene.
    • If your dentist advised additional precautions to take during treatment, take them. For instance, your dentist may recommend a fluoride mouth rinse or a fluoride gel in addition to daily brushing.
    • An infection in your mouth can lower your body's ability to fight your cancer. Keep your mouth clean. Brush at least twice a day. Floss at least once a day. (If you haven't had one lately, schedule a dental checkup). 
    • Check your mouth every day. Call your dentist immediately if you notice any changes or problems. Any of the following symptoms may indicate an infection.
      • Bleeding or a sticky, white film in your mouth 
      • Lumps 
      • Soreness 
      • Swelling 
      • Ulcerations
      • Pain
  • Minimize alcohol consumption - or eliminate it all together. For example, men should limit drinking to two drinks a day. Women should  limit drinking to one drink a day. 
  • Minimize stress.
    • To learn how, to avoid unnecessary stress, click here.
    • To learn how to deal with stress, click here. 
  • Deal with emotions that surface. Prolonged worry and angst may have an ill effect on your ability to heal physically. To learn how to deal with emotions, see: Tips To Help Feel In Control Of Your Emotions 
  • If you smoke, stop. 
    • Smoking may interfere with the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Cancer patients who smoke have a lower survival rate than nonsmokers. By quitting, you can improve the body’s response to treatments, lessen complications and side effects, decrease the risk of recurrence and enhance survival.
    • Quitting during treatment may be very uncomfortable. It may include a variety of symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety and irritability. On the other hand, it may help keep your mind off of the treatment.
    • For information about quitting, click here
  • Practice smart appointment behavior.
    • Call ahead before leaving for treatment to be sure appiontments are on time.
    • Arrive at each treatment session early.I
  • Listen to your body and take care of yourself.

DON'T

  • Put make up over the site markers.
  • Try to remove the treatment markers.
  • Put powder or lotion on the treatment site prior to treatment.
  • Skip a session if you can avoid it. Effectiveness depends on keeping to the planned schedule. If you have to miss a session, speak with your radiation oncologist to find out how to make it up.
  • Become pregnant if you can avoid it.
  • Be surprised if the start of radiation brings up strong emotions. To help cope with them, see the documents in "To Learn More."

      (Please share additional tips you learn by e mail to: Survivorship A to Z)

Do's And Don'ts During Treatment

DO:

  • Call ahead before leaving for treatment to be sure appiontments are on time.
  • Arrive at each treatment session early.
  • Fast for several hours before and after each treatment if you find you get queasy after treatment. If nausea continues, let your radiation oncologist know. He or she can prescribe anti-nausea medication. (There are other practical tips for dealing with nausea: see: To Learn More).
  • Check with your radiation oncologist about exercise. 
  • Listen to your body and take care of yourself.
  • Have anti-nausea and diarrhea medications on hand in case you need them. If you become nauseous despite the medications, ask that they be changed. If nausea becomes a problem, there are injections you can receive prior to treatments.

DON'T

  • Put make up over the site markers.
  • Try to remove the treatment markers.
  • Put powder or lotion on the treatment site prior to treatment.
  • Skip a session if you can avoid it. Effectiveness depends on keeping to the planned schedule. If you have to miss a session, speak with your radiation oncologist to find out how to make it up.

To Learn More

Side Effects From External Radiation: During Treatment

While radiation therapy is safe, there are few possible short and long term side effects of EBRT. Side effects vary from patient to patient and according to the exact location of the radiation. Most side effects are due to the fact that the radiation beam affects normal tissues around the tumor area.

Normal daily activities can usually be continued during treatment. 

With colon and rectal cancer, the most common side effects include the following:

  • Diarrhea 
    • If diarrhea appears, it may continue for a few weeks after the end of treatment. 
    • Drink plenty of clear liquids to make up for the fluids being lost due to diarrhea.
    • Avoid spicy foods.
    • Concentrate on easily digestible foods that are not excessively high in roughage or fiber.
    • For additional tips on how to deal with diarrhea, click here.
  • Nausea and vomiting
    • Consider fasting for a few hours before and after treatment.
    • Speak with your doctor about medications that may help. 
    • Review the information in the document in "To Learn More" for additional tips.
  • Bladder irritation - which generally appears as a need to urinate more frequently than normally.  If this symptom appears, it can continue for a while after the end of treatment. There is generally no need for a catheter (a tube through to the bladder to ease urination). People with severe urinary problems before starting EBRT are at risk for needing a catheter during EBRT.
  • Fatigue
    • Generally there is no fatigue from radiation therapy during the first weeks of treatment. There may be fatigue caused by the disease itself.
    • Whether fatigue from radiation therapy appears after that, and to what degree, depends on the individual.
    • If fatigue does appear, it generally plateaus around week 5.
    • Techniques are available for decreasing the effects of fatigue. 
    • Fatigue generally goes away within a week to a week and a half after end of treatment.
    • Fatigue does not generally keep people from working during treatment.
    • For tips about how to deal with fatigue, click here. For information about getting an accommodation at work to help deal with fatigue, click here.
  • Skin changes
    • The energy waves used in radiation therapy can have the same effect on the skin as being in sunlight at noon. 
    • Irritation and redness may appear by the third or fourth week of treatment.
    • When washing, use mild soap (while being sure not to remove the marks used for the radiation treatment). 
    • Wear soft clothing - preferably cotton.
    • Protect the area from sunlight.
    • If your skin cracks or blisters, speak with your nurse or oncologist about a suitable moisturizer.
    • For additional information about radiation caused skin changes, click here
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
    • Radiation treatment to the pelvis can damage the blood vessels necessary to achieve an erection which can result in erectile dysfunction.
    • Whether you experience erectile dysfunction after EBRT depends on your potency level prior to the start of treatment, your age and other medical conditions which could effect erectile function such as diabetes, hypertension or cardio vascular disease.
    • If erectile dysfunction occurs, there is assistance available.See the Survivorship A to Z document about erectile dysfunction.
    • Keep in mind that there are ways to be intimate other than by having intercourse. Plus there is plenty of stimulation you can get and receive that doesn't involve an erection. Speak with your doctor for more information or for a referral to an expert in the area. 
    • If your medical condition is interfering with your sexual relations with your significant other, tell your significant other about your feelings and what you would like to change. Ask for your significant other's point of view. Listen to it rather than prepare your response. If the two of you can't work it out, speak with your doctor or seek counseling.
    • For more information about sex and intimacy, click here.
  • Women may experience:
    • Vaginal dryness as a result of radiation .  If this occurs talk with your doctor about lubricants that may be helpful.
    • Vaginal stenosis or narrowing of the vagina, there are vaginal dilators that your doctor can recommend for stretching the walls of the vagina thereby decreasing the discomfort associated with penetration.
  • Incontinence (in the sense that urine leaks unintentionally). For some people, incontinence happens when doing activities such as sitting. For some people it only happens when there is increased abdominal pressure – such as from laughing, coughing, sneezing or exercise.
    • EBRT rarely causes incontinence.
    • If a person is already incontinent before EBRT, incontinence tends to remain.
    • Sometimes urinary frequency can feel like incontinence.  As noted above, this goes away over time when caused by EBRT.
    • There are tips for dealing with incontinence. Click here.
  • White blood cell counts may drop during radiation treatment. White blood cells fight infection and prevent bleeding. If blood tests show this problem, you may have to put treatments on hold for a week or two to allow your blood counts to come back up. 
  • Radiation colitis 
    • Radiation colitis is inflammation of the colon. If it occurs, radiation colitis may become permanent.
    • Radiation colitis may include complications such as:
      • Deep ulcers in the lining of the colon which can cause bleeding which shows up as blood in the stool. If bleeding continues, it can lead to fatigue.
      • Ulcers may create fistulas - a tunnel through the affected area into surrounding areas.Fistulas may become infected.
      • Scar tissue may prevent absorption of nutrients from foods which can lead to protein and vitamin deficiency or cause bowel obstruction which can only be corrected by surgery.

Emotional Side Effects of Radiation

Fear, fatigue and and/or depression are not unusual when a person undergoes radiation treatment. If a drug is given at the same time as radiation, the drug may cause mood changes such as irritability.

Fear: Radiation can provide strong fears, many of which are based on myths. Two examples of myths are:

  • Older people in particular may have fear of radiation based on its early history when it was used for cancer that was not curable and was only used to relieve symptoms by delaying the growth of the tumor instead of trying to destroy it.
  • Some people fear radiation because of what they know about Hiroshima, nuclear accidents and the fears felt worldwide after the tsunami in Japan in 2011. Radiation sickness does not occur with controlled medical radiation.

Fears not related to radiation but which already exist before treatment can come to the surface. For instance, a fear of being confined in an enclosed space, or fear (irrational as it may be) that a machine which is positioned overhead could fall on you. If such fears become overwhelming, you can receive an anti-anxiety medication before the start of treatment.

For information about dealing with fear, click here

Fatigue: As noted in the physical side effects section of this document, fatigue is common with radiation therapy. Fatigue generally has an emotional part. Feelings which accompany fatigue are:

  • Lack of energy
  • Inability to carry your your usual tasks
  • Having less interest in your everday activities including interest in sex
  • Not feeling rested

Fatigue can continue for weeks after the end of radiation treatment.

To learn how to cope with fatigue, click here.  If the techniques don't work, speak with your doctor. In addition to suggestions about fatigue, your symptoms may result from another medical cause.

Depression: The start of radiation treatment, often brings home the reality of a cancer diagnosis, which can in turn lead to sadness or depression. To learn the symptoms of depression, and what to do about it, click here. 

Toward The End Of Treatment

Do not be surprised if you look and feel worse as you end radiation treatment than when you started. Your body has been through a lot. The end of treatment is in sight.

Emotionally, you are likely to experience depression from the withdrawal of the treatment family. Learn the symptoms of depression and what to do if they appear. (See "To Lern More.") Seeing your doctor again can help provide reassurance.

Plan a treat for yourself when treatment is over. It doesn’t have to be expensive.  A treat will help deal with the disruption treatment causes in your routine and with side effects. (This subject is covered in more detail in Day To Day Living).

If there are clothes you wear during treatment, consider marking the end of treatment by giving them to charity. Giving the clothes away can be a  a visual reminder that you are finished treatment and that you are moving on.

Consider thanking the professionals who helped you through treatment.

 NOTE:

  • For information about medical care after treatment, see: Colorectal Cancer: Post Treatment 0 – 6 Months, Medical Care
  • If you are treated in a hospital other than your local hospital,  get a copy of your medical records for the local hospital where you will do the follow up. You are legally entitled to a copy. There may be a charge. For additional information, click here.

If Radiation Treatment Is Not Working

If radiation treatment is not working, there are likely other treatments to consider. Discuss alternatives with your doctor.

If your situation is unusual, consider getting a second opinion from a doctor associated with a NCI Certified Comprehensive Cancer Institute. (You can locate such an institution by clicking here offsite link. If needed, free transportation may be available). A second and even a third opinion will likely be covered by your health insurance. If you do not have insurance, second opinions do not have to be expensive.

You can also research other treatments yourself or ask a family member or friend to do it for you. You can also hire a professional medical research service.  The documents in "To Learn More" provide tips about doing medical research, and locating a professional service. If you do your own research:

  • Watch for quack treatments. To learn how to spot a phony treatment, click here.
  • Discuss what you find with your doctor. 
  • If you feel as if you need one, get a second opinion from a qualified, experienced specialist who is not connected with your doctor.

If you are in pain, a consultation with a doctor who specializes in treating pain (a palliative-care specialist) can help. Such professionals are trained to consider the patient’s entire medical and personal situation and to focus on symptom management and pain relief along with curative treatments. For more information about dealing with pain, click here.

If the prognosis is particularly worrisome or the cancer does not respond to aggressive measures, consider modifying treatment to preserve your quality of life.

If it looks as if you have a shortened life expectancy of six months or less, consider hospice care. Hospice care can be given at home – and can be free if necessary. For information, click here.

How To Live With Medications And Supplements

  • Before agreeing to take any medications, learn about the risks as well as the benefits.
    • Survivorship A to Z provides questions to ask before agreeing to take any medication. 
  • Do what you can to avoid medical errors
    • Start by obtaining a readable doctor’s prescription. If you can't read it, neither can the pharmacist.
    • Check the medication you receive against the prescription and make sure it looks like you expect. 
  • Avoid overmedication
    • Overmedication is all too common. 
    • Ask your doctor if a lower dose will do the same job - particularly for drugs you continue to take over time. 
    • For information about avoiding overmedication, click here.
  • Carry a list of your drugs all the time. 
    • Emergencies happen. You may need to tell emergency personnel all the drugs you are taking. A list of medications becomes even more important if you become unconscious. 
    • Plus the list will be helpful each time you see a doctor or fill a prescription. 
    • Survivorship A to Z provides a form: List Of Medications that can be saved and printed as needed.
  • Ask that each newly prescribed drug be checked for negative interaction with other drugs you are taking. 
    • Do not assume that this will happen automatically.  
    • If you buy all your drugs at one pharmacy, you won’t have to remember to tell them about each drug you are taking or stopped taking recently.
  • Treat over-the-counter medications, supplements and vitamins as if they are drugs. 
    • Just because they are sold without a prescription does not mean there are no risks.
    • For information about supplements, click here.  For herbs, click here.
  • Take care if you use herbs, vitamins or other supplements.
    • Herbs, vitamins and supplements are not subject to FDA approval so there is no guarantee about their safety or effectiveness. There is not even a guarantee that the same mix of ingredients will be in each bottle – even for bottles from the same manufacturer.
    • Look for products with the mark: “USP Verified.” USP Verified means that the supplement meets standards of quality, purity and potency which are set by the not-for-profit U.S. Pharmacopeia. For more information, see: www.uspverified.org offsite link
  • Consider the price of drugs, even if insurance will pay for them.  It may feel like insurance company money is other people’s money, but expenses show up in everyone's increased premiums.
  • Do not let price be the sole factor in determining what you want or where to obtain a medication. 
    • Consider, for example, what happens if you need a refill in an emergency? 
    • A pharmacist can be a very important part of your health care team. Consider whether you have access to a pharmacist where you buy your medications. 
    • If necessary, you may be able to obtain drugs for free or for a very low cost.
  • If the current drugs on the market don’t satisfy your needs, there may be newer drugs to consider that are still being tested for safety. 
    • Access to cutting edge drugs is through a process known as a clinical trial – a controlled test in which use of the drug is medically monitored. It is essential that you be fully informed before entering a clinical trial. For information and tips about clinical trials, click here. 
    • Colon Cancer Alliance has a service which matches patients with clinical trials. Call: 866.278.0392.
  • Live with drugs wisely.
    • Comply with your doctor’s directions for taking your medications. Non-compliance can be harmful. Time tested tips help if you have difficulty complying.
    • Do not share drugs.
    • Store drugs correctly (not in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom).
    • Travel well with your drugs. Carry a copy of your prescription. Carry an extra supply in case you get delayed.
    • For additional information about wise living with drugs, click here.
  • Stay open. Decisions regarding medical care and treatment may change over time.

How To Think About "Complementary" or "Alternative" Treatments

So called "alternative" or "complementary" treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy or yoga should only be considered in addition to medical treatments - not instead of them. There is no scientific evidence that any such treatments work on their own.

An excellent source of reliable information about each therapy and what medical evidence indicates with respect to cancer, is American Cancer Society Complete Guide To Complementary & Alternative Cancer Therapies offsite link $24.95 including shipping. (Available from www.cancer.org/docroot/PUB/PUB_0.asp offsite link or call 800.ACS.2345

To learn how to find and to choose the best practitioner of a particular complementary treatment, see the document in “To Learn More.”

Be sure to discuss any complementary treatments you are considering with your doctor before starting them.

How To Prepare In Case Of An Emergency Or Natural Disaster

While emergencies can happen to anyone, you may be more vulnerable to emergencies because of your treatment.

Consider the following:

  • The types of emergency care available to you and when and where to go.. This includes deciding which emergency room to go to if needed. This exercise should be considered for your home, where you work, and any other place in which you spend substantial amounts of time. (Survivorship A to Z includes information about how to maximize your time in an Emergency Room)  
  • Think about what to communicate to emergency first responders. For instance, be ready to tell responders your disease, current treatment, recent treatments and  current medications you are taking including over the counter medications and dietary supplements. (Carrying a List of Medications helps).
  • In case you become unable to communicate, wear a medical alert, carry a computer flash drive or a card with a summary describing your condition and treatment(s) to let emergency first responders know about your medical condition, treatment and/or medications. 
  • How to continue treatment if a disaster occurs. Speak with the doctor overseeing the treatment or his/her staff.
  • For additional information about disaster planning, click here and about medical emergencies, click here.

 “Just in case:”

  • Keep an emergency bag packed. 
  • Think about the following subjects:
    • The financial and legal steps to take now so you are prepared in the event of a medical emergency. The documents to complete are known as "Advance Directives" or "Advance Healthcare Directives." To learn about them, click here.
    • If you travel, how to prepare for medical emergencies that may come up during travel. For information about travel, from preparation through return, click here.
    • What to do if you have underage children and cannot care for them because of a medical emergency. For information, click here.

If it would be helpful, use the Survivorship A to Z prioritizer to list the steps you want to take. You can then number them in order of priority. A push of a button will change the order of the list to your priority. 

NOTE: While speaking about emergencies, be sure to protect your property and pocketbook in the event of a loss with Homeowners Insurance and Automobile Insurance. Information about what to look for, how to minimize cost, and how to file claims, as a person with a serious health condition is contained in the documents in "To Learn More."