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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

Now that a treatment decision has been made:learn

  • Trust your doctor and your treatment plan.
    • If for some reason you don't trust the proposed treatment plan, continue to explore the alternatives until you have more trust.  Keep in mind that in making a treatment decision it is rare to approach it with complete confidence.
    • If you don't trust a member of your team, change him or her.  For information about how to switch doctors, click here.
    • Keep in mind that trusting a doctor does not mean that you should stop asking questions, raising your concerns, working with the doctor in a partnership. If there isn't time to ask all your questions during an appointment with the doctor, ask when and how to ask your additional questions. For instance, the doctor may take additional questions by email, or come in early or stay late.
    • If the answers to your questions cause you to rethink your treatment, contact your doctor immediately.
  • If you have more than one doctor, one should be in charge. Hopefully your doctors will work together cooperatively. 
    • Do not assume that a particular doctor is in charge. Confirm with the doctor you think is in charge that he or she has taken on the role. As your situation changes, check again.
    • If the doctor who takes the position is not the one you want to be in charge, ask another doctor to fill the role.
    • Who is in charge generally depends on:
      • If the institution you are being treated at has a team in place with assigned roles. Large centers and Comprehensive Cancer Center’s offsite link utilize the team approach.
      • The nature of the illness
      • Which doctor you need to see most frequently
      • Who knows your history well
      • Who is willing to act as leader
    • See: Doctors 101: Choosing, Working With Effectively, Switching, Paying
  • Set doctor appointments and treatment schedules that work for you.
  • Focus on the medical preparation to take treatment.  For instance, there may be medications that you should stop taking for a while. For instance, if you will undergo radiation, expect to meet with your radiation oncologist before treatment starts.
  • Start thinking about the practical aspects of your upcoming treatment.  
    • By preparing now, you can avoid the stress of catch-up at the same time you are dealing with treatment.  For instance, review the likely side effects of the treatment(s) and start planning for them now.
    • If you work, start making plans for time off and for any changes which may be required while you undergo, or recover from, treatment. For information, see: Newly Diagnosed With Colorectal Cancer: At Work.
    • Think through your personal needs
      • If you will be unable to carry on your normal responsibilities or chores, start making arrangements for other people to take them over.
      • If you plan to travel, get approval from your doctor. For tips about choosing a destination, means of travel, how to prepare etc, click here.
    • Taking action can also help get you through what is usually a difficult emotional time before treatment starts. The period prior to the beginning of treatment is usually one of the most stressful periods after a diagnosis. (Tips about dealing with waiting are available by clicking here. For tips about dealing with fear of a treatment, click here.) 
  • Get an oral check-up and take care of any existing problems. Oral infections can have a negative impact on treatment. For information about oral care, click here.
  • Consider who to disclose information about your condition and/or treatment, and what to tell them. Once information is out of the bag, you can’t take it back. Tell children in an age appropriate way. For tips, click here
  • If you have children, brothers or sisters, a natural question is whether they are at risk for also developing colon or rectal cancer, and, if so, what should be done about it.
    • 17-20% of colorectal cancer is hereditary which means that certain identifiable genes are passed from a parent to a child. The rest of cases are not gene related and thus do not affect children or brothers and sisters (siblings).
    • The genes which increase the risk of children getting colorectal cancer are FAP familial adenenomatous polyposis and lynch syndrome or HNPCC.
    • There are currently two tests for the subject genes. If a test shows that one of the genes is present, a genetic counselor should be consulted to decide what to do.
    • The number one reason for surviving colorectal cancer is early detection.  Recommendations depend on your age when diagnosed.
    • If a person is under age 50 when diagnosed, the standard  recommendation is: That a colonoscopy be performed, and that a genetic test should automatically be done. If one of the genes is present, children, brothers and sisters should be tested without undue delay.
    • If a person is age 50 or over at diagnosis, (unless there has been a genetic test which shows the presence of one of the subject genes), children, brothers and sisters should be screened for possible presence of colorectal cancer starting ten years before the age of the diagnosed relative, or at age 50, whichever comes first. To clarify, if you were diagnosed at age 52, then your children, brothers and sisters should start being screened for colorectal cancer at age 42. How often the person should be screened after the initial test will be determined based on the initial findings. For information about screening techniques, click here
    • If  you have children: In addition to following the above recommendation, start changing your children’s diet to a cancer prevention diet and make sure they get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. These steps will help reduce the risk of  colorectal cancer. If it does appear, their bodies will be in the best shape to fight it.
  • Travel is likely possible now and during treatment if you make appropriate arrangements and take necessary precautions. Clear all travel with your doctor before you set plans. For information about travel after a diagnosis, click here.  For information about travel with an ostomy, click here.
  • Consider how you are going to pay for treatment. To learn how, see How To Maximize Use Of Your Health Insurance and Colorectal Cancer Finances.
  • Start compiling a copy of your medical records, and get your other papers organized so you can save time finding things – especially when you’re not feeling well.
  • Keep control of your medical care in case something happens and you become unable to communicate by executing easy-to-obtain documents known as Advance Health Care Directives and Advance Mental Health Directives. If you executed such documents more than a year ago, update them so there is no question about your current desires.
  • Deal with emotions that surface. The body and the mind are part of the same system. If you become so anxious and frightened that you become unable to think straight or take action, consult with a mental health professional who can help reduce anxiety enough so that you can participate in the decision. For tips about dealing with emotions, click here.
  • Last, but certainly not least, start adopting a cancer prevention diet and lifestyle. 
    • A cancer diet, exercise and rest will help strengthen your system to be better able to tolerate treatment, help you feel in control, and ultimately help you remain cancer free if treatment gets rid of your cancer or to maximize your efforts if the goal becomes living with your  cancer as a chronic disease.
    • It may help to think of food as one of your medicines.
    • Do not expect to change the way you eat, drink and live overnight. Baby steps get you to the same place as a sprint – with more likelihood that you will be to keep to the new lifestyle.

For additional information, see:

If You Are Going To Undergo Surgery

The Surgeon

 The first step when preparing for surgery is to decide who the surgeon will be.  It doesn’t have to be the person you’ve spoken with so far. Best results come from a surgeon who is a board certified surgical oncologist (a surgeon who specializes in cancer), with a great deal of recent experience in the type of operation you have agreed to. To learn more about choosing a surgeon, see How To Choose A Surgeon.

If no specialist is available in your area, consider traveling to a nationally certified comprehensive cancer center. (To find one, click here offsite link.)  At least, try to find a general surgeon who performs colon or rectal surgery often.

NOTE: 

  • Prepare for your meeting with the surgeon as you would with any specialist:
  • Make sure that copies of your medical records are received by the doctor before the appointment. Call the office a few days before the scheduled meeting to be sure the records have arrived. If they haven’t, you’ll have time to follow up. (Offering to pick up records helps push people to get things done in a timely manner).
  • Make notes of questions and concerns before the meeting. Survivorship A to Z provides a Prioritizer to help you keep track of questions and concerns, we well as a Symptoms diary to keep track of Symptoms.
  • To learn more, see: How To Prepare For A Meeting With A Doctor 
  • Even though surgery may seem indicated, consider meeting with at least one radiation oncologist and/or at least one medical oncologist (specialist in chemotherapy) to fully understand your treatment options.

The Hospital Or Other Facility

If the surgery will be performed on an outpatient basis:

  • Ask about the facility’s emergency procedures in case you need additional support during a procedure. For example, it is advisable that other doctors qualified in emergencies and in other specialties are available in case something goes wrong and they are needed.
  • You will need someone to take you home after a procedure.

If you will stay in a hospital at least overnight

  • Learn what you need to know about how to maximize your time in a hospital and to minimize risk of infection. Hospital related infections can be dangerous. Over 100,000 people a year die from them.
  • One way to reduce risk of infection, and to maximize your stay, is to have a family member or friend stay with you as much as possible to act as a patient advocate. See “To Learn More.”

The Timing Of The Surgery

Set a time and date that works for both you and the surgeon. In-hospital surgeries should be scheduled for early in the morning. Benefits of an early surgery include:

  •  Doctors are fresh when they start their day.
  • Schedules are less likely to be backed up so there is less chance you’ll have to wait once you get to the facility.
  • If you have to stop eating the night before, you don’t have to be hungry in the morning for longer than necessary.

Surgeries should also be scheduled for early in the week, and not just before a holiday or weekend. Hospitals tend to have limited staffing on weekends and holidays. If surgery takes place early in the week, you have the rest of the week at full staffing if needed.

If you work:

  • Consider planning surgery for vacation time or during business slow times. 
  • If you schedule outpatient procedures for Friday afternoons, you have the weekend to recover with minimal loss of work. 

Standard advice is that elective surgery should not be scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July when residents just start practicing medicine.

NOTE:  If you have appointments with different doctors and/or tests coming up, avoid constant interruptions in your life by scheduling them for the same day or only setting doctor appointments for the same day every week.  The most important thing is to have the surgery in a timely manner to avoid possible complications from delays such as a bowel blockage.

Get Ready For Surgery

Find out what medical preparation to expect before surgery and what you should or should not do to maximize chances of success. For example:

  • There may be medications, supplements, herbs and/or vitamins that the doctor will want you to discontinue for a period prior to surgery, such as aspirin or blood thinners. (Before discontinuing any drug etc. prescribed by another doctor, check with that doctor).
  • If you use recreational drugs, let your doctor know. They may affect surgery.
  • If you smoke, the doctor may want you to stop for a number of days before surgery. Stopping can help improve the body’s response to treatment and lessen complications and side effects. If you quit permanently, stopping can decrease the risk of recurrence and enhance survival. (For information about quitting smoking, click here.
  • Schedule a dental exam. Prior to surgery is a good time to take care of any oral problems. Mounting evidence indicates that poor oral care can worsen serious medical problems. Infections can impact surgical outcomes.
  • Discuss pain medication for after surgery with your surgeon or ask him or her if you can speak with a pain specialist.
    • Proper pain medication helps speed recovery and shortens the amount of time patients have to spend in the hospital.
    • Pain medication used as prescribed for pain is not addictive.
    • Fill pain prescriptions now so there won't be unnecessary pain after the surgery until the prescription is filled. 
  • Identify family members and/or friends to act as patient advocates for you while you are in the hospital. Having someone with you helps reduce risk of infection, reduce medical errors, and that you get what you need when you need it. To learn how to identify a good patient advocate, and topics, to discuss, click here.
  • Put together items that you can take to the hospital that will make your stay in the hospital more comfortable. For instance:
    • Framed photos of loved ones or happy memories.
    • Earplugs and a sleeping mask so your rest is not disturbed by hospital noise,  light,  or noisy roommates.
    • A favorite pillow that is marked so it not confused with hospital pillows.
    • A pad and pens with which you or a patient advocate can make notes about services provided. This helps later when checking your hospital bill. A very high percentage of hospital bills are wrong. It is advisable to check them – even if an insurance company pays.  (For information about how to check hospital bills, click here.) 
    • Loose clothes to wear home.
  • Think about who will drive you home, particularly if a procedure will be performed on an out patient basis.
  • Review what to expect during the recovery from the operation. For a reminder, click here
  • Learn about what to expect when you get home after surgery and think about what your needs will be. For instance:
    • Minimize the need for shopping and cooking by stocking your freezer with ready-to-heat foods.
    • Put a family member or friend in charge of setting a schedule for people to help, at least for the first few days after getting home – or arrange for home health care. (See “To Learn More.”)
    • Do all the predictable chores before going into the hospital – for instance paying bills. Credit is important after a diagnosis and you should do everything you can to protect it – and even improve it. (See “To Learn More.”  for more about why, and how)

NOTE: If you have children, and haven’t told them about your condition and/or treatment, now is the time to do so in an age appropriate manner. For more information, click here.

Paying For Surgery

Check your health insurance policy to:

  • Determine if prior approval is needed for the surgery. If so, ask your doctor's office if it will handle getting the approval for you. If there is a problem, appeal. The higher you appeal a decision, the more likelihood of success. To learn about appeals, see the document in “To Learn More.”
  • Find out how much, if at all, you will have to pay out of your own pocket.

If you are not insured, you may be able to obtain surgery for low cost. See the document in "To Learn More."

During And After Treatment

If You Are Going To Have External Radiation

  • If you want to have children in the future, ask the doctor whether radiation could affect your ability to have children. If so, consider banking your sperm or eggs before the treatment starts. (For more information, click here)
  • Set a treatment schedule that works for you as well as the facility. As a general matter, radiation treatments are scheduled at the same time 5 days a week for a period of weeks. Set a time slot that fits for your life. If the time isn't immediately available, perhaps one will become available in time. Check to find out how long you can wait to start treatment without affecting the effectiveness of your treatment. If the timing doesn’t work, consider using another radiation facility in your area.
  • Take care of the medical prep on a timely basis.
    • Expect to meet with your radiation oncologist before treatment starts. Also expect that he or she will consult with other members of your treatment team. Before treatment, the doctor will also examine you thoroughly and will review your medical reports.
    • Stay on top of doctors receiving reports from other doctors. Find out what date the doctor expects to receive a report. Check that day to be sure the report is received. If not, call the doctor’s office that was to forward the report to follow-up. If necessary, physically go and pick up the report and take it to the appropriate doctor.
  • Schedule a dental check up. Oral infections can worsen the effects of radiation.
    • Speak with your oncologist about possible oral complications from your treatment and what, if anything, your dentist should focus on prior to treatment.
    • Get an examination of your mouth, teeth and jawbone to check for potential problems that may arise during treatment.
      • Tell the dentist you are about to have treatment for colorectal cancer and the specific treatment(s) you have agreed to.
      • Mention to your dentist the risks for oral complications your doctor told you about.
      • If you have issues that could become a problem during treatment, take care of them now. Find out from your dentist how much time is needed for your mouth to heal properly. It is preferable for healing to be complete before treatment begins.
  • If your doctor recommends that you speak with a dental oncologist (a dentist who is trained in dental and oral care for people with cancer): Use the same technique to find the right dental oncologist as is recommended for choosing any medical specialist. (For information, click here).  You can locate a dental oncologist through any of the following:
    • A referral from your oncologist.
    • National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov offsite link or Tel.: 800.422.6237.
    • National Comprehensive Cancer Network, www.nccn.org offsite link, or Tel.: 215.690.0300.
  • Practice good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene will reduce your chances of getting tooth decay, mouth sores and, most important, infections. Experts recommend that you brush your teeth after every meal and at bedtime. Use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride in it.  Floss once a day.
  • Find out if there are any medications, supplements, herbs or vitamins you take that should be discontinued during treatment. If there are, check with the doctor who prescribed them to let him or her know what is happening and find out if you should be doing something else during treatment.
  • Learn about and prepare for possible side effects. For instance:
    • Speak with the radiologist about creams to purchase to reduce possible skin soreness. Test a small amount to be sure you don't have any adverse effects.
    • Fatigue generally accompanies radiation treatment. Start making room in your schedule for rest. For information on coping with fatigue, click here
    • Get a prescription for nausea “just in case.”  If you have a prescription, you can fill it without delay if the need arises. Prescriptions don't cost anything until you have them filled.
  • If you smoke, use the treatment as a trigger to stop. 
    • Stopping can help improve the body’s response to treatment, and lessen complications and side effects.
    • If you quit permanently, stopping can decrease the risk of recurrence and enhance the likelihood of survival.
    • For information about stopping smoking, click here
  • If you are around second hand smoke try to eliminate your exposure. Second hand smoke is as dangerous to your health as smoking.
  • If you use recreational drugs, let your doctor know. They may interfere with treatment.
  • Consider taking a tour of the area where radiation will be administered and any other location where you will be spending time. This way you will know what to expect. You'll also get a better idea of what to bring with you to make yourself comfortable. (For information about what to expect during treatment, click here).
  • It may make it easier for you if you line up a family member or friend to go with you to the first treatment. After that it may be easier if you go to treatments alone. Going alone makes going for treatment more like going to a standard doctor's appointment. You will likely find other people going through the same treatment with whom to have an informal support group.
  • Think about how you are going to get to and from appointments. If needed, American Cancer Society can help arrange transportation with its group of volunteer drivers. Call 800.ACS.2345. The more notice you give the Society, the more likely it can find a volunteer to fill your needs. The Society can also point you to available public transportation in your area.
  • Ask your doctor about changes to start making in your diet to build your system with nutrients that the treatment may affect. The doctor may recommend you speak with a nutritionist/dietitian. Perhaps you should also be taking a multi-vitamin and/or supplements.
  • Stock up on single portions of your favorite comfort foods, including some in your freezer that you can defrost as needed. When you freeze foods for this period, 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 doctor 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 only setting doctor appointments for the same day every week.
  • Last, but not least, check your health insurance policy to find out if prior approval is necessary and to determine how much money, if at all, you will be out of pocket. Start thinking about how to pay those costs. If you don't have health insurance, start thinking about how to pay for the treatment. For information about these subjects, see the documents in "To Learn More."

During And After Treatment

For information about:

If You Are Going To Have Chemotherapy

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING CONTENT IS DISCUSSED IN THE DOCUMENTS IN “TO LEARN MORE”

Keep in mind that chemotherapy is much more tolerable than it used to be, and that side effects can be managed much better than in the past.

  • Schedule a dental check up. Oral infections can worsen the effects of chemotherapy.
  • Learn about the side effects that frequently occur with the particular drug(s) and how to eliminate or minimize them.  Keep in mind that just because some side effects occur frequently, that does not mean that you will have them or that they will be as severe as they may be other people. Also keep in mind that aAggressive side effect management increases your likelihood of completing treatment.
    • A place to start is our information about the following chemotherapy drugs:
    • Your medical oncologist is a good source for learning about side effects to anticipate.
    • You can obtain additional information about side effects common with the drugs that will be used in your treatment from such reputable web sites as The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org offsite link or American Society of Clinical Oncologists, www.cancer.net offsite link. Type in the name of the drug(s) that will be used.
    • Be sure to ask your doctor any questions that come up from your research.
    • For information about coping with common side effects, click here. Get prescriptions for medications that may minimize or help you cope with possible side effects. Prescriptions don't cost anything until you have them filled. If you have the prescriptions, you can fill them without delay if the need arises. 
  • Ask your doctor if there are medications, supplements, herbs and/or vitamins that he or she wants you to discontinue for a period prior to or during chemotherapy.
    • If you are advised to stop any medications, let the prescribing doctor know in case you should be doing something else while you are not allowed to take the drug.
    • If you use recreational drugs, let your doctor know. They may affect chemotherapy
    • If you smoke, stopping can help improve the body’s response to treatment and lessen complications and side effects. If you quit permanently, stopping can decrease the risk of recurrence and enhance survival. For information about stopping, click here.
  • If you are going to take Irinotecan and are at risk for losing your hair :
    • Decide if you will want to wear a wig. If so, now is the time to get one to match your hair or at least to save a sample of your hair. Many insurance companies cover the cost of wigs. Free and low cost wigs are available.
    • Consider other ways of coping such as shaving your head or wearing hats and scarves or even sewing bangs into a scarf.
    • Instead of waiting for hair to fall out, consider cutting it off. Some people cut their hair in a ceremony with their partner or friends.
    • For more information, click here.
  • If you want to have children in the future, ask if a treatment could affect your ability to have them. If so, consider freezing your sperm or egg or a fertilized egg. To learn more, click here.
  • If chemotherapy will be given in a facility, consider taking a tour of the area where chemotherapy will be administered and any other location where you will be spending time. This way you will know what to expect. You'll also get a better idea of what to bring with you to make yourself comfortable during a chemotherapy infusion.
  • Review what to expect while receiving chemotherapy. Our documenets about the specific chemotherapy treatments provides this information.
  • Transportation to and from treatment and medical appointments 
    • Think about how you are going to get to and from appointments. If needed, American Cancer Society can help arrange transportation with its list of volunteer drivers. Call 800.ACS.2345. 
    • The more notice you give the Society, the more likely it can find a volunteer to fill your needs.
    • The Society can also point you to available public transportation in your area if necessary.
  • Nutrition/Vitamins/Supplements. Ask your doctor about changes to start making in your diet to build your system with nutrients that the treatment may affect. The doctor may recommend you speak with a nutritionist/dietitian. 
    • Perhaps you should also be taking a multi-vitamin and/or supplements.  
    • Notify your treatment team of all supplements you take as some may interfere with treatment.
  • Stock up on your single servings of your favorite comfort foods, including some in your freezer that you can defrost as needed. When you freeze foods for this period, make the portions smaller than usual for those occasions when you don't feel like eating a lot.
  • Costs: Check your health insurance policy to determine how much, if at all, you will be out of pocket for your chemo treatment. If you don't have health insurance, start thinking about how to pay for the treatment. For helpful information, see the documents in "To Learn More."

During And After Treatment

For information about:

If You Are Going to Undergo Targeted Therapy

Biologics (also known as Targeted Therapies) are medicinal products which are created by biologic processes from animal products and other living sources instead of being chemically manufactured) to prevent, diagnose or treat disease. The idea is to attack a part of cancer cells that is not also found in normal cells, thus reducing side effects.

For information about biologics, click here

Think Through Your Personal Needs

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS, SEE THE DOCUMENTS IN "TO LEARN MORE"

Medical Needs

If you are going to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation:

  • It will help ease the anxiety if you ask a close friend or relative to accompany you to at least the first few treatments.
  • Family members and friends can also do research for you when necessary. Just be sure they only research reliable sources. Survivorship A to Z documents in "To Learn More" explain how to do that - and to avoid phony information.
  • If you are going to have surgery: It helps ease anxiety if you ask a close friend or relative to accompany you to the facility where the surgery will take place.
  • If you are going to have radiation: It helps if you ask a relative or close friend to accompany you to the first treatment.

Learn how to communicate most effectively with doctors, how to get over bumps in the relationship and when to fire them if necessary. See the documents in “To Learn More.”

Ask one of your doctors who the other medical professionals are that you are likely to run into and what each one does. The knowledge will give you a better understanding of how each person can be beneficial to you and who to ask which questions. (If in doubt about who to ask a particular question , ask everyone who would seemingly know the answer until you get your question answered).

Emotionally

  • Start focusing on the half full side of the glass with realistic optimism. There is always a reason to have hope. For information about how to stay on the positive side, click here
  • Learn how to cope with waiting for tests, test results and procedures, including how to cope with anxiety or depression. Click here.
  • For information about emotions that may appear and how to deal with them, click here.

Nutrition

If you will undergo chemotherapy or radiation, it may be difficult to eat or to feel well enough to prepare foods.

  • Start identifying nutritious snacks that you like. Buy a supply.
  • Store foods that you are likely to eat.
  • Cook and freeze meals ahead of time.
  • Ask family or friends to cook for you.

Sleep

If you have difficulty sleeping, there are methods to consider that help. Your doctor can also prescribe medication aides. For more information, click here.

Get organized

Start figuring out how to minimize the impact of treatment and your health condition on your daily life. For instance:

  • Start keeping your own copy of your medical records in a notebook, hard file or online file in a secure place such as Microsoft’s Health Vault offsite link.  One of the advantages to keeping your own record, and an up-to-date summary, is that you can save time each time you see a new doctor.  Keep a record of all medications including over the counter medicines.
  • Get your important papers organized - especially health insurance information. This way you won't have to waste time looking for things when you may not be feeling well. For easy-to-use tips, click here
  • A 3-ring binder divided into sections may be helpful, you can include a monthly calendar in the front to keep track of appointments.

Finances

Your personal and other needs

  • During and after treatment you are not likely to be able to do everything you do now. Start lining up people now to do chores or activities you may not be able to do during and after treatment.
  • When friends or family ask what they can do to help give them specific jobs, like laundry, walk the dog, rake the leaves that way they will know exactly what you need.

Execute/Update Legal Documents To Stay In Control

To Keep Control Of Your Medical Care

Everyone should consider what we want to happen in case medical care is needed and we are unable to speak for ourselves. While something could go wrong during a treatment, this suggestion is only partially about those risks. The reality is that every moment is a blessing and we never know what will happen. The word "accident" refers to the unexpected. Don't forget Terri Shiavo, the Florida woman who ended up on a respirator for years whose situation went to the U.S. Congress. When she collapsed, she was a young woman in her 20's with no medical history.

Documents to make your wishes happen in the physical areas are known as Advance Healthcare Directives. Documents about your wishes if your become mentally challenged are known as Advance Mental Health Directives. Both types of directives are free, easy to obtain and easy to execute.

If you do not have an Advance Healthcare Directive or Mental Health Care Directive, consider executing one or more. For more information about Advance Healthcare Directives, including how to choose someone to act on your behalf, click here.  For information about Mental Health Care Directives, click here

If you already have an Advance Directive:

  • Check it to be sure it is up-to-date with your wishes. The last thing needed is a lengthy, expensive delay while people argue over whether you still would want what you put in writing. 
  • You can indicate that the wishes expressed in the document are still your current wishes by dating and signing the document again or even just initialing it.

Studies indicate that even with Advance Directives in place, patients' wishes are often ignored. Survivorship A to Z provides information on how to enforce an Advance Directive. Click here.

To Keep Control Of Your Assets

To control what happens to your assets in case you die, execute a Will - or check your existing will to be sure it is up-to-date. If you don't have your own valid will, your assets will pass according to the terms of the will established by the state in which you life (this is known as "intestate.")  Wills do not have to be expensive. They may even be free.

It is a myth to think that you will die just because you execute a will.

NOTE:

  • While you’re at it, consider writing a document known as an ethical will. It tells your family information you want passed on. See “To Learn More.”
  • If you have substantial assets, speak with a tax expert or attorney for estate planning. Prepare for the meeting by clicking here.  For information about how to prepare for a meeting with a lawyer, click here