You are here: Home Managing Your ... Breast Cancer Managing Your ... Summary
Information For Living With: Choose condition »
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 has been chosen, trust your doctor and your treatment plan. Raising any questions or concerns that come up does not mean you don't trust. If answers cause you to rethink your treatment, contact your doctor immediately.
  • If you will have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy that will change the appearance of your breast, consider starting reconstruction at the same time as your cancer removal surgery. (If health insurance pays for the initial surgery, it likely also pays for reconstruction).
  • Find out what medical and other preparation to take before breast surgery or before chemotherapy begins. For instance, there may be medications that you should stop taking for a while.
  • 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. Taking action can also help get 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.
    • Review the likely side effects of the treatment(s), and start planning for them now. For instance:
      • If chemotherapy will cause hair loss, consider getting a wig now. 
      • If you will have a lymph node removed or will undergo radiation treatment to the lymph node area of the underarm, learn how to help prevent and control lymphedema (swelling of the lymph glands). 
    • 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 a doctor doesn't naturally become the leader of the medical team, choose a doctor to be in charge.
  • Set doctor appointments and treatment schedules that work for you.
  • Get an oral check-up and take care of any problems. Oral infections can have a negative impact on treatment.
  • 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 Directive. If you previously executed such documents, update them.
  • If you work, start making plans for any changes which may be required while you undergo, or recover from, treatment. See Newly Diagnosed With Breast Cancer: At Work
  • Consider who to tell about your condition and/or upcoming treatment. Once information is out of the bag,  you can't take it back. Tell children in an age appropriate way.
  • If you haven’t already, consider how you are going to pay for treatment. To learn how, see How To Maximize Use Of Your Health Insurance and Breast Cancer: Finances
  • 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. 
  • Start compiling a copy of your medical record, and get your other papers organized.
  • Start adopting a cancer prevention diet and lifestyle. 

For additional information see:

To Learn More

Related Articles

Health Insurance 101

Choose A Doctor To Be In Charge Of The Medical Team

Treatment for breast cancer usually involves more than one cancer doctor plus your primary doctor who takes care of all other medical matters.

Hopefully your doctors will work together cooperatively. Still, there needs to be a leader. Which doctor is leader can vary from time to time as treatment and your situation change. Many times the medical oncologist will act as team leader.

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:

  • The nature of the illness
  • Which doctor you need to see most frequently
  • Who knows you well
  • Who is willing to act as leader

To Learn More

More Information

How To Communicate Effectively With Your Doctor

Trust Your Treatment Team And Choice Of Treatment.

Once you pick the best doctor(s) and treatment for you, trust the lead oncologist, the rest of the medical team, and the treatment plan.

If for some reason you don't trust the proposed treatment, get more details about your proposed treatment and continue to explore other alternatives, until you do trust.

If you don't trust a member of your team, change him or her. To learn how to switch doctors, click here.   

Keep in mind that trusting a doctor does not mean that you should stop asking questions or raising your concerns. If there isn't time to ask all your questions during an appointment with the doctor, ask when and how you can ask your additional questions. For instance, the doctor may take additional questions by email.

If You Are Going To Have Surgery

The Surgeon

Decide who will be the surgeon if you haven't already. Ideally, the surgeon should:

  • Be 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.
  • Operate in a first quality hospital with a low infection rate and back-up in other specialties in case anything goes wrong.
  • Satisfy whatever additional requirements you have. For additional factors to consider when choosing a surgeon, see our article: How To Choose A Surgeon.

Prepare for meetings with the surgeon as you would with any specialist: 

The Hospital Or Other Facility

If the surgery will be performed on an outpatient basis:

  • Learn about the facility’s emergency procedures. Be sure doctors qualified in other specialties are available in case something goes wrong and they are needed.

If you will stay in the 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. (See Hospitals: How To Avoid Infection & Medical Error
  • One of the things that you will learn from our articles about hospitals is that it is preferable to have a family member or friend stay with you as much as possible to act as a patient advocate.

Set A Date That Works For You As Well As The Surgeon

In hospital surgeries should be scheduled for early in the morning, early in the week - not just before a holiday or weekend.  

  • Doctors are more fresh when they start their day, and schedules are less likely to be backed up. . As a side benefit, if you have to stop eating the night before, you don’t have to be hungry in the morning for longer than necessary.
  • 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.

Elective surgery should not be scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July when residents just start practicing medicine.

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. 
  • 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.

Preparation For Surgery

Find out what medical preparation to expect before breast 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 you take that the doctor will want you to discontinue for a period prior to surgery. For example, aspirin or blood thinners.
  • 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.

If a lymph node will be removed, learn how to help prevent and control lymphedema after the operation.

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. 

Put together items that you can take to the hospital that will make your stay in the hospital more comfortable. For instance:

  • Family photos
  • Earplugs and a sleeping mask so you’re 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 with which to make notes about services provided (so you can later check against your bill. A large percentage of hospital bills are wrong. It is advisable to check them – even if an insurance company pays.  (To learn 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.

Think about what you will need once you get home. 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 family and friends to help, at least for the first few days after getting home – or arrange for home health care. 
  • 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 Credit: Score, Getting, Fixing)

When you are ready, learn what to expect after surgery. If you are going to have a mastectomy and you haven't already considered it, this is the time to think about reconstruction. Basic reconstruction can be started at the same time as the mastectomy. For information about reconstruction, see the American Cancer Society's web site: www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6X_Breast_Reconstruction_After_Mastectomy_5.asp offsite link

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.

A few post-surgery comfort tips

  • Pain: There is no reason to be in pain. Ask your doctor ahead of time for pain medications. That way you won’t have to take time to fill the prescription after the surgery. Many doctors under treat pain. Patient advocates suggest that you stay ahead of the pain by taking medications as prescribed rather than waiting to feel the pain. (Also consider medications or stool softeners to counteract the constricting side effect of pain medications).  It is a myth to think that you will become if you take pain medications as directed for pain. (Abusing pain medications may indeed result in addiction). For more information about pain, see Pain 101
  • Coughing: When you cough, you may feel that your incision is going to break apart. A time tested tip is to use a pillow for support when you cough. 
    • If your incision is in the front, hold the pillow against your chest. Fold your arms across the pillow. Then cough.
    • If your incision is on your side, hold the pillow under your arm. Press the pillow against your side. Cough.
  • The Incision
    • If you are feeling more than discomfort in or near your incision, let your doctor know. There may be an infection or you may not be receiving enough pain medication. (For information about pain, see the Survivorship A to Z document about pain which includes information about medications).
    • Once the bandage is removed, consider applying a cream that will keep the incision site moist and help reduce the size of the scar. Speak with your local pharmacist.
    • Wear soft, loose clothing over the incision.
    • if your incision is irritated by your bra, speak with an expert who works with bras for women with mastectomies. Many department stores and some pharmacies provide this service free of charge.
  • For more information about medical care:

Paying For Surgery

If you have health insurance, check your coverage:

If you are not insured, you may be able to obtain surgery for low cost. See How To Obtain Surgery Without Health Insurance. Also see Uninsured

For additional information, see: Preparation For Breast Surgery

If You Are Going To Have Chemotherapy

Keep in mind that chemotherapy is much more tolerable than it used to be, and that side effects can be controlled much better than previously.
  • It is preferable to schedule chemotherapy treatments for Friday afternoons to give yourself the weekend to recover without losing work or using sick days.
  • Schedule a dental check up. Oral infections can worsen the effects of chemotherapy.  (See: Oral Care 101: How To Keep Your Mouth, Gums And Throat Healthy)
  • Learn about the side effects that frequently occur with the particular drug(s) and how to eliminate or minimize them.
    • Your medical oncologist is a good source for this information. You can obtain additional information about the drugs 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.
    • 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. 
    • For information about dealing with various side effects, see Chemotherapy Side Effects And What To Do About Them
  • Ask your doctor if there are medications, supplements, herbs and/or vitamins that the doctor will want you to discontinue for a period prior to or during chemotherapy.
  • If you are advised to stop any medications, let the doctor who gave you the prescription 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.
  • If you will have a lymph node removed, How To Prevent And Control Lymphedema shows how to help prevent lymphedema (swelling of the lymph glands). The preventive steps are well worth taking. Lymphedema is temporary, but can last for a while. Lymphedema is not life threatening, but it is not fun. (For information about lymphedema, click here.)
  • If you 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 save a sample. 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 women cut their hair in a ceremony with their partner or friends.
  • 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 eggs. See: Children: Preserving The Ability To Have.
  • If chemotherapy will be given in a facility or the doctor’s office:
    • 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.
    • It may make it easier for you if you take a family member or friend 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.
  • 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.
  • if you have children and haven’t told them yet about your condition and/or treatment, now is the time to do so in an age appropriate manner. To learn more, click here

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.

Side Effects

To learn about chemotherapy effects in general and what to do about them, click here.

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.

Stock up on your 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 because of your treatment. If you don't have health insurance, start thinking about how to pay for the treatment. For helpful information, see:

For more information about medical care:


If You Are Going To Have Radiation Treatment

  • 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 every day for a period of weeks. Set a time slot that fits for your life. If the time isn't immediately available, check to find out how long you can wait to start treatment without affecting the effectiveness of your treatment. Perhaps the time slot will become available in time. If not, consider using another radiation facility in your area.
  • Schedule a dental check up. Oral infections can worsen the effects of radiation.
    • Speak with your cancer doctor 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 lung cancer and tell him or her the 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. See How To Choose A Specialist. You can locate a dental oncologist through any of the following:
      • A referral from your cancer doctor.
      • 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. For more informatoin, click here.
  • 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.
  • If you will undergo radiation treatment to the lymph node area of the underarm, Lymphedema And Breast Cancer In Women tells you about Lymphedema (swelling of the lymph glands).  To learn how to prevent it see: How To Prevent And Control Lymphedema. The preventive steps are well worth taking. Lymphedema is temporary, but can last for a while. Lymphedema is not life threatening, but it is not fun.
  • 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.
    • 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.       
    • For more information, see: Side Effects And How To Deal With Them
  • 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 survival.
    • For information about quitting, click here.
  • If you use recreational drugs, let your doctor know. They may interfere with treatment.
  • 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 eggs before treatment starts. For information, see: Children: Preserving the Ability to Have
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • If you are uncomfortable in institutional hospital gowns, consider creating your own or purchasing one that will be more comfortable than the one supplied by the facility. You can find gowns online(for example, through www.healingthreads.com offsite link) or create your own. For a pattern, click here.
  • 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 your 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 Children: How To Tell About Your Condition And Why
  • 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, think about payment.
    • If you have a health insurance policy, check it to determine how much, if at all, you will be out of pocket and start thinking about how to pay those costs. 

For more information about medical care:

Get An Oral Check-Up And Take Care Of Any Problems.

  • Speak with your cancer doctor about possible oral complications from your treatment and what, if anything, your dentist should focus on prior to treatment.
  • Get a dental check-up and evaluation. 
    • 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 breast cancer and tell him or her the treatment(s) you have agreed to.
    • 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.
    • Mention to your dentist the risks for oral complications your cancer doctor told you about.
  • Practice good oral hygiene. It 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.

If your doctor recommends that you speak with a dental oncologist

A dental oncologist is a dentist who is trained in dental and oral care for people with cancer. You can locate a dental oncologist through any of the following:

  • A referral from your cancer doctor.
  • 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.

Use the same technique to find the right dental oncologist as is recommended for choosing any medical specialist. See "To Learn More."

Set Doctor Appointments And Treatment Schedules That Work For You

Doctor's appointments:

  • Schedule doctor appointments for early in the day or at the beginning of that part of the day when the doctor sees patients. This 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.

Radiation treatments: As a general matter, radiation treatments are scheduled at the same time every day for a period of weeks. Set a time slot that fits for your life. If the time isn't immediately available, check to find out how long you can wait to start treatment without affecting the effectiveness of your treatment. Perhaps the time slot will become available in time. If not, consider using another radiation facility in your area.

Surgeries: In hospital surgeries should be scheduled for early in the morning, early in the week - not just before a holiday or weekend.  

  • Doctors are more fresh when they start their day, and schedules are less likely to be backed up. As a side benefit, if you have to stop eating the night before, you don’t have to be hungry in the morning for longer than necessary.
  • 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.

Elective surgery should not be scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July when residents just start practicing medicine.

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. 

Chemotherapy treatments: Schedule chemo treatments for Friday afternoons to give yourself the weekend to recover without losing work or using sick days.

Think Through Your Personal Needs

Medically

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 undergo 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.
  • 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.

Learn how to communicate most effectively with doctors (and when to fire them if necessary).

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

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.

Get organized

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

  • Start keeping a notebook or file for your medical records. 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.
  • 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 information about an easy organizing system, click here.

Your personal and other needs

If You Travel, Take Precautions

Travel is likely possible before and during treatment if you plan ahead of time and take appropriate precautions while traveling. 

Clear all travel with your doctor before you set plans. Let your doctor know your:

  • Destination
  • Means of getting there
  • Where you will stay
  • Activities you will engage in 

For information, see:

Execute or Update Legal Documents To Keep You In Control

To Keep Control Of Your Medical Care

 Everyone should consider what they want to happen in case you need medical care and become unable to speak for your self. While something could go wrong while undergoing 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. And don't forget Terri Shiavo, the Florida woman  who ended up on a respirator for years whose situation went to the U.S. Congress. She was a young woman in her 20's with no medical history when she collapsed.

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 Directive For Mental Health. Both types of directives are free, easy to obtain and easy to execute.

If you do not have an Advance Healthcare Directive or Advance Directive For Mental Health, consider executing one or more. 

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.

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.

For more information, including how to choose someone to act on your behalf, see Advance Healthcare Directives 101 and How To Enforce A Living Will And Other Advance Directives.

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.

You won't die just because you execute a will. See: Wills 101

NOTE:

  • While you’re at it, consider writing an ethical will. It tells your family information you want passed on. 
  • If you have substantial assets, speak with a tax expert or attorney and do estate planning. If you are a small business owner, click here.

Adopt A Cancer Prevention Diet And Lifestyle

Controlling your diet and lifestyle helps gain a sense of control and empowerment. It may also help get your body into the best condition to fight cancer.

  • Eat nutritiously
    • People who eat well are better able to cope with side effects of treatment. You may even be able to handle higher doses of certain drugs.
    • Keep your comfort foods for once in a while (say once every few days or once a week). The goal is to eliminate unhealthy foods or to keep them to a bare minimum.
    • The American Cancer Society recommends:
      • Vegetables and fruits: Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables (including legumes, or peas and beans) and fruits each day. Try to eat those with the most color (a sign of high nutrient content). These foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and many other substances that work together to lower risk of many cancers, including cancers of the lung, mouth, esophagus, stomach, and colon. Not only that, if prepared properly, vegetables and fruits are usually low in calories, so eating them in place of higher-calorie foods can help you control your weight.
      • Whole grains: Aim for at least 3 servings of whole grains each day. There are easy ways to add whole grains to your diet -- eat oatmeal at breakfast, choose 100% whole-wheat bread or wraps for your lunchtime sandwich, use brown rice at dinner instead of white.
      • Processed and red meats: Cutting back on processed meats like hot dogs, bologna, bacon, and deli meat, and red meats like beef, pork, and lamb may help reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancers. These foods are also high in saturated fat, so eating less of them and eating them less often will also help lower your risk of heart disease.
    • If you have a question about what eating well in general means, one credible source of information is the United States Department of Agriculture's web site:www.MyPyramid.gov offsite link
    • Ask your cancer doctor, a nutritionist or dietitian if there are foods you should start eating or avoiding that would make your treatment more effective or easier.
  • Make sure both food and water are safe. For example, practice proper techniques when handling or storing food. For helpful information, see: Food Safety, Drinking Water Safety 
  • Get exercise.
    • Exercise has many benefits. For instance, exercise helps your body's healing function operate at its best. On the other hand, too much exercise can impact your treatment. Speak with your doctor about the right amount of exercise for you.
    • Exercise does not have to be in a gym. Even brisk walking is helpful. 
    • If you belong to a gym:
      • Take precautions to avoid unnecessary infection. Gyms can be a hot house for bacteria.
      • Ask your doctor how long you will be unable to do your usual exercises. Most gyms will place a membership on hold for medical reasons so you don't pay for the time. 
    • If platelet counts become low: Avoid high-risk sports to prevent bleeding from injuries or rough contact.
  • Get rest and appropriate sleep.
  • If you smoke use your diagnosis as a wake up call to quit.  
    • By quitting at the time of diagnosis, a patient can improve the body’s response to treatments, lessen complications and side effects, decrease the risk of recurrence and enhance survival
    • Once you stop smoking because of cancer therapy, consider stopping for good. Cancer patients who smoke have a lower survival rate than nonsmokers. Also keep in mind that tobacco is a known risk factor for at least 15 different types of cancer.
    • For information about quitting, click here.
  • Avoid excessive use of alcohol.
  • Try to keep a positive attitude. We're not suggesting you become a pollyanna. Work at keeping the focus on the half full side of the glass. For information about keeping a positive attitude, click here.
  • Think about getting a pet. It doesn't have to be a dog or a cat to help you feel better. You can get a dog for a short term by being a foster home for an animal at a local shelter.