A Medical Binder

Your own copy of your medical history is helpful to keep track of your progress, to show to new doctors, and to provide an easy-to-remember place to store your notes.

Many people keep their medical records in a binder or folder. Or you can keep them online by scanning documents into a file. Any loose leaf binder with pockets for documents will do. If you have cancer, consider the following items which were created for this purpose:

• A plastic folder from the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org,  tel. 800.227.2345 (referred to as Your Personal Health Manager)
• A notebook from the Lance Armstrong Foundation: www.livestrong.org  Search on "Notebook". tel. 877.236.8820,

If you create your own record, information should include:

• The date you were diagnosed.
• The precise diagnosis.
• Copies of lab tests and test results, including pathology report(s) that describe the type and stage of your condition(s).
• Medical providers
  • Name
  • Address
  • Specialty
  • Telephone number (and mobile number if you get it)
  • Fax number
  • E mail address
• Health Insurance information, including
  • Name of insurer
  • Policy number
  • Insured if someone other than you
  • Contact telephone number for the insurer
• Drugs you take, including:
  • Dosage
  • How many times a day
  • When you started taking the drug
  • When you stopped taking the drug
  • Drugs to which you are allergic 
• Places and dates of specific treatment, such as:
  • Details of all surgeries.
  • If you have radiation, sites and total amounts of radiation therapy.
  • If you have chemotherapy, names and doses of chemotherapy and all other drugs.
  • Key lab reports 
  • Copies of x-rays, CT scans, MRIs - preferable on disks. Also keep copies of all x-ray, CT scan and MRI reports.
• List of signs to watch for and possible long-term effects of treatment.
• Contact information for all health professionals involved in your treatment and follow-up care.
• Any problems that occurred during or after treatment.
• Information about supportive care you received (such as special medicines, emotional support, and nutritional supplements)
• Contact information for people you want to keep up-to-date.
• A place to note questions and concerns as they arise. As an alternative, Survivorship A to Z provides a "Prioritizer". You can keep track of questions and concerns. Before you do to a doctor's appointment, you can prioritize your entries with the click of a button.
• A copy of your Health Care Power Of Attorney, Living Will and other advance directives.
• For note taking, extra paper and a pen or pencil.
• Photos of loved ones and/or favorite peaceful places for inspiration.

NOTE:

• You can personalize the binder and make it "fun".  For instance, add photos, articles, quite that inspire you, or a place for a journal.
• While it may seem like a lot of work, empowered patients also keep track of symptoms to help maximize time with doctor(s) and other health care providers. We provide a free interactive chart for this purpose. Click here.

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