Content Overview 
- Summary
- Additional Tests Which May Be Recommended
- Colorectal Cancer Is Not What It Used To Be
- How To Make A Colorectal Cancer Treatment Decision
- Goals To Consider When Deciding About Whether To Take A Treatment
- Commit Yourself To Doing Everything You Can To Reach Your Goal(s)
- How To Choose The Best Available Doctors And Surgeons
- Standard Treatments
- Questions To Ask Before Agreeing To A Treatment
- When A Drug Is Recommended
- Take Someone With You To Doctor Appointments (Patient Advocates)
- Tools That Will Make The Process Easier
- Use Your Diagnosis As A Wake Up Call To Start A Healthy Lifestyle
Colorectal Cancer: Managing Your Medical Care: Diagnosis to Treatment: Stage IV
Take Someone With You To Doctor Appointments (Patient Advocates)
Next » « Previous11/13
A person who accompanies a patient to doctor visits is generally referred to as a Patient Advocate.
Experience indicates that having someone with you is particularly important for the initial meeting with a medical oncologist or surgeon . Patient advocates can help ask questions, help remember what the doctor said, and review the meeting with you afterward.
To learn more about patient advocates, including the qualities to look for in the person, and what to discuss with the person, see the document noted in "To Learn More."
Many cancer centers have patient navigators or oncology nurse navigators that are available to you to help guide and assist you as you navigate the healthcare system. The Oncology Nurse Navigator is provided free of charge by hospitals and treatment centers.. For more information about Oncology Nurse Navigators go to www.aonn.org .
Professional patient advocates are another option that is available if needed. These advocates generally charge a fee for their services. To learn about the value of a patient advocate and how to choose a patient advocate click here. For information about professional advocates, click here.
NOTE: If you record the conversation, you and your navigator can review what was said after the meeting. Recorders are inexpensive. You may even have one on your mobile telephone.