Your Cancer Plan

By asking questions, keeping detailed lists, and taking note of test results, you can take control of your cancer care.

Medical errors happen when something that was planned as a part of medical care doesn’t work out, or when the wrong plan was used in the first place. They can occur anywhere in the health care system.

Every year in the U.S., more than 70,000 adolescents and young adults between 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer.

If you have cancer, doctors will want to know the extent of its growth. Cancer tagging is a rating by your doctors to the extent of the cancer based on tests.

You need the confidence that comes from a list of sound, practical questions that can be used in teamwork with your doctor. You also need to know that it’s okay to ask questions ans expect answers in terms you can understand.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network provides a dictionary with cancer terms. Take a look if you need a little help navigating your diagnosis and treatment.

By knowing more about the medications you are prescribed, as well as possible side effects and how to use the medicine correctly, you can ensure that you are properly taking your prescriptions.

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy or prevent further growth of cancer cells. It is a systemic treatment, meaning that the drugs flow through the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body.

You may want to talk to another doctor who can look at your test results, speak with you about your personal situation, and give you a different take. Getting a second opinion can help you feel more sure about your diagnosis and treatment plan.

You may not have a lot of time to speak with your oncologist during an appointment, so it is wise to be prepared. Take a look at a few steps you can take to get ready.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading.

Over time, the strain of coping with your diagnosis and the realities of treatment may be compounded by other stresses, such as keeping up with work and dealing with family and friends.

Throughout your experience with cancer, you may have reason to travel – for treatment, work, or for pleasure.

Cancer occurs when healthy cells live beyond their normal life cycle, do not die, and continue to grow out of control. As these abnormal cells multiply, they destroy normal, healthy cells.

Cancer treatments can present extra challenges when it comes to makeup and cosmetics. Special care needs to be taken when choosing and applying cosmetics.

Awaiting a diagnosis and hearing the news can be the most emotionally difficult period of the entire cancer experience.