Finding Quality Cancer Care

Being an advocate in your cancer care doesn’t mean doing everything on your own. It means realizing the kind of help you need and getting it.

You owe it to yourself to find the right treatment facility for your needs. This goes beyond finding advanced technologies and clinical expertise. Cancer self-advocacy begins with finding quality cancer care.

Some considerations include:

• Will you receive all your care under one roof?
• Will your doctors work together as a team?
• Will your treatment plan be individualized?
• Will your doctors involve you in the decision-making process?
• Will you be able to maintain your quality of life during treatment?

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH PROVIDER REGARDING YOUR CANCER CARE.

Self-Advocacy Tips: Putting the Right Cancer Team in Place

• Educate yourself. Being an informed consumer can be empowering in itself. Try to learn as much as you can about your cancer type, treatment options, possible side effects, and available support. Ask your doctor for patient education materials and resources. The more you know, the more confident you will feel about your decisions.
• Choose your hospital carefully. You should be comfortable with, and confident in, your care. Choose a hospital/facility that suits you best. Some hospitals treat cancer exclusively. Also, having all your providers in the same location provides advantages, such as greater convenience, better accessibility to your doctors, and more streamlined care.
• Find experts in cancer. Find doctors from multiple disciplines who specialize in your form of cancer. If you will be seeing complementary medicine clinicians, learn about their educational background, training, credentials, skills, and experience. Many states have regulatory agencies or licensing boards for certain types of practitioners.
• Understand your rights. You are entitled to certain rights from your provider, including the right to participate in the formation of your treatment plan. Even if you have a good relationship with your current doctor, you may want to seek a second or third opinion before beginning treatment. Exploring all your options can help you feel more empowered.
• Seek individualized care. Cancer affects each person differently. Even the same type of cancer can grow at different rates and respond differently to the same treatments. Your treatment should reflect your unique diagnosis, needs and preferences. Think about what is important to you and communicate your treatment goals to your doctor.
• Choose doctors who work as a team. Your doctors should work as a team, communicating regularly with each other, and with you. A team approach ensures everyone is working together to address all aspects of your well-being. If you are seeing several different providers in different locations, make sure they are in communication with each other about your treatment plan.
• Explore fully-integrated treatment. During cancer treatment, you’ll need support to manage side effects, stay strong, and maintain your quality of life. Thus, an integrated approach is very important. Find a place that offers conventional treatments alongside supportive therapies, such as nutrition therapy, naturopathy, rehabilitation, counseling, and spiritual support.
• Stay involved in the process. Taking an active role in your cancer care can give you a greater sense of control and help you make informed decisions about your treatment. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If your doctor uses medical terms you don’t understand, ask him or her to explain it in another way until it makes sense to you.
• Be open with your cancer team. Communication with your cancer team is essential to receiving the kind of treatment you need. Be open with your doctor about how you are coping and any new symptoms you may be experiencing. A good patient-doctor relationship can help you feel more confident in your treatment.
• Build a support system. Staying connected with others can be empowering in itself. Aside from family and friends, share your feelings and concerns with other cancer survivors who have had similar experiences. You may also decide to ask for referrals to psychological, financial, and/or spiritual support resources.

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH PROVIDER REGARDING YOUR CANCER CARE.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a network of cancer hospitals unlike any other.

CTCA doctors focus on the treatment of patients with many forms of cancer, including complex and advanced cases. They work as a team, alongside cancer experts across multiple disciplines, to keep patients strong in body, mind and spirit.

CTCA care team members listen to patients and provide clear, well-defined choices. They work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan based on each patient’s unique diagnosis and needs.

Using the latest technologies and advanced tools to fight cancer, our cancer experts provide a powerful combination of treatments. While our oncologists help patients fight cancer, other clinicians provide supportive therapies to help patients tolerate treatment, manage side effects, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Visit the full website to learn more.

I hope this information has helped you in some way. I will check in with you again next month. In the meantime, stay strong and hopeful.