To Your Health

Conversations About Healthcare Empowerment: When You’re Diagnosed With Cancer

By Lorrie Klemons, MSN, RN, CDP

As we all know, cancer is a devastating disease. It not only is devastating to the patient but also devastates everyone who cares about the patient. Once you have been diagnosed with cancer, your life is never the same. Every ache, every pain, every bump, and every lump make you worry that your cancer is back. Regardless of what type of cancer you are diagnosed with, all persons with cancer share the same anxieties and fears. Everyone wants the best treatment available. Everyone wants to live.

When you are diagnosed with cancer, you put your fate into the hands of the cancer specialists. They will determine the best form of medical treatment for your cancer, which can include surgery, chemotherapy (drug therapy) or radiation therapy. You may be treated with one or all three of these treatment modalities.

While you must have faith in your doctors, you can also make sure that you are informed about the type of cancer you have. Ask questions. Ask lots of questions. Ask for clarification when you don’t understand the answers. Ask how to spell the terminology your doctor uses. Write down your questions before you visit the doctor so you don’t forget to ask them. Write down the answers if you feel you need to. Bring an advocate with you to every appointment. When you are stressed out, it is often hard to concentrate or recall conversations. You may also not ask the important questions. Your advocate will help remind you of the discussion and ask the questions that need to be asked. It is helpful to have the same advocate with you for each doctor visit so that person will be familiar with your illness and the prescribed treatment.

Seek out a second opinion if you feel compelled to do so. Patients do this all the time, and it will not jeopardize your relationship with the primary doctor. Most insurance companies will gladly pay for a second opinion. You will feel more in control of the situation if you get the second opinion, and it will also give you a sense of security assuming that both doctors agree on the diagnosis and treatment modality. You can become confused if you get two different opinions from two (or more) doctors. At that point you may want to do some research on your own to determine the best course of action to take. Though you may be compelled to crisscross the globe going from doctor to doctor for a cure, this is not to your advantage. It will be too exhausting, too expensive, and too emotionally draining. At some point, you will have to put your trust in one doctor.

Be sure to let loved ones and friends support you in this journey. They can help you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Do not shut them out. You will need them now more than ever. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Tell people what you need and how they can help you. You cannot do this on your own.

There are many places where cancer patients can go for information, resources, and assistance. Some of these include:

The American Cancer Society: (800) 227-2345, www.cancer.org

Cancer Care: (800) 813-HOPE (4673), www.cancercare.org

Cancer Spiritual Support: www.mystronghold.org

Cancer Information Service: (800)-4-CANCER (226237)

CaringBridge: www.CaringBridge.org

Lorrie Klemons, MSN, RN, CDP is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Patient-Senior-Caregiver Advocate, Educator, Consultant, Speaker, Author, Warrior Mom, and End of LifeDeath Doula Reach out to Lorrie for any healthcare advocacy or empowerment needs you might have at lorrieklemons@gmail. com. www.KlemonsHealthCareConsulting.com.