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Information currently under review
Talking with the health care teamAlternative methods of treatment
It is very common for someone to feel that their life has gone out of control when diagnosed with cancer.
Many people find that knowing and understanding as much as possible about their cancer and its treatment helps them to make the best choices and decisions and gives them back a sense of control. Often the more you know, the less you have to fear. If you understand what is happening, you are less likely to fall prey to ‘old wives' tales', unproven remedies, or depressing stories of what happened to ‘poor old Harry'.
There is usually no need to rush into decisions about treatment; your doctor will tell you if you need treatment urgently. For most people, a few days are unlikely to make any difference and will give you time to find out more about the cancer and your treatment choices, to talk to others, and to think it over.
You may have questions about things like treatment, pain, side effects, your prognosis, the meaning of medical terms or what your doctor may have told you. Refer to the page titled Questions to ask your doctor.
You have the right to ask your doctor anything you want to know. If you don't understand what the doctor says, ask them to explain it in a different way. If you are well informed and understand your treatment, you will be able to cope better with side effects and recognise any unusual changes that you should tell your doctor about.
Doctors often use technical words without realising it, but are usually happy to explain if you ask. Don't be afraid to ask them again if they slip back into language you don't understand. Doctors often wait for clues from you about what you want to know, and when.
When you see the doctor, it can be hard to collect your thoughts. Writing questions down makes them easier to remember for your next appointment. You could also take notes, use a tape recorder, or take a clear-thinking friend or relative with you to help you remember what the doctor says. You may like to refer to the sample questions at the end of this booklet.
‘I found it impossible to discuss the nitty-gritty with my doctors and the radiation therapist. I felt that if I told them how fearful I was, I would be considered childish.'
People often don't ask important questions because they feel they are taking up the doctor's time. You have the right to have your questions answered, regardless of how complicated and time consuming you think the process may be. If you think you'll need more time with the doctor telephone the receptionist in advance and arrange a longer appointment.
Nurses, particularly specialist cancer nurses, and other health professionals, will also be happy to answer questions or to help you work out what to ask the doctor. Often you can talk in a more relaxed way during treatment sessions or while you are receiving some form of care. In addition to medical and nursing staff, people involved in your care may include a physiotherapist, speech pathologist, social worker, dietitian, psychologist and pharmacist, depending on the type of cancer and the type of treatment.
People often read or hear about cancer ‘treatments' that the doctor or cancer specialist has never mentioned. It is all right to ask your doctor about any alternative treatments that you are curious about.
Alternative treatments can be dangerous as they may cause unexpected side effects and can interact with cancer treatment drugs. Also, people sometimes neglect mainstream treatments in favour of alternative treatments that have not been proven to treat cancer effectively. This puts them at risk of not having the cancer treated properly.
Relaxation, meditation or a suitable balanced diet can be helpful in addition to standard cancer treatments. They may make you feel better and improve your general health so that your body can fight the cancer as effectively as possible. They may also help in controlling pain.
For more information, telephone the Cancer Council Helpline. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has useful information
Active treatment for cancer is given by specialist doctors: surgeons, radiation oncologists, or medical oncologists. Your doctor can refer you to the appropriate specialist and will continue to keep regular appointments with you. If you are not happy with your specialist for some reason you can ask your doctor to give you a referral to another specialist for a second opinion.
You always have the right to see another doctor, or to change doctors if you wish. There will be some doctors you get on better with than others. Some doctors are more comfortable than others when speaking with people who are facing a life-threatening illness, or with the families of these people.
Ideally you want the best treatment for your cancer, and you want a doctor who you are comfortable with and can talk with freely and openly.
You can ask for a second opinion on the diagnosis or at any stage of treatment. Doctors are normally happy to suggest someone else for you to see, or to refer you to somebody you have heard of. When you have seen the second doctor, you may then decide to return to the first, or to stay on with the second.
Your doctor and other health professionals should be the first to provide you with information about your cancer. There are many other ways of finding out more about the type of cancer you have, treatment for cancer, and coping with the disease. These include booklets, brochures, and videos, as well as programs which offer both support and information.
The Cancer Council Helpline, libraries, community health centres, and major cancer research and treatment centres provide information about cancer and its treatment. Information may vary from short brochures to detailed scientific papers. It's a good idea to talk about what you read with your doctor as cancer is a complex set of diseases and treatment and side effects may differ for each person.
I read just about everything I could find on the subject, but some of the self-help books were far too heavy going, and I started getting everything muddled up. One day, I said something to my doctor, who asked me, 'Where on earth did you hear that? You are getting everything mixed up and out of context.'
You may be interested in looking for information about your cancer type on the Internet. While there are some very good websites, you need to be aware that some websites provide wrong or biased information. Refer to our list of useful sites.
Updated December 2005
