What information should I trust?
Information about cancer from the internet, the press, and your friends can be accurate, biased, incomplete, speculative, premature, irrelevant. Sorting out what’s helpful can be a real challenge. Science changes its mind when presented with enough contrary evidence. This is its main strength. Always demand evidence and be skeptical of any claim that can’t be […]
Will genetic testing impact my treatment?
Increasingly, it may. Women with BRCA (breast cancer gene mutations) for years have used this information in surgical decision making (removing both breasts or removing one breast or part of one breast). Very recently, genetic mutations now may alter medical decision-making for several cancers as there are now specific treatments for cancer that are directed […]
Why does pharmacy take so long?
With chemotherapy, there is no room for error. The pharmacy personnel must be 100% correct and accuracy takes time. Your chemotherapy must be germ free and prepared in a biological safety cabinet using sterile supplies and special techniques to keep it sterile. Your doctor needs to examine you and look at your lab values before […]
Will I lose my hair?
Some forms of intensive chemotherapy can cause hair loss. We’ll tell you if this is something you should expect. Most forms of radiation therapy don’t cause hair loss. Whole or partial brain radiation is an exception, and may result in hair loss.
Will I have nausea during treatment?
Nausea and vomiting during cancer treatment are, for the most part, a thing of the past. Most cancer treatments don’t cause nausea anymore. But for the ones that do, we can almost always prevent nausea or vomiting with nausea-preventing medications. If you experience nausea at all during treatment, it will most likely be mild (like a minor hangover or morning sickness) and it will usually only last for a day or two after treatment.
Should I join a cancer support group?
Yes. It really is that simple. You think you don’t need it, or won’t benefit from it. You’re mistaken. Try it. You may not need it for long. Maybe only once will be all you need. But no one other than a group of people going through the same thing will ever understand. Not even your doctor.
Will I have fatigue during treatment?
Cancer treatment often causes some degree of fatigue. Cancer can cause fatigue as well. The pattern and intensity depend on the type and schedule of your treatment. CANCER FATIGUE: Sometimes the cancer itself can cause fatigue, depending on the type and extent of disease. If you have curable, early-stage cancer you may only notice fatigue […]
Do I need to change my lifestyle?
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, diet, and obesity can help cause a cancer. And it’s never too late to start making healthier choices. But making sudden and dramatic changes in factors that helped start a cancer can’t change the course of a cancer that’s already developed – any more than blowing out the match that started a forest fire can affect the fire once it’s going.
Should I be on disability leave?
Most people can still go to work or school with minimal interruption during cancer treatment. There are exceptions, such as intensive treatment for acute leukemia or aggressive lymphoma. Most people will need to modify their schedule to allow for frequent clinic visits, and may need to modify their work hours or school course load to allow for treatment-related fatigue. If you’re very ill at diagnosis, or if your treatment is expected to be extremely intense or will require frequent hospitalization (such as for some forms of acute leukemia or aggressive lymphoma) you may need to take disability leave from work or school for a period of time.
Does insurance cover the cost of clinical trials?
Yes, typically insurance plans are mandated by federal law (the Affordable Care Act) to be covered by commercial and government insurance plans.
