Download Caregiver Guidebook #1—Choosing Your Care Provider

“It is so important to never give up no matter
what people may say. I always encourage
caregivers to talk to their care management
team because they help put and keep things
in perspective.”
— Vivian Blain, Caregiver
David Blain (right)
Vivian Blain (left)
Prostate Cancer Patient, Stage III
Beach Park, Illinois
Wife
Choosing Your
Care Provider
Evaluating Cancer Specialists
When your loved one is diagnosed with cancer, the relationships you have with doctors—both those
you’ve known for years and those you meet for the first time—become more important than ever.
You may feel overwhelmed with the prospect of helping your loved one assemble the right care team.
This section gives you information and tools to help.
A care team consists of various
types of cancer specialists who work
together to treat the person with
cancer. Although it may seem like
a huge undertaking to assemble a
care team of multiple experts, there’s
a good reason so many different
clinicians are involved. Cancer
treatments should be provided by
experienced specialists with particular
areas of expertise deliver care.
Here’s an overview of the types of
conventional cancer specialists
you may work with:
medical oncologist: A doctor who
has special training in the treatment of cancer
and manages patients’ treatments, often in
consultation with other specialists.
surgical oncologist: A surgeon who
specializes in the use of surgery to treat cancer.
radiation oncologist: A physician who
specializes in the use of radiation to treat cancer.
Depending on the type of cancer your
loved one has, you may also meet with subspecialists within the field of medical oncology
such as a hematologist or a gynecologic
oncologist, to name a few.
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Choosing Your Care Provider
In addition, your care team may also consist
of integrative treatment providers who work
alongside the care team, the caregiver and the
patient during treatment. Some studies suggest
that augmenting cancer care with non-invasive
and natural therapies under the direction of
qualified practitioners can improve quality of
life. These providers may include:
pain management: Pain management
practitioners use a variety of modalities to
treat and control pain throughout treatment
to ensure your loved one is comfortable.
chiropractic care: A chiropractic
doctor manipulates the joints of the body to
relieve pain and stiffness in your loved one’s
joints and muscles caused or intensified by
cancer treatment.
Kimalea Conrad
naturopathic medicine: A naturopathic
Breast Cancer Patient, Stage II
Telluride, Colorado
doctor employs clinical nutrition, acupuncture,
homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine
and psychology and counseling, in addition to
holistic and non-toxic approaches to therapy.
mind-body medicine: A mental health
professional uses techniques and treatments
that address psychological and spiritual
health to help direct the body’s energy toward
physical healing and recovery.
nutritional therapy: A licensed,
registered dietitian uses nutrition to help the
body repair itself from the effects of cancer
and cancer treatment.
oncology rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation professionals (e.g. physical
therapists, occupational therapists, etc.) use
gentle exercise to protect your cardiovascular
health, muscle mass and flexibility during
treatment and help you heal faster.
spiritual support: Pastoral care providers
lend guidance and encouragement for spiritual
well-being. For some, connecting to one’s
spiritual side through prayer can give a great
sense of hope, strength and wellness.
or with one at a center you choose to go
to. When you come to CTCA, we match
patients with an oncologist who has special
training in the type of cancer your loved
one has. In most facilities, the oncologist
helps you assemble the right team of
providers. For instance, if your loved one
needs radiation therapy, the oncologist
will refer you to a radiation oncologist for a
consultation. That radiation oncologist may
also have a care team within each specialty.
For example, a radiation team may include
a number of highly trained doctors, experts
and caregivers including:
working with cancer patients
undergoing radiation treatment.
Similar teams of experts are built
around each specialty. As you can
see, many different people make up
the care team. Remember, they’re
all working toward the common
goal of helping your loved one
and fighting their cancer.
radiation physicist: Helps the
WORKSHEET 4: CHOOSING
DOCTORS AND COMPARING
TREATMENT FACILITIES
radiation oncologist design and implement
treatment and ensures proper functioning
of equipment.
dosimetrist: Helps formulate
the treatment and determine techniques
such as angles of radiation entry and daily
radiation dose.
As you research
physicians and
treatment facilities,
you can use the
following tool
to compare and
contrast the services of each.
WORKSHEET 4
Choosing Doctors and Comparing
Treatment Facilities
Evaluation points
Provider name
Does the physician/oncologist
have experience treating your
loved one’s specific type of cancer?
Are they board certified in their
specialty areas?
Does the treatment center
provide information about patient
outcomes (survival statistics) for
your loved one’s type of cancer?
Is there proactive collaboration
among care team members
(doctors, nurses, supportive
care providers)?
Does the facility have state-ofthe-art treatment technology and
lab facilities?
Does the care team include pain
management specialists?
Are all tests and treatments offered
at one location?
Is the treatment plan based
on an integrated model that
includes supportive care services
like nutritional therapy, mindbody medicine and oncology
rehabilitation?
Does your insurance work with the
treatment center?
Are nurse care managers and
pain management specialists
accessible to you and your
loved one 24 hours a day, seven
days a week?
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The first step in building your care team is
choosing your medical oncologist. You may
begin by meeting with an oncologist suggested
by your loved one’s primary doctor, with one
recommended by a friend or family member,
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radiation therapist:
Operates the equipment and body
positions during treatment.
radiation therapy nurse:
Typically has extensive experience
© 2015 Rising Tide
Provider 1
Provider 2
Provider 3
Building Relationships
It’s important for you and your loved one to develop a comfortable relationship with the members
of your care team. It takes time and effort on both sides—just as building any kind of relationship
does—and requires a foundation of mutual respect. The result is worth your while: When you build
a relationship with the members of your care team, you feel comfortable asking them questions at
any time; you are more likely to inquire about side effects or potential complications as soon as they
occur; you are able to trust their advice and recommendations; and you remain active and involved
in your loved one’s care.
If you’ve never formed a strong relationship with medical providers before,
that’s OK. Here are some things you can do to establish and strengthen the
relationship with the oncologist and other members of your team:
Be open and straightforward when talking
with doctors and nurses. Listen, ask questions
and take notes.
Help your loved one keep track of symptoms.
Ask for thorough descriptions of the symptoms
in their own words instead of a description
they found online or elsewhere.
Be clear about your role in helping your loved
one make informed decisions about treatment
and care. Explain your relationship and role
as caregiver and supporter to the physicians
and clinicians.
Express concerns and fears candidly. Tell the
doctors if you want more specific information
about a treatment or the prognosis.
Encourage your loved one to be open about
their lifestyle, diet and habits. For example,
if they smoke, the doctors should know.
Without complete information, the doctors
can’t treat the cancer or the person as
effectively. With an accurate picture of your
loved one’s current health status, the doctors
can better predict and plan for potential
complications or side effects.
Describe the research you’re doing about
cancer treatments and ask any questions you
have about other therapies. If something you
found online contradicts what the doctor says,
bring it to his or her attention. That way his or
her thought processes can be explained so you
don’t feel like you have to doubt them.
Karyn Marshall
Breast Cancer Patient, Stage IIA
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
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Questions to Ask About Cancer Care
As the caregiver, it’s likely that you accompany your loved one to most—if not all—doctor appointments.
You can play a key role in gathering information during these appointments that will prove useful
when putting together the care team. It’s important to establish an open dialogue with the doctors and ask
questions in order to fully understand the diagnosis, treatment, results and progress. As the caregiver,
bringing these questions—and any others you and your loved one have—with you to medical appointments
can help guide your discussion with the providers. Be sure to bring a pen and take notes during your
conversation so you can refer to the information at any time. Here are a few questions to get you started.
Diagnosis
Can you tell me about the purpose
and accuracy of the diagnostic testing
you recommend?
Getting an accurate diagnosis is critical because it is the basis upon which a
treatment plan is defined. Testing should locate tumors, indicate the stage of the
disease and help determine the best treatment. For example, MRI and PET/CT
scans help determine the precise location of the tumor and extent of the disease to
accurately plan treatment. Tumor molecular profiling can help identify the unique
blueprint of the tumor to determine which chemotherapy drugs are appropriate.
It’s important to have direct access to these types of tests as well as physicians
experienced in performing them in the event that your loved one’s cancer warrants this
type of testing.
What will diagnostic testing tell us?
Information you should receive from testing includes: Where did the cancer
originate? What is the primary cancer type? How big is the tumor? What stage
is the cancer? Has it spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body?
WORKSHEET 5:
CANCER CARE
QUESTIONNAIRE
You can use this
worksheet to record
answers to your
questions and take
notes during your
conversations with
doctors. Be sure to keep this in a
convenient location so you can
refer to it at any time.
WORKSHEET 5
Cancer Care Questionnaire
Diagnosis
1. Can you tell me about the purpose and accuracy of the diagnostic testing you recommend?
2. What will diagnostic testing tell us?
Treatment Options
3. What are the treatment options available? What do you recommend and why?
4. What happens if that approach doesn’t work?
Side Effects and Complications
5. What are the side effects of treatment and what is the likelihood of experiencing them?
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Rose Sajuan (middle)
Tony Sajuan (right)
Breast Cancer Patient
Waukegan, Illinois
Husband
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Choosing Your Care Provider
Treatment Options
What treatment options are available?
What do you recommend and why?
Asking the doctors about the availability and potential benefits of treatments
can help you better understand the treatment options and assess which are most
appropriate for your loved one.
What happens if that approach
doesn’t work?
At any point in treatment, you should feel comfortable asking the doctors
about the treatment plan. When choosing a care team, you may want to consider
doctors who are willing to try new protocols, therapies and advanced technologies
based on the patient’s unique situation. You should seek providers who will tailor
treatment to your loved one’s diagnosis, lifestyle and specific situation, and who
are willing to pursue additional options if the disease progresses after a first or
second line of treatment.
Side Effects and Complications
What are the side effects of
treatment and what is the likelihood
of experiencing them?
Common side effects of cancer treatment include nausea, pain, fatigue, low
blood counts, loss of appetite, tingling or numbness in hands or feet and cognitive
or memory issues commonly called “chemobrain.” Ask the physicians which
side effects your loved one may be most likely to experience.
How will you manage side effects?
Integrative oncology services—including nutritional therapy, naturopathic
medicine, mind-body medicine, acupuncture, oncology rehabilitation, spiritual
support and pain management—can help reduce side effects to help the patient
stay strong and active. They can also help avoid treatment interruptions due
to negative side effects or complications. Ask the doctors about incorporating
some of these therapies into the treatment plan. The doctors should recommend
therapies that support and positively interact with or impact chemotherapy,
radiation or any other treatments your loved one may be undergoing. If it’s
important to you that specific types of therapy be a part of the treatment plan,
then look for a provider who is supportive and helpful of your decision.
Care Team
How many patients have you treated
with this type and stage of cancer and
how successful have you been?
You should know how much experience the doctors have in treating your loved
one’s type and stage of cancer and whether he or she is a board-certified specialist.
You may also want to ask about his or her facility’s treatment results so you can
see how successful they have been in the past.
Who will be involved in the care, how
often will they meet and who is the main
point of contact?
An integrative care team including a surgical, medical and/or radiation
oncologist; registered dietitian; naturopathic oncology provider; clinical nurse and
medical advocate (often a nurse care manager) can ensure your family member
receives support for his or her entire well-being during cancer treatment. If he
or she doesn’t already have a team like this, talk to the doctors about assembling
a multidisciplinary team and the benefits it may provide during treatment. It’s
also important to have a central point of contact available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, especially in case of an emergency. This person should have access to
your loved one’s medical record, even on nights, weekends and holidays. If you
haven’t been assigned a central contact, such as a nurse navigator, ask the medical
oncologist whom you should contact with urgent questions or for support.
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Choosing Your Care Provider
Coordination of Care
Where will all my treatments,
appointments, tests, etc. take place?
When looking for a treatment facility, consider the coordination and convenience
of tests and treatment. Having appointments and procedures in one place can make
treatment less stressful for both of you, and it may shorten the time it takes to begin
treatment and receive test results. And because the team can speak directly to one
another and share information about patients’ response to therapy, changes can be
made to your loved one’s treatment plan more quickly and efficiently.
How will you help me balance
my cancer care with the demands
of my everyday life?
The care team should reflect each patient’s individual needs and personal values.
A team of experienced physicians, clinicians, nurses and insurance and financial
experts should keep your priorities at the center of their work. They should ensure
your loved one receives the best care possible in a manner that works for you
and your family. Encourage your loved one to talk to the doctors about his or her
personal needs. This will help ensure that all aspects of his or her life that may
be impacted by treatment are considered.
Wayne Reeder (middle)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patient
Denver, Colorado
Evaluate the treatment
center, as well as the doctor
Are tests and treatments all
offered at one location?
The physician, or group of physicians,
that you ultimately choose practices
in a treatment center. Some questions
to consider about the treatment center
itself include:
Does the center provide information
about patient outcomes (survival
results) for the type of cancer
your loved one is facing?
Does the center share information
about patient satisfaction results?
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Does it offer support services
and integrative care options
that can help your loved one
maintain overall well-being
throughout treatment?
Does it have staff members
who coordinate gathering
medical records and assist
you in navigating health
insurance coverage?
Seeking Personalized Care
Treatment centers vary in the way their care teams interact with patients and caregivers. At CTCA,
we are committed to offering comprehensive and personalized care to each patient. We find it beneficial
to assemble all members of your loved one’s care team under one roof, and in one room, so it’s one less
thing for you to worry about. Our approach is known as Patient Empowered Care®. With our Patient
Empowered Care approach, we help you save time and minimize stress by bringing doctors to your loved
one in one place. Our goal is to provide a high-quality visit, where you and your loved one’s questions are
answered and you both feel confident about the treatment plan. At CTCA, this team of experts, known
as the Empowerment Team , is dedicated to delivering the latest innovations for personalized cancer
treatment while improving each patient’s quality of life.
SM
Ryan Hidinger (center)
Gallbladder Cancer Patient, Stage IV
Atlanta, Georgia
Your loved one’s
Empowerment Team
at CTCA includes:
medical and/or
radiation oncologist
naturopathic
oncology provider
registered dietitian
two nurse care managers
clinical nurse
To prepare for your arrival,
the Empowerment Team meets
on the day of the appointment
to review and discuss the current
situation and treatment. When
you arrive, you and your loved
one are guided to a room where
you’ll stay during the entire
visit. Patients at CTCA enjoy
greater comfort, convenience
and privacy consulting with the
Empowerment Team in one
room. During the appointment,
physicians and clinicians come to
the room, one right after another,
for a focused, seamless visit.
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Choosing Your Care Provider
As one team member leaves the room, he
or she meets with the next team member to
communicate any updates before that team
member meets with you and your loved one.
All information is entered into the Electronic
Medical Record to ensure all members of the
Empowerment Team have real-time access to
key information in the patient’s file throughout
the entire process of care. It is truly all about
the patient and those who will be supporting
him or her during the cancer experience.
Here’s a closer look at the Patient Empowered
Care experience at CTCA.
Pastoral Care/
Spiritual Support
Radiation
Oncology
Pain Management
Medical
Oncologist
Name
Oncology
Rehabilitation
Acupuncture/
Acupressure
Nurse
Care Manager
Clinic
Nurse
Name
Name
PATIENT
Internal
Medicine
Surgical Oncology
Registered
Dietitian
Naturopathic
Oncology Provider
Name
Name
Electronic
Medical Record
Mind-Body
Medicine
Chiropractic Care
Scheduling
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Choosing Your Care Provider
A Fully Integrated Approach to Cancer Care
Each member of the care team serves a different purpose and plays a crucial role
in your loved one’s care. At CTCA, we’re committed to treating the whole person—
not just the disease—using innovative medical technologies and therapies.
With our unique approach, we fight cancer on all fronts, with every available
resource. Integrative care ensures that we put each patient’s overall health and
well-being as a top priority throughout the treatment process—from diagnosis
through recovery and every step between and beyond. Here’s a look at how
these integrative therapies work together to treat the whole person:
NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
At CTCA, registered dietitians work
closely with your loved one and their care
team to create a customized nutrition plan
to help manage side effects of cancer
treatment and assist with finding nutritious
foods to support your loved one’s health.
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Working with your loved one and their
care team, CTCA naturopathic oncology
providers create a personalized plan that
includes modalities best suited for your loved
one’s diagnosis and any other health issues
they are experiencing. Modalities can include
the use of foods, supplements, plant-based
substances and traditional therapies—
all used to help restore the body’s natural
ability to heal itself and alleviate pain and
other side effects, like nausea and fatigue.
MIND-BODY MEDICINE
Mental health professionals at CTCA
work with your loved one and you to explore
a variety of techniques that can help manage
the emotional impact of diagnosis, treatment
and recovery. In addition to individual,
couples and family counseling/psychotherapy,
the mind-body team at CTCA offers
educational and experiential opportunities
such as support groups, guided imagery
and other relaxation techniques, therapeutic
laughter, animal-assisted therapy, expressive
arts, Reiki therapy, mindfulness and
meditation and introductory Qigong.
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Choosing Your Care Provider
PAIN MANAGEMENT
ONCOLOGY REHABILITATION
Pain affects each person differently. The
dedicated pain management professionals
at CTCA work with patients, and the rest of
their care team, to develop a pain management
program unique to their situation. This team
focuses on relieving pain and providing
integrated, consistent care and support. At
CTCA, patients can receive conventional
pain-reduction treatments, such as medication
and more advanced procedures, in addition
to treatments such as acupuncture and
acupressure that have been shown to help
control pain.
CTCA rehabilitation therapists, such as
physical therapists and occupational therapists,
help your loved one build strength and
endurance, regain independence, reduce stress
and maintain the energy needed to participate
in activities important to you and your loved
one. Therapeutic exercises help minimize
fatigue and optimize physical function, safety
and well-being.
SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
CTCA chaplains and pastoral care providers
nurture patients’ spiritual well-being and
support all aspects of your faith to give you a
greater sense of hope, strength and wellness.
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CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Cancer treatments and procedures can impose
significant stress on the musculoskeletal
system (bones, muscles, joints, tendons and
ligaments). Our experienced chiropractors
help patients deal with pain, discomfort
and general wellness issues that may occur
as a result of this stress. Chiropractors use
techniques to restore the frame of the body
so it can work more efficiently as a whole,
and teach ways to avoid strain on muscles,
bones and joints. When used during cancer
treatment, chiropractic care can help increase
mobility, strength and function, relieve
headaches, reduce neuropathy and improve
overall well-being.
For more information
about supportive therapies
and a comprehensive list of
offerings available at CTCA,
visit cancercenter.com/
integrative-treatment.
Choosing Your Care Provider
Nurse Care Managers: Guiding You Every Step of the Way
At CTCA, we know that when you’re caring for someone with cancer, you want
to devote as much time and energy as possible to help your loved one stay
positive and feel better. While treating at some facilities, as the caregiver, you
are responsible for scheduling appointments, coordinating with doctors and
managing your loved one’s care team, which can feel like a full-time job. But when
you and your loved one come to a CTCA hospital, we take care of these tasks for you.
There are two types of Registered Nurses available to assist you and your loved
one with coordination of care at CTCA:
NURSE NAVIGATOR
Provides care coordination before treatment
begins. This nurse:
• Acts as your primary contact, even before
the first visit to the hospital, to answer questions
about services and the plan of care.
• Guides you through the process, offering
information and choices as needed.
• Directs you to additional diagnostic and
treatment services as needed.
CARE MANAGER
Provides care coordination once treatment
starts, monitoring and managing your loved
one’s needs on an ongoing basis. This nurse:
• Acts as your go-to person for medication
and treatment questions and symptom
management throughout your treatment
at CTCA.
• Identifies specific needs of your loved one
to ease the transition from hospital to
home, such as monitoring side effects from
treatment that your loved one may experience
at home and notifying the physician.
Kathleen Houlihan (middle)
Holt Houlihan (right)
Lung Cancer Patient, Stage IIIB
Gallup, New Mexico
Husband
• Monitors lab tests as ordered by the
physician.
• Calls and advises your loved one of
any precautions to take or plans to follow
if any lab results are abnormal.
• Calls in prescriptions ordered by a CTCA
physician to your pharmacy.
• Arranges healthcare services needed to
assist your loved one at home between visits
and treatments.
• Supports you as the caregiver and directs
you to other services for your loved one
as needed (e.g., mind-body medicine,
naturopathic medicine, nutrition, spiritual
support, rehabilitation services).
• Is available to you 24/7 to answer your
questions and has access to your loved
one’s medical records at all times.
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Improving Cancer Care
At CTCA, your loved one’s dedicated Empowerment Team is vital in giving you both more time with your
care team, stronger communications and better accessibility to team members. We find patients feel more in
control of their treatment when they get all of their questions answered in a single visit, instead of traveling
to many different facilities to meet with different specialists and providers. Patients and their loved ones tell
us their healing is enhanced through Patient Empowered Care because:
Scheduling is fast and easy. Every time you
schedule a visit with your loved one’s medical
oncologist, appointments are automatically
scheduled with the rest of the Empowerment
Team for that same visit. Clinicians from
other departments, like pain management,
mind-body medicine, oncology rehabilitation,
chiropractic care and spiritual support, are
also included as needed.
Doctors and clinicians come to you. You
and your loved one stay in one room while
the Empowerment Team comes to see you,
one at a time. This relieves some of the
pressure you and your loved one may feel
because you don’t have to worry about being
in the right place at the right time, or try to
navigate a maze of hallways looking for the
right room. Once you’ve arrived at CTCA,
the rest of the appointment seamlessly
unfolds in an efficient way.
The Empowerment Team is always informed
and up to speed. You don’t have to worry
about coordinating communications because
the entire team is updated in real time.
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It saves time. You and your loved one stay
comfortably in one room, spending more
time with the Empowerment Team, and
less time moving around the hospital.
It puts you in the driver’s seat. You and
your loved one are better informed and
able to participate in treatment decisions
because the information you receive from
the Empowerment Team is collaborative
and thorough. You leave every appointment
with all of your questions answered.
Enhanced communications among the
Empowerment Team. The Empowerment
Team works together in a single location,
discussing patients daily, and throughout
the appointment, so you can rest assured
that you’re receiving thorough, comprehensive
and integrated care.
STAYING CONNECTED
When your loved one receives
care at CTCA, their interaction
isn’t limited to when they’re at
a CTCA hospital or meeting with
a CTCA physician.
At myCTCA.com, you and your
loved one can stay in constant
contact with the Empowerment
Team—at home, work or
anywhere. At myCTCA.com,
your loved one can review lab
results and prescriptions, check
on scheduled appointments,
request an appointment and
communicate with the care team
about any questions or concerns.
You can also provide access to
your loved one’s local physicians
to view medical records, test
results and medications. You
can even use this site for online
bill pay, including making
secure online payments, viewing
balance and invoices and getting
help with billing inquiries. So, no
matter where you or your loved
one travels, you will always have
access to your Empowerment
Team and these other helpful
resources.
Taking the Next Step: Treatment
Once you and your loved one decide on a treatment facility and assemble your care team, the next step
is beginning treatment. It can seem, at times, like cancer treatment is completely out of your hands—
after all, you’re not the one performing the surgery or administering the chemotherapy or radiation.
Still, there’s a lot you and your loved one can do to stay empowered in your fight against cancer. As the
caregiver, you play an essential role in supporting your loved one throughout this journey—especially
during treatment. Here’s how.
Get Informed
Learning about the type of cancer your loved
one has can help you evaluate options and
can ease your fears by making the unknown
known. Many treatment facilities have
education departments or websites you can
visit to research specific cancers, treatments
and procedures.
The Internet can be an indispensable resource
for information about cancer and places to
go for treatment. It also offers valuable tools,
including message boards, chat rooms and
other virtual meeting places for people affected
by cancer. However, it is also easy to feel
overwhelmed by the quantity of information,
as well as the conflicting information you may
find. And some resources may be out of date,
incorrect or simply misleading. It’s best to
think of the Internet not as the authoritative
source on cancer, but as a springboard to a
meaningful conversation you and your loved
one can have with your care team. Remember,
the care team members are the ones who
know the intricacies of your loved one’s
cancer, health history and treatment plan—the
Internet is good resource for an introduction to
general topics and to connect with others
in the cancer community.
TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES
It’s a good idea for your loved one to take
care of any existing medical problems prior
to starting cancer treatment—even if the
issue is completely unrelated to the cancer.
Why? Addressing existing health issues before
beginning treatment enables your loved one
to start treatment as healthy as possible. Not
only does this make your loved one more
comfortable, but it helps prevent a situation
where a doctor must choose between treating
the existing condition or treating the cancer.
Be sure to discuss any existing health issues
your loved one has with all of the health care
providers involved.
In addition, a visit to the dentist is a good
idea. Cancer therapy can cause tooth decay,
but if teeth are in good shape before treatment
begins, your loved one may be able to better
keep the damage under control.
“Take advantage of all
the services offered at
the hospital because
each service has
something you can
benefit from.”
— Vivian Blain, Caregiver to David Blain
REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT
You are not alone in the cancer journey.
Many cancer patients and caregivers, just
like you, find that getting encouragement
from family and friends helps strengthen
their spirit as they battle this disease. Many
also find that support from others who have
gone through cancer treatment offers them
hope and newfound insights. There are many
resources to help you stay connected. Two
websites we recommend are CarePagesSM and
CancerCompass®. At carepages.com, you can
create a personalized Web page for your
loved one to share their story, post photos
and update friends and family instantly.
In turn, people who care can also send
messages of love and encouragement. At
cancercompass.com, you can meet others
with cancer and give and receive advice
and support.
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WORKSHEET 4
Choosing Doctors and Comparing
Treatment Facilities
Evaluation points
Provider name
Does the physician/oncologist
have experience treating your
loved one’s specific type of cancer?
Are they board certified in their
specialty areas?
Does the treatment center
provide information about patient
outcomes (survival statistics) for
your loved one’s type of cancer?
Is there proactive collaboration
among care team members
(doctors, nurses, supportive
care providers)?
Does the facility have state-ofthe-art treatment technology and
lab facilities?
Does the care team include pain
management specialists?
Are all tests and treatments offered
at one location?
Is the treatment plan based
on an integrated model that
includes supportive care services
like nutritional therapy, mindbody medicine and oncology
rehabilitation?
Does your insurance work with the
treatment center?
Are nurse care managers and
pain management specialists
accessible to you and your
loved one 24 hours a day, seven
days a week?
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© 2015 Rising Tide
Provider 1
Provider 2
Provider 3
WORKSHEET 5
Cancer Care Questionnaire
Diagnosis
1. Can you tell me about the purpose and accuracy of the diagnostic testing you recommend?
2. What will diagnostic testing tell us?
Treatment Options
3. What are the treatment options available? What do you recommend and why?
4. What happens if that approach doesn’t work?
Side Effects and Complications
5. What are the side effects of treatment and what is the likelihood of experiencing them?
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WORKSHEET 5
6. How will you manage side effects?
Care Team
7. How many patients have you treated with this type and stage of cancer and how successful
have you been?
8. Who will be involved in the care, how often will they meet and who is the main point of contact?
Coordination of Care
9. Where will all my treatments, appointments, tests, etc. take place?
10. How will you help me balance my cancer care with the demands of my everyday life?
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© 2015 Rising Tide
Notes
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© 2015 Rising Tide | CG1_0215