Cancer: Preparing for Treatment

Soon after you are diagnosed with cancer, you and your doctor will discuss various treatment options. As you decide what course of treatment is right for you, you may feel as if you've lost control of your body and your life. It's normal to feel anxious and stressed at this time. However, you may find it easier to handle the physical and emotional aspects of your treatment if you take an active role in preparing for it.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by questions about cancer and your treatment. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about the questions and concerns you have. No question you have about the disease or your treatment is "dumb." If something is on your mind, it's definitely worth asking about. By getting answers to your questions, you can become a more active participant in your care.

Before visiting your doctor, you may find it useful to write down your questions so that you won't forget what you want to ask. The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute offer useful tools to help you organize your thoughts and questions before your visit. (Contact information for these organizations is listed in the column on the right.) To help remember what your doctor says, take notes or ask whether you may use a tape recorder.

You may also want to ask a family member or friend to join you when you talk to the doctor. This person can provide emotional support and help you remember what is said during the visit.

The most common cancer treatments are chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells), radiotherapy (using radiation to kill cancer cells), surgery and biological therapy (using proteins to boost your immune system). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy kill cancer cells, but some healthy cells can also become damaged in the process. That is what causes the side effects of cancer treatment, such as fatigue, hair loss, nausea, fever and infection.

You won't know exactly what side effects you will experience until you begin your treatment. One way to prepare for them is to ask your doctor about your chances of having side effects and what they might be like. Planning ways to deal with possible side effects can help you feel more in control of your situation. In addition, having a positive attitude, talking about your feelings and learning as much as you can about your cancer and treatment may help you feel less anxious about side effects. Keep in mind that most side effects of cancer treatment can be controlled and will go away after treatment ends.

Normally, a healthy diet includes eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole-grains, and a moderate amount of low-fat meat and dairy products, as well as cutting back on fat and sugar. However, nutrition recommendations for people preparing for cancer treatment are different. They are designed to make your body strong enough to handle the effects of your cancer and treatment.

For this reason, you may need to increase the amount of calories and protein you eat. For example, you may need to include more milk, cheese and cooked eggs in your diet. You may need to change your cooking methods. Your doctor can provide specific recommendations on how you should change your diet before and during treatment, or he or she may refer you to a dietitian. Appropriate nutrition is very important for people who are being treated for cancer, so a dietitian can offer valuable information and advice.

Ask your doctor to help you plan meals that won't cause certain treatment side effects, such as constipation, nausea or worse. Then, before you start your treatment, stock up on foods that are part of your meal plan so you won't need to shop as often. In addition, you or a family member may want to cook in advance and freeze foods in meal-sized portions to make things easier during your treatment.

During your cancer treatment, you may need help with tasks you're used to doing on your own. It's a good idea to discuss your changing needs with family members and friends before your treatment begins so that you'll have a plan in place. For example, someone may need to temporarily take over jobs like cooking, mowing the lawn, doing laundry or washing the car. Everyone should discuss the changes that need to be made in your family's routine. It's important that everyone agrees to and is comfortable with the new routine.

Whether or not you can continue working during your cancer treatment will depend on your health status and how you feel during treatment. If your treatment makes you very tired or causes troublesome side effects, you might consider adjusting your work schedule for a while. Although you won't know what adjustments are necessary until your treatment begins, it may be useful to consider the possibilities in advance.

Being diagnosed with cancer and going through treatment is a difficult experience that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, frightened and alone. Even with the support of family members and friends, many people need additional help dealing with the emotional and physical impact of having cancer. A support group can provide this help. Support groups are designed to offer an atmosphere where you can talk about your feelings and share information with other people who are going through a similar experience. Support groups are also available for the family members of people who have cancer.

Many different types of support groups are available. It's important to find one that makes you feel comfortable and meets your individual needs. Your doctor or a local hospital can suggest ways to find a support group, or you may contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society (check the phone book). The National Cancer Institute is another resource for support group information.