Source: Cancer Resource Room
Decisions
You will make many decisions, big and
small, while you are being diagnosed and
treated for cancer. There are times when
the right choice is very clear. But other
times, you may need to choose between
a few options. Here are some examples:
- Should I get a second opinion?
- Treatments can have similar results
but differ in terms of personal experience,
impact on daily life and potential
side effects. How do I know which
one is right for me?
- Should I have the standard treatment
or join a clinical trial?
- Should I add complementary therapies
to my treatment plan?
- Is it worth taking medicine that
might stop my cancer from coming back,
even if it may cause problems?
Participate in Your Care
A diagnosis of cancer can make many people
feel like they have lost control of their
lives and future. Making decisions and
participating in your healthcare can help
gain you some control. If you work as
a partner with your health care team,
you are more likely to feel satisfied
with decisions made. Talking to other
people can help you feel more comfortable
with the decision-making process. Your
health care team, your family and friends,
and others can help make your choices
clearer. But as you weigh your decisions,
you may also want to spend some time alone.
Listen to others, and listen to yourself.
Decision-Making Steps
You can do several things to participate
in decisions about your care and make
sure the treatments are the best for you.
Recognize your own decision-making
experience
Everyone makes decisions throughout life.
So you already have decision-making abilities.
You can use them to make choices throughout
your diagnosis and treatment. Making a
decision quickly is usually not necessary.
You can take time think over medical information
and options. You can take time to understand
your feelings. Your doctor can let you
know how soon you need to decide.
Gather Information
Get as much information as you can about
the choices you have. What are the benefits
and drawbacks of each of your options?
Talk with your health care team until
you feel as if you understand everything.
Drop by the Cancer Resource Room at Massachusetts
General Hospital; the staff can help you
find the information you need. If you
can’t drop in, you can call with
your question at 617-724-1822. Take some
time to understand the information.
Think Through Your Values
Besides affecting you physically, your
cancer diagnosis and treatment will affect
your family life, your friendships, your
work life, and other parts of your social
life. When you have to choose between
options, ask yourself, “What is
important to me? How would each choice
‘fit’ with my values, my lifestyle,
and my future?”
After you look at the information and
weigh the benefits and the drawbacks,
you still might not have a clear sense
of what to do. In cases like this, when
it’s a close call, it might be better
to let your doctor make the final decision
Recognizing your decision-making experience,
gathering information, and thinking about
your personal values can help you reach
a decision that you feel comfortable with.
This will help you move forward with the
decision you have made.
What's New
To Search Pub Med, please see below.
Decision Making
Consumer
and selected health professional journals
Support
& Education Programs
We know that being diagnosed with cancer can be stressful for you and your
family. We offer a variety of cancer support services to help patients and
families gain the support and information they will need to meet the challenges
ahead.
Look for the upcoming workshop on "Chemotherapy...What
You Should Know" or "Radiation Therapy...What
You Should Know" and other support, wellness,
and educational programs in the HOPES
calendar.
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