Your Team. Your Cancer. Your Care.

A Guide for Living With Cancer and Managing Your Care

You did not choose to have cancer. But you can choose to fight it. And that starts with managing your care. You are not alone. You are part of a team. A team of doctors, nurses, family, and friends.

You have a lot of choices to make. Choices about your treatment and care. You will work closely with your doctor. Your family and friends can help.

This book will help you work with your team. It will help you manage your cancer. And help you take control of your care.

This is your health care team

You and your doctor are key players on your team. Other health care experts will also play a role in your care. Together, everyone will decide what’s best for you.

Ask each expert what his/her job is in your care. Also ask what you can expect to happen at each visit.

Your health care team may include:

An oncologist. Serves as your primary doctor through all phases of treatment.

A nurse. Gives you hands-on medical care and support.

A dietician. Gives you advice about healthy eating.

A social worker. Supports overall well-being for you and your family.

A psychologist/psychiatrist. Helps you sort through your feelings and fears.

A pharmacist. Makes sure you get the medicine that’s right for you.

A radiation oncologist. A doctor who is trained in radiation therapy. Uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells.

A surgeon. Removes certain types of cancer, when possible.

Get the most out of doctor visits

To get the most from your doctor visits, ask questions. Before you see your doctor, write down your questions. You may want to keep a diary. It can help you remember what you want to ask. You can keep track of how you are feeling. Your diary can remind you of things you want to tell the doctor.

Be honest about all of your habits. Even if they are habits you don’t like. Like smoking. Even if you think something is minor, tell your doctor. It could affect treatment. And things that you might be worried about may be easily relieved.

Tell your doctor how you are feeling. Talk about any signs of illness that you may have. This will help your doctor know how to help you feel your best.

Bring a friend with you or ask to tape-record your visit. A friend can write down the answers to your questions. Try to get all your questions answered before you leave the doctor’s office.

Know your cancer, learn your options

Learn as much as you can about your type of cancer and current treatments. It will help you talk with your doctor about treatment choices. You will work with your doctor to decide what is best for you.

There are many ways to treat cancer. A lot depends on the type and stage.

Ask if a clinical trial is right for you.

This is how doctors learn about new treatments. All of today’s treatments have been tested in clinical trials. To learn more, visit www.cancertrialshelp.org.

Make your team big and strong

It’s important to ask for help. Reach out whenever you need support.

Ask family and friends to help you through treatment. People want to support you but may not know how. Tell them what you need. Make a list of the kinds of help you need most.

You may want to put a friend or loved one in charge of your help list. That person can tell others what you need and when.

Reach out to other people living with cancer

For many people, talking to others with cancer helps. People who have “been there” know what you are going through. They understand your concerns. Talk with your social worker. Your health care team can connect you with groups where you live.

You can even speak to people with your type of cancer. Listed below are the most common types of cancer. There are support groups for all different types of cancer.

If you don’t see your cancer type listed, visit www.aacr.org. Click on Survivors & Advocates. Or visit www.imermanangels.org. At this Web site, you can find free, one-on-one support from other cancer survivors. Keep looking until you fid the support you need.

*As of 2009.

Talking to other people with cancer can help.

Know your rights when it comes to your job

Some people with cancer will tell their boss and others at work. Some will not. It’s up to you. You should be aware of two laws that protect workers with cancer.

Speak with the human resources person at your company. Your social worker can help, too. They can tell you more about these laws.

Get the most out of doctor visits

Your treatment will work hard to fight your cancer. But only if you take your medicine. Follow your doctor’s advice. If you have questions, ask. Make sure you understand the answers. Tell your doctor right away about any problems. This will help give you the best result.

Keeping track of your medicine is important. You need to know when to take it. And that you took it. You need to keep track of any side effects. There are many tools to help you.

You can find free booklets and worksheets online. These may help you. Visit www.cancer.org/docroot/MON/MON_0.asp. Download what you like. Plus you can sign up for online support.

Eat well; it’s part of your treatment

Your body needs good foods to be healthy. But it may be hard to eat right while you are going through cancer treatments.

Turn to your team for help. Ask family or friends to cook for you. Freeze single portions that can be eaten later.

During treatment, you may start losing weight. You may need help choosing what to eat. Speak with your dietician. He or she can help you pick foods that may help during your treatment.

Try certain foods…avoid others

If you do not seem to feel hungry, try eating several small meals during the day. Keep snacks handy, so you can eat when you feel the urge.

If you feel sick to your stomach, eat bland foods.

Try

• Toast
• Crackers
• Sherbet
• Boiled potatoes
• Baked chicken

Avoid

• Fried or greasy foods

If you have mouth sores, eat soft foods.

Try

• Mashed potatoes
• Macaroni and cheese
• Puddings

Avoid

• Food that is too hot

If you have diarrhea, talk to your doctor right away. In some cases, diet may help.

One diet is called the B.R.A.T. diet. The letters stand for foods that may help.

Try

• Bananas (B)
• White rice (R)
• Applesauce (A)
• White toast (T)

Avoid

• Dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Beans or whole grain breads

Drink plenty of fluids—not just water

Try

• Broth
• Frozen fruit bars
• Sports drinks
• Watered-down fruit juice

Avoid

• Colas
• Coffee
• Tea
• Alcohol

Stay away from alcohol and drinks with caffeine. Quitting alcohol helps improve your health. It can help improve your appetite.

If your mouth is dry, keep sipping fluids throughout the day. If you don’t have mouth sores, suck on sour hard candies. This will increase the saliva in your mouth.

Stay active; it’s part of your treatment

Tests show that exercise can help you deal with cancer. Staying active can help you feel less tired and ease an upset stomach. It can also help you feel better.

If you were exercising before you got cancer, keep it up. For most people with cancer, walking is an easy way to stay in shape.

Here’s how to make walking a part of your treatment plan. Be sure to get your doctor’s okay first.

• Include at least 5 minutes for warm-up and cool-down
• Start out slowly if you haven’t been active for a while
• You might start by walking 10 minutes at a time, and then walk a little more each day

Walk for wellness—here’s how

Be prepared

First get your doctor’s okay. Wear shoes that feel good, and bring a water bottle. Take some money and an ID card.

Listen to your body

Pay attention to your posture. Notice the way you walk. And how fast you walk.

Stand up straight

Don’t lean forward or backward. Leaning can strain your back.

Use certain muscles

Tuck in your buttocks. Use the muscles in your belly.

Relax other muscles

Take a deep breath. Drop your shoulders down from your ears.

Protect your skin and eyes

Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

What you can do about feeling tired

Right now you may not be able to do all that you used to do. Your treatments or cancer may cause you to feel tired. If you are tired, take it slow.

You can say no when friends and loved ones ask you to do something with them. When you have energy again you can do more. But for now, here is what you can do.

Talk to your doctor or nurse

He or she can try to find out what’s making you feel tired or worn out. They can also suggest a treatment plan that’s best for you.

Keep a diary

A diary can help you spot the times of day when you feel the best. Try to do the things that matter most to you at these times.

Pace yourself...rest a little, walk a little

Take short rest breaks during the day. Resting too much can make you feel even more tired. Every day, try to take a walk. Even a short walk can help. Don’t push yourself too hard on the days when you feel good.

There is so much you can do to feel better

You can do all kinds of things to strengthen your mind and body. And these may help you feel better. But nothing should take the place of your cancer treatments.

Do things that take your mind off your worries. Work in your garden. Go bird watching. Do something that you enjoy. It’s good to relax and think about other things.

Tell your doctor about any vitamins or herbs that you are taking. They may make your side effects worse during your cancer treatments. Your doctor can tell you which vitamins to take and which ones to stay away from. Tell your doctor if you make changes to your diet.

Notes

SUU00237BZ © 2010 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA/May 2010

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