How do I decide to start therapy after a cancer diagnosis?
Although a cancer diagnosis might make you feel as if you have to make immediate decisions to begin therapy, in most situations you have time to make choices. Ask your doctor how much time you have to decide. Delaying your decision and spending time worrying about it can drain your energy, so don't draw out the process too long.
What is the next step in my cancer treatment plan?
The next step is a series of tests to learn more about the cancer in order to guide your treatment plan. The first step is diagnostic testing. This can be a diagnostic mammogram, breast ultrasound, breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or other testing.
How long does it take for cancer treatment to start?
You have a tumor that's pressing on an organ or other vital part of the body, and treatment is needed to relieve the pressure. Some patients can wait a few weeks or a few months to start treatment because their type of cancer does not tend to grow as fast as others. When treatment doesn't need to start immediately, it might be delayed if:
Is it too soon to start treatment for cancer?
Most people want to start treatment right away. They worry that the extra time taken to do tests or make decisions will take up precious time that could be spent fighting the cancer. Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won’t hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment.
What is the process of cancer treatment?
Cancer treatment is the use of surgery, radiation, medications and other therapies to cure a cancer, shrink a cancer or stop the progression of a cancer. Many cancer treatments exist. Depending on your particular situation, you may receive one treatment or you may receive a combination of treatments.
How long does it take to start treatment after cancer diagnosis?
Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won't hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment. This gives the person with cancer time to talk about all their treatment options with the cancer care team, family, and friends, and then decide what's best for them.
What happens at your first chemo treatment?
Getting started with chemotherapy It usually takes at least 30 minutes for the drugs to arrive. Some of the pre-medications may be steroids, anti-nausea medications and/or anxiety medications. Each doctor will send an order to the infusion room telling them what chemotherapy and pre-medications to administer.
How long does a cancer treatment session take?
Chemotherapy treatment varies in length and frequency and depends on the individual treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. Some last as long as three or four hours, while others may only take a half-hour.
How do I prepare for my first chemo treatment?
Stay healthy and strong.Take it easy.Don't compare your body to how it was before chemotherapy.Drink lots of water.Go for a walk every day, if possible.Try to eat something. ... Read the provided handouts regarding chemotherapy and its side effects.Try acupuncture to help alleviate pain and nausea.More items...•
What is the first thing to do after a cancer diagnosis?
The first thing to do after a cancer diagnosis is gather information. Find out exactly what type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Ask where the cancer is located in your body and whether it's considered rare or common, fast- or slow-growing.
Do you need someone to drive you home after chemotherapy?
Ask your provider if the chemotherapy has fatigue or drowsiness as a side effect. In most cases, your healthcare provider will ask you to get a ride home after your first session to see how you will tolerate the chemo. If you feel well the first time, they say that driving home for future sessions is okay.
How soon after starting chemo do you lose your hair?
Hair usually begins falling out two to four weeks after you start treatment. It could fall out very quickly in clumps or gradually. You'll likely notice accumulations of loose hair on your pillow, in your hairbrush or comb, or in your sink or shower drain. Your scalp may feel tender.
What do you say on the first day of chemo?
If you're struggling to find the right words, here are 12 kind things to say to someone with cancer:“I'm here for you.” ... “You are in my thoughts and prayers.” ... “I'm so sorry you're going through this.” ... “Let me help you with…” ... Tell a Joke. ... “How are you doing?” ... “Any time you need to talk, I'll listen.”More items...•
At what stage of cancer is chemotherapy used?
Usually, chemotherapy may be used for all stages in most cancer types. Chemotherapy is a type of medicine or combination of medications that is used to treat or kill cancer cells. Adjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy may be used after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence (coming back).
How long after your first chemo treatment do you get sick?
Acute nausea and vomiting usually happens within minutes to hours after treatment is given, and usually within the first 24 hours. This is more common when treatment is given by IV infusion or when taken by mouth.
How many rounds of chemo do you need for cancer?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
What type of cancer needs to be treated right away?
You have a type of cancer that needs to be treated right away, like some leukemias, lymphomas, and certain other cancers that tend to be aggressive (grow and spread very fast). You have a tumor that's pressing on an organ or other vital part of the body, and treatment is needed to relieve the pressure.
Do you need to make adjustments before starting treatment?
You want more time to get a second opinion. It's important to know each person's case is different.
Can you wait to get lab results back?
You are waiting to get lab results back that will help decide what treatment option is best. You have already had surgery to remove a tumor, and you need time to recover before starting more treatment. You need to make adjustments at home, work, or for child care before starting treatment.
Does cancer need to be started right away?
Does cancer treatment always need to be started right away? Sometimes, it's important to start treatment as quickly as possible, but that's not always the case. Planning cancer treatment can be complex and might take some time, depending on the type and stage of your cancer.
How long does it take for a doctor to review a cancer case?
It may take several minutes for the doctors to thoroughly review your case before they speak with you. After this visit you may be scheduled to start the radiation process, or you may be asked to return for a follow-up visit depending on the type of cancer and your individual treatment plans.
What is the first visit to radiation oncology?
Your first visit to radiation oncology is a consultation with the radiation oncologist and your care team including a resident physician and a registered nurse. You will not receive a radiation treatment at this visit . Plan to be in the clinic for two or more hours. This is an important visit to learn about your medical history and treatment needs. For most patients the visit will include:
How long does it take to relax after radiation?
After simulation, you’ll have a few days to a few weeks to relax while your radiation oncologist creates a unique plan of treatment taking into account your diagnosis, the type of radiation machine that will be used, the amount of radiation needed and the number of treatments to be given.
How soon after cancer diagnosis can you start treatment?
Most people want to start treatment right away. They worry that the extra time taken to do tests or make decisions will take up precious time that could be spent fighting the cancer. Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won’t hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment.
How to stay healthy after cancer?
Remember to take care of yourself, as well as the person with cancer. Find ways to help yourself relax. Make time for regular exercise, and be as active as you can.
What is supportive care for cancer?
Sometimes called palliative care, supportive care helps keep people with cancer from having severe pain, nausea, or other symptoms. It’s care that aims to treat symptoms, not cancer. It helps the person feel as good as possible for as long as possible. The person who refuses cancer care may be open to hospice.
How long does it take to find out if you have cancer?
It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to find out if it’s cancer and, if so, what kind of cancer. This is a difficult time for the patient as well as for loved ones who are aware of the possibility of cancer. Some notice that they think of worst-case scenarios and wonder if they’ll lose their loved one.
What happens when you have cancer?
When a person has cancer, they go through different stages. Your understanding and your care will change over time, too. There will be times when you don’t know what will happen next, and with an illness as serious as cancer, that’s a scary place to be. But there are no guarantees in cancer care.
Can cancer treatment be short?
Treatment can be long or fairly short, but even short treatments tend to disrupt a person’s life for several weeks. As the caregiver, your life and your family’s lives may be disrupted, too. You may find that you need to take time off from work. See If You Are About to Become a Cancer Caregiver for more on this.
Can you blame yourself for cancer?
Be careful not to look at your loved one’s progress and good days as proof of your caregiving skills. If you do this, you’ll be more likely to blame yourself when they have bad days and set-backs. Uncertainties and highs and lows are part of dealing with cancer – no one, not even the best caregiver, can control them.
What is the next step in breast cancer diagnosis?
The next step is a series of tests to learn more about the cancer in order to guide your treatment plan.
What to do after diagnosis?
After your diagnosis, educate yourself so you can be confident about your decisions. Ask a close friend or family member to learn with you, attend your appointments, and be your advocate. A second set of ears and another point of view is invaluable when you are dealing with your new diagnosis.
How long does it take to get a mammogram after breast cancer?
After diagnostic testing, your doctor may determine the area is not worrisome or the area is likely benign (not cancer) and only requires a follow-up mammogram in four to six months. Alternatively, your doctor may decide the suspicious area needs a biopsy.
How to tell if breast cancer is cancerous?
A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if an area is cancerous or not. The biopsy procedure will depend on the size of the area, where it is in your breast, how many areas need to be biopsied, and other factors. Doctors can take a biopsy with these techniques: 1 Fine needle aspiration uses a very thin needle to withdraw a small amount of tissue. 2 Core needle or vacuum-assisted biopsy uses a larger needle to remove a tube-shaped core of tissue. 3 Surgical or open biopsy is the surgical removal of all or part of the area. This technique is not as common as the others.
What is the first step in mammogram?
The first step is diagnostic testing . This can be a diagnostic mammogram, breast ultrasound, breast MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging ), or other testing. A diagnostic mammogram looks at multiple views of the suspicious area and may include magnified views.
What are the long term effects of breast cancer?
These include fatigue, insomnia, maintaining a healthy weight, intimacy, menopause, and having children after breast cancer. Eating healthy food, limiting alcohol, and continuing your normal health screenings are all important for long-term recovery.
What is the stage of breast cancer?
All of this information helps determine the cancer’s stage from 0, I, II, III or IV. Breast cancer staging helps determine prognosis and guides treatment. Generally, lower stages have better prognoses and survival rates than higher stages.
How to learn about cancer?
Check the health records online or follow up so you can write it all down. Then use information from your doctor, and reputable online resources, to learn about your cancer. Knowledge truly is power. It helps you feel better prepared to understand the way forward with the disease.
How to help someone with cancer?
It includes managing stress, which can help improve appetite, ease insomnia, and fight fatigue during cancer treatment. Take time for your favorite activities, like reading, meditation, yoga, walking, writing in a journal, or listening to music.
How to improve quality of life after cancer?
But doing things that you love, to the extent that you’re able to, is rewarding. Focusing on ways to feel happy and hopeful can improve your quality of life while you treat the disease. Line Up Practical and Personal Help. Medical experts shouldn’t be the only members of your cancer support team.
What are the treatments for cancer?
Your doctor will base their recommendations on the type of cancer, its stage, and your age and overall health. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or stem cell transplants are some of the broad categories.
What do you feel when you find out you have cancer?
When you find out that you have cancer, it’s a lot to take in. You may feel a flood of emotions, such as disbelief, fear, and anger. And your first questions for the doctor might be, “How bad is it?” and “What are my options?”
What happens after you stop cancer treatment?
For instance, after you stop treatment, a new drug may come to the market, a clinical trial could open, or you may hear of a doctor who has a new way of treating the cancer you have. If so, you can always decide to start treatment again. No matter what you choose, your health care team can provide emotional and physical comfort and care along ...
What to do if you are depressed?
If you’re depressed, you may lose focus on your goals. Before you decide, speak to a counselor, ask your doctor about starting depression medication, or both. Look at other options. Some people like to exhaust all possible avenues for treatment before they make up their mind.
